Questioning Borders

Questioning BordersDiscover the groundbreaking book 'Questioning Borders,' a profound exploration of Indigenous knowledge and ecology in contemporary literature. This enlightening text challenges the prevailing settler colonial narratives that often normalize resource extraction at the expense of nomadic, hunting, foraging, or fishing communities. With a focus on recent ecoliterature from Han and non Han Indigenous writers of China and Taiwan, Robin Visser delves into

Discover the groundbreaking book 'Questioning Borders,' a profound exploration of Indigenous knowledge and ecology in contemporary literature. This enlightening text challenges the prevailing settler-colonial narratives that often normalize resource extraction at the expense of nomadic, hunting, foraging, or fishing communities. With a focus on recent ecoliterature from Han and non-Han Indigenous writers of China and Taiwan, Robin Visser delves into the intricate relationships among humans, animals, ecosystems, and the cosmos. Aiming to inspire new sustainable practices and ways of thinking, this book is perfect for scholars and readers interested in decolonizing ecocriticism and comparative literature.

In 'Questioning Borders,' Visser's extensive field research spans various Indigenous writers including Bai, Bunun, Kazakh, Mongol, Tao, Tibetan, Uyghur, Wa, Yi, and Han Chinese authors. These narratives are set in critical locations such as Xinjiang, Tibet, Inner Mongolia, Southwest China, and Taiwan—regions deeply affected by development, migration, and climate change. By contrasting Han Chinese perspectives with Indigenous cosmologies, the book presents a refreshing take that challenges established binaries, borders, and hierarchies. This 2023 publication by Columbia University Press is essential reading for anyone invested in understanding alternative modes of creativity and consciousness in the Anthropocene. Rediscover literature through a lens that honors and respects Indigenous insights into our interconnected world.