Moves to Innocence

 

         Tuck and Yang describe “moves to innocence” or ways that non-natives avoid being accountable to the violent histories of settler colonialism and the current oppression of Indigenous peoples. Two examples of these that could be critiques of my work are what they call “settler adoption fantasies” and “decolonizing the mind”. In settler adoption fantasies the settler becomes the native without consequences. “Settler fantasies of adoption alleviate the anxiety of settler un-belonging. He adopts the love of land and therefore thinks he belongs to the land.” (Tuck & Yang, 2012, p. 15) Tuck and Yang give examples of settlers being adopted into Indigenous tribes where they learn the rituals, and can feel Indigenous while still benefiting from whiteness. Tuck and yang go on to ask “...whether another settler move to innocence is to focus on decolonizing the mind, or the cultivation of critical consciousness, as if it were the sole activity of decolonization; to allow conscientization to stand in for the more uncomfortable task of relinquishing stolen land.” (Tuck & Yang, 2012, p. 19). To double down, again they ask:

 

...consider how the pursuit of critical consciousness, the pursuit of social justice through a critical enlightenment, can also be settler moves to innocence - diversions, distractions, which relieve the settler of feelings of guilt or responsibility, and conceal the need to give up land or power or privilege. (Tuck & Yang, 2012, p. 21)

 

These critiques helped shape my work, and also helps me understand my lane. My work centers around describing, feeling, and being honest about my privilege, and that does very little for others.