An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Oritz
The Resource Center for Nonviolence (RCNV) presents this series of antiracism book circles as an act of radical education and collaboration. Our hope is to provide a unique opportunity to process the impact of the pandemic and respond to the renewed call for racial equity in our society. Our goal is to create a space in which participants may collectively and individually gain understanding that will result in healing, understanding, inclusion and empowerment. More importantly, they provide a way to maintain energetic human connections through virtual meeting spaces. Past circles have included participants from around the world to create transformative and educational learning spaces.
About this book
This offering is part of the Revisioning American History Series, consisting of accessibly written history books by notable scholars, the series reconstructs and reinterprets United States history.
Today in the United States, there are more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations comprising nearly three million people, descendants of the fifteen million Native people who once inhabited this land. The centuries-long genocidal program of the US settler-colonial regimen has largely been omitted from history. Acclaimed historian and activist Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz offers a history of the United States told from the perspective of Indigenous peoples and reveals how Native Americans, for centuries, actively resist expansion of the US empire.
“Writing US history from an Indigenous peoples’ perspective requires rethinking the consensual narrative. That narrative is wrong or deficient, not in the facts, dates, details but rather in its essence. Inherent in the myth we’ve been taught is an embrace of settler colonialism and genocide. The myth persists, not for a lack of free speech or poverty of information but rather for an absence of motivation to ask questions that challenge the core of the scripted narrative of the origin story. How might acknowledging the reality of US history work to transform society? That is the central question this book pursues.
Indigenous peoples offer possibilities for life after empire…” Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Who should join?
Everyone who is open to decolonizing the United States history in order to re-envision the present and the future is welcome.
RCNV Note on Affinity & Mixed Race Groups
This circle is open to all races. Due to the sensitive racial nature of the books offered, the RCNV’s racial equity policy offers separate affinity groups to respect the process of participants and to provide more safety and depth in the circle. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), especially, may benefit from a unified healing experience within a safe container to grieve and process. Thus, book circles offered for mixed races and for affinity groups are determined depending on the nature of the chosen book and the skills of co-facilitators. Book circles are co-facilitated by facilitators of all races; and affinity groups are facilitated by facilitators who identify within that affinity group. Mixed race individuals are welcome to join affinity groups matching their self-identification. Our co-facilitators will do their best to support every participant in their process. Our book circles provide spaces to practice mutual respect, collaboration, and the creation of an inclusive community.
Your Circle Facilitators
Kasi (they/them) is a white-bodied, gender queer, working-class transplant from the Bronx living in Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is unceded Awaswas territory. They are passionate about social justice and racial equity.
Silvia (she/her)
Schedule and Logistic
RCNV circles meet weekly on Zoom over the course of 8-10 weeks beginning in Fall 2021. Weekly meetings last 2 hours. This book circle will meet weekly for 10 weeks, from 6-8 PM PT on Tuesday nights beginning Sept. 14 and ending Nov 16.
Suggested donations to support the work of The Resource Center for Nonviolence is $25 per person, or more for those wishing to grant space to others. Any donation amount is accepted and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. After you register and as our circle start date nears, your co-facilitators, Leslie and Kasi, will reach out with more details. We look forward to seeing you.
Questions? Email muna@rcnv.org