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Settler Colonialism and White Settler Responsibility in the Karuk, Konomihu, Shasta and New River Shasta Homelands: a White Unsettling Manifesto

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Settler Colonialism and White Settler Responsibility in the Karuk, Konomihu, Shasta and New River Shasta Homelands: a White Unsettling Manifesto SETTLER COLONIALISM AND WHITE SETTLER RESPONSIBILITY IN THE KARUK, KONOMIHU, SHASTA AND NEW RIVER SHASTA HOMELANDS: A WHITE UNSETTLING MANIFESTO By Laura Sarah Hurwitz A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Environment and Community Committee Membership Dr. Noah Zerbe, Committee Chair Dr. Renee Byrd, Committee Member Dr. Michael YellowBird, Committee Member Dr. Yvonne Everett, Program Graduate Coordinator December 2017 ABSTRACT SETTLER COLONIALISM AND WHITE SETTLER RESPONSIBILITY IN THE KARUK, KONOMIHU, SHASTA AND NEW RIVER SHASTA HOMELANDS: A WHITE UNSETTLING MANIFESTO Laura Sarah Hurwitz Contributing to recent research into settler colonialism, this paper takes an on the ground look at how this system manifests today. This research turns its lens on the white settler, unmasks settler myths of innocence and contributes to an understanding of how whiteness and white supremacism shape settler colonialism in what is now called the United Sates. This is a placed based study, focusing on the Klamath and Salmon Rivers. Consequences and complexities of the “back to the land” movement are looked at, and the question of “back-to-whose-land?” is asked? A convivial research approach, which is a back and forth interplay of analysis and action, has been utilized for this project. Also examined are efforts by settlers to engage with unsettling, both as individuals and through a collective settler effort at organizing, under the name “Unsettling Klamath River.” Unsettling can be described as the work of white settlers within the broader movement to decolonize, that is led by Indigenous People. Some false narratives have begun to shift and yet, this population of white settlers remains largely in a state of paralysis due to; a fragile settler identity, a reliance on a false entitlement and a debilitating fear of what will happen if truth-telling occurs. Building upon lessons learned, this paper concludes by ii offering ways that white settlers can begin to chip away at oppressive structures and move forward out of a state of complicity into a sense of responsibility, that is long overdue. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis is a call-out to white settler society to break out of a long-standing silence and complicity. It is a call to engage in truth-telling. This paper reflects a continued hope that white settler society along the Klamath and Salmon Rivers will engage in the process of unsettling and will support one another in doing so. That together we can figure out what responsibility looks like and transcend the common expected trajectory of history, that dictates “those with power and privilege will never relinquish it”. It is a call to collectively take action aimed at dismantling the settler colonial system. This work is on behalf of the healing of humanity. While I take full responsibility for the contents of this paper, this project is a product of the collective work of many people (both Indigenous and settler) along the Klamath and Salmon Rivers. There are many individuals to whom I would like to express gratitude. Dr. Noah Zerbe for patience, encouragement and diligence as my committee chair. Dr. Renee Byrd for joining my team in the culminating stages and working with my narrow time-frame. Dr. Michael YellowBird for sharing wisdom, reflecting back to me what I was trying to put forth with this work and for believing in me. To my comrades and mentors, Joe Orozco, Rhoby Cook, Jack Surmani and Suzanne Guerra for inviting me into the world of Convivial Research, provided me with the tools necessary to move into unknown and uncertain decolonizing realms, for always complicating things and for reminding me, in the hardest of moments, that what I am doing is an act of healing. To Tina Bennett, for sustained conversations iv throughout the many years of this process, including reading and reflecting on drafts of this paper. Witnessing your enduring strength and heart, provides important perspective to me when I think things in my life are hard and challenges me to keep going. To Molli Myers for the many check-ins that have supported and encouraged me to keep pushing forward with this work. To Frankie Myers for your gift of analysis and for helping us to understand the big picture. To Dania Rose for always laying it to me straight. To Anellia Hillman for modeling grace and patience in knowing that change takes time. To Chook-chook Hillman for helping me to learn to better walk a path of humility. To Leaf Hillman for asking the most poignant of questions, that are always tumbling around in the back of my mind. To Holly Hensher for your diplomacy and kindness in dealing with settler peoples. To Brianna and Rosie Conrad and Logan Wallace-White for countless hours of conversation and for helping us to better understand the position of Indigenous youth on the Rivers today. To the Salmon River Indian Club for showing up to meet with us and for sharing ideas and reflections. To everyone Indigenous who has had the patience to engage in dialogue with settlers and for your patience despite the thick wall of settler entitlement and complicity that is ever present. To my unsettling comrades Rae, Chloe, Devin and Fern for your creative inspiration and for sticking it out through the pain and discomfort of the unsettling process. To Erin Cadwell for trying to mediate the Unsettling group during the fall-out from the open letter to Black Bear. To Adrienne Reed-Storey for refusing to remain silent and truth-telling in order to challenge long standing, Salmon v River, settler colonial myths. To Sprout, for showing up right on time with a solid hard line and helping us remember we are not alone in this work. To my mom who has always refused to remain silent in the face of injustice and to my pops for his lifelong dedication (both on the outside and behind the razor wire) to taking responsibility as a white person. To our older daughters Sequoia and Crescent Moon for being brave, willing to engage in the unsettling process and for your constant encouragement. To our youngest Aurellia Rain, for bringing constant joy into our hearts. To my partner in this journey, Shawn Bourque for being by my side every step of the way and for never wavering from holding a hard line, so that we will not inadvertently re-create settler colonialism during our efforts to deconstruct it. Lastly, to my white settler community members and friends who know in your heart what is true and what is right. We need you! May you face the fear, break the silence and stand up for justice. Each one of us that joins this movement to unsettle brings something important and unique and will make a significant contribution towards healing and the unknown future that awaits us. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... xi LIST OF APPENDICES ................................................................................................... xii INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 METHODS ....................................................................................................................... 13 Literature Review.............................................................................................................. 21 Settler Colonialism ....................................................................................................... 23 A Global Glimpse ......................................................................................................... 24 Settler Colonialism Along the Klamath and Salmon Rivers ........................................ 27 The White Settler .......................................................................................................... 29 A Big White Lie ............................................................................................................ 32 Land is Life ................................................................................................................... 36 Decolonization and Unsettling ...................................................................................... 40 The Settler Situation ......................................................................................................... 44 Longing to Belong ........................................................................................................ 46 Am I A Settler? ............................................................................................................. 50 vii How Dare You Disturb My Tranquility ....................................................................... 52 Back to Whose Land? ................................................................................................... 59 A Detriment to All Life ................................................................................................ 64 Cultural Appropriation .................................................................................................. 65 Innocence
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