One of the concepts that she comes back to throughout the text is Dene scholar Glen Coulthard’s notion of grounded normativity. In the first few chapters of the book, Simpson discusses the theoretical underpinnings of what she calls the radical resurgence project. Her consistent references to these stories centers Indigenous practices and demonstrates how these practices offer pathways to Indigenous freedom.

Simpson artfully unpacks complex systems of knowledge and relationships of power by sharing Nishnaabeg origin stories throughout the text. She defines Indigenous freedom as the ability of Native peoples to live their lives with a deep attachment to their land, communities, language, and cultures without fear of pollution, coercion, or violence (7, 25). Resurgence for Simpson means a reorganization of things for the making of a new reality and as such is foundational for dismantling the settler state (48–49).

Indigenous freedom and resurgence are central themes in the book, and Simpson explores their meanings through Nishnaabeg methods and epistemologies, which emanate from “relationships that are based on consent, reciprocity, respect, and empathy” (61). Simpson’s book beautifully centers Nishnaabeg thought while explicating the importance of Indigenous resistance to the violent settler state of Canada. Her latest book, As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom Through Radical Resistance was published by the University of Minnesota Press in the fall of 2017, and was awarded Best Subsequent Book by the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association.In her book As We Have Always Done, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson engages in an analysis of Indigenous resistance by foregrounding Nishnaabeg intelligence. Leanne’s books are regularly used in courses across Canada and the United States including Dancing on Our Turtle’s Back, The Gift Is in the Making, Lighting the Eighth Fire (editor), This Is An Honour Song (editor with Kiera Ladner) and The Winter We Danced (Kino-nda-niimi editorial collective). She holds a PhD from the University of Manitoba, is currently a Distinguished Visiting Scholar in the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University and faculty at the Dechinta Centre for Research & Learning in Denendeh. Working for over a decade an independent scholar using Nishnaabeg intellectual practices, Leanne has lectured and taught extensively at universities across Canada and has twenty years experience with Indigenous land based education. Her work breaks open the intersections between politics, story and song-bringing audiences into a rich and layered world of sound, light, and sovereign creativity. Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg scholar, writer and artist, who has been widely recognized as one of the most compelling Indigenous voices of her generation. Leanne Simpson’s Public Lecture: “As We Have Always Done”

Simpson as we have always done