Gradhiva n°40 - Les Nations du Grand Fleuve

Description

THE NATIONS OF THE GREAT RIVER. A SHARED HISTORY OF COLONIAL LOUISIANA

In 1682, the Kingdom of France proclaimed its possession of the Mississippi Valley, initiating the founding of the colony of 'Louisiana'. For nearly eighty years, a dynamic of cohabitation and alliances prevailed with the indigenous nations, who remained the majority and sovereign people. This issue of Gradhiva invites us to reconsider the conventional historical narrative centred on European imperial expansion, restoring its depth and complexity by recounting the vitality and autonomy of Native American societies.

The contributions gathered here are based on rare and still little-exploited sources, historical maps and objects produced in the 18th century by indigenous artists, most of which are preserved, often unique, in France. This issue is the result of a collaborative effort between French and Native American researchers from four nations formerly allied with France: the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Quapaw Nation, the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma and the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma.

This dialogue between disciplines, languages and memories gives rise to a plural and renewed reading of written and material sources, which have now become the pillars of a vast cultural revitalisation movement. Whether it be the revival of languages, artistic skills or relationships with the environment, several researchers and indigenous cultural leaders offer their perspectives on the connection between the colonial past, the materiality of objects and the dynamics of cultural renewal.

By giving voice to the past and present, this issue shows how history, far from being fixed, continues to be actively shaped by those who inherit it.