The Spaces of Dangerous Freedom: Disrupting Settler Colonialism

This chapter expands on two related concepts developed by Mohawk scholar Alfred (2005): that of ‘the clearing’ and the ‘space of dangerous freedom.’ We examine how the embodied encounters in the clearing can model a powerful practice for transforming relationships in place through ritualised relational protocols. The clearing is rooted in Haudenosaunee practices and customs but can be applied to a wide variety of meetings between Indigenous peoples and Settler communities, supporting struggles for Indigenous resurgence. We follow on work by Hunt and Holmes (2015) on the complexities of pursuing decolonisation through (inter-)relational encounters in ‘everyday’ domestic spaces, and Haiven and Khasnabish (2014) on effective spaces generated in support of social justice movements.