Date of Creation
Fall 2024
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Daniel Schwab
Abstract
Channeling the strength of the culture, identity, and people who came before them, Indigenous women are countering the racism and sexism inherent in ongoing colonialism through their return to leadership. When it comes to caring for their communities, Native women are dedicated, determined change-makers. This devotion, grounded in the cultural centrality of Indigenous women, has remained strong throughout the tribulations of relatively recent history, marked by atrocities such as invasion, assimilation, and attempted genocide. Colonization is an institution of violence. The United States, in creation and evolution, has been no exception. Particularly targeted through this process have been the bodies, relationships, and knowledges of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the land upon which the nation was founded. Because of their location at the heart of Indigenous history, tradition, and culture, Native women have been most impacted by this harm. But, in defiance against modern manifestations of colonial institutions, Indigenous women are strongly opposing the threat of these realities. In response to the capitalist disruption and devastation of Tribal economies, Indigenous women are resisting financial exclusion by improving access to credit and capital, and subsequently driving economic opportunity, mobility, and security in Indian Country.
Recommended Citation
Evans, Grace, "Closest to the Harm, Closest to the Solution: Indigenous Resistance to Colonial Capitalism Through Female Leadership in Financial Inclusion" (2024). Washington Semester Program. 15.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/washington/15