"Queer Indigenous Literature" with Jas M. Morgan

Come for the indigenous activism, stay for the queer joy – the delightful Dr Jas M. Morgan (Toronto Metropolitan University) is here for both. In this deep dive into queer indigeneity in literature, art and academia, Jas talks about their brilliant writing, their creative communities, their kick-ass students, and how their trans nonbinary perspective shapes their work. Jas also explains why talking about art and literature without all the excessive lingo is awesome and why we seem to be in the middle of quite the moment for queer indigenous writing. Tune in to hear about some of the female*, queer, and trans* indigenous artists and activists that are breaking down barriers as we speak.BTW, all the cool kids are following @notvanishing and @queerlitpodcast on Instagram and Twitter. @notvanishing is also on TikTok. Queer Lit is not that cool.Terms, people and texts mentioned:Cree-Métis-SaulteauxWahkohtowinCreeNîtisânak (Metonymy Press, @metonymypress)Alison Bechdel’s Fun HomeMaggie Nelson’s The ArgonautsJenn Shapland’s My Autobiography of Carson McCullersLisa TatonettiLacanTurtle IslandOrlandoBrené BrownJoshua WhiteheadTommy PicoChrystosAiyanna MaracleEgerton RyersonYellowhead InstituteKatherena Vermette’s The StrangersShowgirlsSapphicDana Dangerhttps://jasmorgan.com/2017/05/10/canadian-art-making-space-in-indigenous-art-for-bull-dykes-and-gender-weirdos/Brandi Bird’s I am Still Too Much@brandibird_Rahila’s Ghost Press@rahilasghostQuestions you should be able to respond to after listening:1.What is the role of kinship in indigenous literature and storytelling? Can you connect this to queer kinship?2.Why, does Jas explain, were their queer studies approaches viewed negatively within the field of native studies when they started out in academia?3.Why was Toronto Metropolitan University recently renamed?4.What does Jas think about the current interest in queer indigenous lifewriting? 5.What are your thoughts on collaboration and activism in academia?