Article Analysis: Course on Indigenous Studies - Response Paper

This report provides an analysis of an article by Alfred (2005), focusing on the journey of the Onkewehonwe people, their cultural regeneration, and resistance against colonial forces. The report summarizes the article's key concepts, including the Wasáse ceremony, the struggle for self-determination, and the challenges faced in regaining freedom. It also examines the author's perspective on the importance of reclaiming dignity and strength in the face of colonial power structures. The report then reflects on the political strategies for decolonization and the importance of shifting from articulating grievances to organized action. Finally, it concludes by highlighting the need to regenerate and reclaim dignity in the face of modernity's attempts to conquer souls. References to other relevant sources like Simpson (2008, 2014) are also included to provide context and support the analysis.

ARTICLE ANALYSIS

Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Concepts in the article.....................................................................................................................2
Personal Reflection..........................................................................................................................3
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................3
References........................................................................................................................................3

Introduction
The article by Alfred (2005), highlights about the journey on the path made for the people
to live as Onkewehonwe, who are considered to be the original people. The journey is about the
changing lives and how transformation of the society has been done with regenerating the
cultures and surging against the forces. The journey, in the article has been depicted as a warrior
path which is considered as a kind of Wasáse, which is a ceremony held mainly for the unity,
strength and actions. This is where the people work on the movement of the control over
Onkewehonwe and the lands. The are differences among the people which could be seen
completely indigenous and then there are challenges being faced about regaining the freedom
and becoming self-sufficient to work on confronting the disconnections or the fear, under the
colonial dominions.
Concepts in the article
The article is considered important for the distinction mainly due to the regenerative
struggle and what we are doing now. The conventional and the acceptable approaches are mainly
to make the changes that are leading us nowhere. The article highlights about the Onkewehonwe
commitment to reclaim the dignity and strength (Alfred, 2005, pp. 39-100). They are two viable
approaches to engage in the colonial power that have been embedded in the state as well as the
society structures. The author also highlights about the signs of defeat where the young people
are expected to access the lesser status quietly. On the other hand, the self-government and
economic development are being offered mainly because it is no point to struggle for survival as
peoples and so there seems to be less threats for the Settlers (Simpson, 2008, pp: 50-80).

Personal Reflection
According to me, the political formula for the strategy is about how one is able to focus
on the restrained actions, coherency, and the creative contention which is supplemented with
positive political vision. The resurgence begins with people in communities who are working on
true decolonization movement, when we shift our politics from articulating the grievances to
pursuing for the organized battle, for freedom. I also feel that the concern has to be about how
the Settlers are able to erase their existence from any cultural, social and the political landscape
of the homelands effectively.
Conclusion
We have been facing the modernity attempts for conquering the souls and so the
consequent is seen to be weak, coward and petty (Simpson, 2014, pp: 40-60). There are losses
and the political disempowerment which are considered to be the secondary conquests when
compared to the cause of discontent. The challenge is to regenerate our-selves and take back the
dignity. The change is important where possibility is about how Onkewehonwe has the ability to
make the different choices when it concerns about the quality of our lives.
References
Alfred, T. (2005). Rebellion of the truth. In Author (Ed.), Wasase: Indigenous pathways of action
and freedom (pp. 39–100). Peterborough, ON: Broadview
Simpson, L. (2014). Indigenous Studies 420: Indigenous Resistance, study guide. Athabasca,
AB: Athabasca University.

Simpson, L. (Ed.). (2008). Lighting the eighth fire: The liberation, resurgence and protection of
Indigenous nations. Winnipeg, MB: Arbeiter Ring Publishing.