Page 3 - An Intersectional Exploration of Disabled and Native Identities
P. 3
Different Perspectives: Indigenous
and Western Worldviews
Regarding Disability
Traditional AI/AN Dominant Eurocentric
Perspective of Disability Perspective of Disability
Disability and Native theorist Lovern Lovern writes that "the use of
aptly states before delving into the European worldviews as primary in
richness that is AI/AN worldviews,
“Each of the [over 500 federal and state academia was a result of
recognized] Nations/Tribes has differing colonization practices, which
ontological paradigms and differing included acts of cultural genocide
cultural structures… However, in an [and] historical components used in
attempt to establish a dialogue, some education, both officially and non-
generalizations will be made based on officially, to eliminate alternative
patterns and similarities.” Some general
aspects of AI/AN worldviews include knowledge systems from academia
the emphasis on interdependence (the in an attempt to force indoctrination,
“wholeness of existence”), the obligation assimilation and, in some cases,
to better the community by caring for genocide.” Thinking of disability in
“each community member”, and the a way other than the dominant,
guiding principle of Native science:
“[T]ruth is not a fixed point, but rather Eurocentric worldview that
an ever-evolving point of balance, constructs disability, pathologizes
perpetually created and perpetually new” difference, and “define[] disabled
(Lovern). Alongside these disability- bodies as ‘deviant’” is very difficult
friendly belief systems, most AI/AN to do without considering other
cultures did not “other” Disabled people worldviews and perspectives that
based on their differences as Western
society does today. position disability quite differently
(Lovern).
