Decolonizing Cultures in the Pacific : Reading History and Trauma in Contemporary Fiction

In Decolonizing Cultures in the Pacific, Susan Y. Najita proposes that the traumatic history of contact and colonization has become a crucial means by which indigenous peoples of Oceania are reclaiming their cultures, languages, ways of knowing, and political independence. In particular, she examines how contemporary writers from Hawai‘i, Samoa, and Aotearoa/New Zealand remember, re-tell, and deploy this violent history in their work. As Pacific peoples negotiate their paths towards sovereignty and chart their postcolonial futures, these writers play an invaluable role in invoking and commenting upon the various uses of the histories of colonial resistance, allowing themselves and their readers to imagine new futures by exorcising the past. Decolonizing Cultures in the Pacific is a valuable addition to the fields of Pacific and Postcolonial Studies and also contributes to struggles for cultural decolonization in Oceania: contemporary writers’ critical engagement with colonialism and indigenous culture, Najita argues, provides a powerful tool for navigating a decolonized future. In Decolonizing Cultures In The Pacific, Susan Y. Najita Proposes That The Traumatic History Of Contact And Colonization Has Become A Crucial Means By Which Indigenous Peoples Of Oceania Are Reclaiming Their Cultures, Languages, Ways Of Knowing, And Political Independence. In Particular, She Examines How Contemporary Writers From Hawai'i, Samoa, And Aotearoa/new Zealand Remember, Re-tell, And Deploy This Violent History In Their Work. As Pacific Peoples Negotiate Their Paths Toward Sovereignty And Chart Their Postcolonial Futures, These Writers Play An Invaluable Role In Invoking And Commenting Upon The Various Uses Of The Histories Of Colonial Resistance, Allowing Themselves And Their Readers To Imagine New Futures By Exorcizing The Past.--book Jacket. Trauma And The Construction Of Race In John Dominis Holt's Waimea Summer -- Recounting The Past, Telling New Futures : Albert Wendt's Leaves Of The Banyan Tree And The Tropical Cure -- Fostering A New Vision Of Maori Community : Trauma, History, And Genealogy In Keri Hulme's The Bone People -- Talking In Circles : Disrupting The Logic Of Property In Gary Pak's The Watcher Of Waipuna -- Making Pakeha History : Familial Resemblances In Jane Campion's The Piano. Susan Y. Najita. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [204]-219) And Index. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Dedication......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Figures......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 Notes on pronunciation and terms......Page 18 Introduction: Toward a decolonizing reading praxis......Page 20 1 Trauma and the construction of race in John Dominis Holt’s Waimea Summer......Page 47 2 Recounting the past, telling new futures: Albert Wendt’s Leaves of the Banyan Tree and the “tropical” cure......Page 83 3 “Fostering” a new vision of Maori community: Trauma, history, and genealogy in Keri Hulme’s The Bone People......Page 118 4 “Talking in circles”: Disrupting the logic of property in Gary Pak’s Th e Watcher of Waipuna......Page 149 5 Making Pakeha history: Familial resemblances in Jane Campion’s The Piano......Page 175 Epilogue......Page 199 Notes......Page 205 Glossary......Page 218 References......Page 223 Index......Page 239