Identity and the Quest of Authenticity in Indigenous Women Literature

Abstract

Abstract: Identity and authenticity are the most integral agencies of the psyche of Indigenous communities which broadly contribute to the construction of their individual and social identities. Thus, these two fundamental concepts have been studied from different spectrums of psychology, philosophy, and literature. Colonialism had disastrous effects on the social systems of the colonized peoples; for the indigenous communities the drastic change in the social norms by the introduction of patriarchal systems had led to a shift in indigenous women’s rights who shared a significant position in her native communities. The emergence of a new generation of talented female writers created a literary phenomenon and a sort of rebellion influencing the contemporary literary landscape in postcolonial era to overcome the brutality of everyday life. Women were placed in precarious positions and their roles were offered and defined by men. Consequently, they started to live in a new cycle of life running the risks of poverty, abuse and violence as well. Literature then has pushed itself to the front of the literary scene through a barrage of texts on silenced peoples to keep women hopes alive as a distinct race that should be respected and not devaluated through prejudices, besides being heard. Keywords: Authenticity; Identity; Indigenous ;Literature ;Women