Artifact 1: Heart Of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart Of Darkness tells the story of a colonial voyage into the indigenous population of central Africa. The novella’s narrator relays to his crewmate’s his previous experiences on similar journeys, which reveal the damaging nature of exploitation and mistreatment of indigenous communities. This novella takes a unique approach by relaying these issues from the colonists’ perspective, which is equally as compelling in communicating the strife and struggle of indigenous communities.

While Indigenous Rhetoric can often be seen through beautiful reflections of nature, the feelings of freedom from decolonization, and tales of spirituality, Heart Of Darkness relays the importance of Indigenous Rhetoric in a more direct manner.

In the novel, English colonists take advantage of African Ivory and leave the indigenous populations, whom they refer to as savage, with nothing. This brutal treatment of the native people highlights their humanity in the end, evoking a response of empathy in the reader. The protagonist puts it simply when he states “The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much.” (Conrad)

Exploitation is a theme often highlighted when discussing Indigenous Rhetoric. By the end of the novella, Marlow reflects on the guilts and regrets he has about being part of a crusade he initially didn’t realize was as exploitative as it wound up being. The unjust mindset that being rich should justify colonizing groups stripping resources from disadvantaged communities is a striking reminder of the damages of colonization - so closely associated with Indigenous Rhetoric.

Sometimes abrupt and direct examples of such elusive and under-discussed concepts are necessary to advance the discourse and situate the audience into the discomfort these topics bring with them. Conrad’s novella was ahead of its time and allowed discourse surrounding Indigenous rhetoric to advance quickly and effectively.

Artifact 2: Into The Canyon (Disney+)

Pete McBride’s 2019 documentary Into The Canyon shows Native American populations who live in the Grand Canyon, but who are facing the difficulties of colonization of the tourism industry that continually encroaches on their space. The documentary directly demonstrates Native Americans’ deep connection to the beauty and resources of the natural environment, all while still battling the oppressive force of colonizers.

The documentary gives historical context about what has happened to Indigenous communities in the past, which is an important aspect of the discipline as it provides the foundational understanding needed to further the conversation and eventually come up with solutions.

The documentary also allows these Native American populations to directly explain their experiences, which is important because these perspectives are often disregarded and explained through more privileged lenses. McBride is fighting legislatively to protect the land being occupied from oppressive and disregarding forces.

There is a scientific explanation of how frequently Native American populations rely on nature during their everyday lives. This theme comes up regularly in Indigenous Rhetoric, which often reflects on a historical relationship with the environment that other forms of rhetoric do not. By inviting the audience into the depths of the Grand Canyon, an otherwise unexplored territory too inaccessible to know familiarly, McBride also shines a spotlight on an Indigenous population that can be protected from the evils of colonization.