Summary of Eve Tuck Biting the Hand that Feeds You

Summary of "Biting the Hand that Feeds You"

In the presentation titled "Biting the Hand that Feeds You," Eve Tuck discusses the complexities of settler colonialism and its implications for academia, particularly in relation to indigenous peoples and people of color. Tuck emphasizes the importance of decolonization over mere indigenization, arguing that settler colonialism is fundamentally about the pursuit of land for settlement, which involves the erasure of indigenous communities through various forms of violence.

She critiques the neoliberal framework that often intersects with settler colonialism, highlighting how both systems prioritize individualism and market-driven ideologies while erasing collective action. Tuck points out the stark underrepresentation of indigenous scholars in academia and the immense pressure they face within these institutions. She shares personal anecdotes and connects them to broader systemic issues, illustrating how academic disciplines have historically been complicit in the projects of settler colonialism.

Tuck calls into question the prevailing theories of change in social science, particularly those that focus on documenting damage or raising awareness. She argues that these approaches often reinforce colonial power dynamics rather than facilitate genuine social justice. Instead, she advocates for a shift towards "desire-based research," which recognizes power as diffuse and relational, and emphasizes the agency of marginalized communities in shaping their futures.

She concludes by presenting alternative theories of change proposed by indigenous women scholars, which are proactive and grounded in indigenous understandings of power and place. These theories challenge traditional academic narratives and offer new possibilities for action and engagement in the fight against settler colonialism.

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Notable Quotes

— 04:00 — « I always say that it requires a sort of mental yoga to remember other possibilities, other existing theories of change. »
— 29:05 — « Raising awareness is a cousin theory of change to documenting damage; both often rely on circulating narratives and tropes of the mutilated body, the broken spirit, the flooded neighborhood. »
— 30:10 — « What if we believe that we are the ones who can make change and that others are not more powerful than us to affect change? »
— 35:04 — « When metaphor invades decolonization, it kills the very possibility of decolonization. »
— 36:24 — « These theories of change are anticipatory and proactive, not reactive. »

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