This content was created by Momo Suzuki. The last update was by Luca Connors.
Sounding Decolonial Futures: Decentering Ethnomusicology's Colonialist LegaciesMain MenuIntroduction to this projectAbout this projectColonial Legacies regarding Indigenous Musical PracticesStrategies to Undo Colonial LegaciesCitation and UsePage explaining how to use and cite this projectGlossaryA list of frequently used or uncommon termsList of ResourcesTitle pageAcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments
Image: Lecture Program on "The Music of the American Indian"
1media/densmore_american_indian_lecture_recital_1904_1_thumb.jpg2019-12-22T05:00:27+00:00Momo Suzuki02e1334ead3dc86d1e81c381889089e420bb1abd182A program note from one of Densmore's lecture recitals. She covered topics such as "The Indian's Natural Sense of Harmony," "Primitive Rhythms," and "Indian Life expressed in Music."plain2022-05-26T21:07:43+00:00Frances Theresa Densmore Papers, 1886-1904, Record Group 30/156, Series II. Pencil Sketches and Concert Programs (Folder 4), Oberlin College Archives.Luca Connorsced9dd0f9f64a731c75f8e47663d30a132fa944a
The United States was built on removing and disenfranchising Indigenous people. This continues to be at the foundation of our laws, attitudes, academic practices and the way we teach and read histories. We continue to take this power imbalance of white, settlers over Indigenous people for granted. So, it is imperative that we look at history and contextualize every choice we make as perpetuating or undoing a colonialist legacy.
In this vein, I would like to present Densmore’s work as a symptom of the problematic power imbalance which was particularly overt in the 19th century. I don’t want to just retrospectively analyze Densmore’s work, but to use it as a starting point for how we can try to right wrongs. How do we face this legacy? What do we do with the work that Densmore did? How should we re-contextualize her work in the 21st century?
I seek to start this conversation with you, the reader, through a timeline that traces Desnmore’s background, training, interests and research approaches. I offer a critical perspective on her approaches and attitudes so that we can reflect on how to address her legacy moving forward. On this page, I present an example of a repatriation project that turns the tide to serve Indigenous people rather than settlers. I’ve noted takeaways that are more broadly applicable with the hope that you can carry a critical lens with you to constructively push towards a more decolonial future.
