Glen J. Coulthard

Indigenous resurgence in Canada is a broad intellectual, cultural, political, and social movement that emphasizes the revitalization of Indigenous nations through the renewal of Indigenous laws, languages, governance, relationships to land, and cultural practices. While related to Indigenous rights movements, resurgence places particular emphasis on Indigenous decolonization and self-determination arising from Indigenous traditions and responsibilities rather than recognition or accommodation by the Canadian state. Resurgence is a form of regenerative nation-building and reconnection with all their relations, kin-centric relationships among BIPOC peoples and with the natural world. Rather than focusing exclusively on negotiations with governments or litigation, proponents emphasize rebuilding Indigenous societies from within by restoring traditional governance systems, strengthening languages, practicing Indigenous legal traditions, protecting lands and waters, and transmitting cultural knowledge between generations.