Indigenous geographies

In the context of dominant motifs of contemporary geographical theory such as globalization and terror, it would be easy to relegate experiences of Indigenous peoples to the status of an interesting anachronism, unfortunate collateral damage, or a market opportunity for heritage or eco-tourism. The reality, however, is that Indigenous peoples’ persistent presence in the cultural landscapes of contemporary postcolonial nation-states offers an important double take on the idea of Indigenous geographies. This article challenges geographers to reconsider dominant discourses of Indigenous absence, signified by a focus on dispossession, erasure, denial, and charity to recognize and consider Indigenous-centric discourses of persistence, presence, and rights. Engagement with Indigenous specificity through their rights, knowledges, and geographies provides valuable opportunities for geographers to refocus on research process and developing relationships in recognition of persistent Indigenous presence and particularity.