Rediscovering Contemporary Indigeneity: Finding the Lost Talk through Storytelling

Abstract Book of the 13th International Conference on New Findings in Humanities and Social Sciences

Year: 2026

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Rediscovering Contemporary Indigeneity: Finding the Lost Talk through Storytelling

Dr. Marija Glisic Dunovic

ABSTRACT:

This article argues that society and language are interconnected, much like the deep link between literature and life. By revisiting historical testimonies, particularly Rita Joe’s first volume, “I Lost My Talk,” and Rebecca Thomas’s follow-up, “I’m Finding My Talk,” the Native Renaissance 2.0 is showcased through storytelling, using a Canadian residential school photo as a medium. We consider Marianne Hirsch’s concept of postmemory, which reframes the past as a resource for healing. Survivors and their descendants, affected by inherited trauma from residential schools, share their stories to prevent extinction, preserve traditions, and affirm identities. The core idea is that expressing ethnic voices through literary forms emphasizes Indigenous resistance as an active force, not merely a historical tragedy. Literature opposes colonial norms, serving as a tool for cultural resistance and atonement. The link between storytelling and social change underscores the importance of freeing Indigenous Peoples from historical tragedy through literary expression. Drawing on Hegel’s philosophy of reconciliation, we show how individuals and communities adapt to modern societal norms. Ultimately, we aim to inspire global action aligned with principles of reconciliation.

Keywords: Identity; Indigenous Peoples; Reconciliation; Residential Schools; Storytelling