(Land) Back to the Future
This work traces how Indigenous Futurism (IF) has been defined and evolved over time—from its conceptual roots in Afrofuturism to present challenges and articulations of IF in activism, art, and literature. Through this review, we uncover how Indigenous people's practice of imagining their futures is more than just a creative venture. Instead, this talk argues that through IF, Indigenous people are pushing the boundaries that have been imposed by settler colonialism—embracing dreaming as a political act that can serve as a roadmap for anti-colonial resistance and help sustain work toward liberation.
About the presenter:
Riley Yesno (she/her) is a queer Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and commentator from Eabametoong First Nation. She is highly sought after for her words and analysis – she has been a contributor and commentator for some of the largest media outlets in Canada and the world and has travelled the globe speaking at internationally renowned institutions and events, including the UN climate negotiations, the Stockholm Forum on Gender Equality, TEDx stages, and many others. She teaches Indigenous governance and justice at Toronto Metropolitan University and is a Vanier Scholar at the University of Toronto.