« You shall (not) have the (Indigenous) body (habeas corpus): Matthew Villeneuve, ‘Habeas Corpus and American Indian Boarding Schools: Indigenous Self-Determination in Body and Mind, 1880-1900’, Western Historical Quarterly, 2025
Settler hegemonies: Aidan Huang, ‘Gender(ed) Imaginations, Hegemony, and Counter-hegemony in Guatemala’, Trail Six, 19, 2025, pp. 31-41 »

Refugee settlerhood: Ambihai Akilan, ‘Between Borders and Histories: Refugee Settlerhood, Forced Migration, and Decolonized Belonging’, Trail Six, 19, 2025, pp. 77-84

23Mar25

Abstract: This paper explores the complexities of refugee settlerhood, examining the intersection of forced migration, settler colonialism, and the implications for Indigenous communities. Through the lens of personal experiences as a Tamil-Canadian, the tension between being both a product of colonization and a participant in the settler colonial project comes into focus, highlighting the differential experiences of migration that shape varying degrees of complicity. Using the insights of scholars like Xavier (2022), Wiegel et al. (2019), and Ellerman & O’Heran (2021), the paper critiques the commodification of citizenship and belonging in settler states and examines how refugees and migrants, despite fleeing violence and persecution, contribute to the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous peoples. The paper argues that understanding settler complicity requires a shift away from binary notions of guilt and innocence, advocating instead for a framework of decolonized belonging. In this framework, belonging is redefined through Indigenous sovereignty, relational accountability, and active engagement in dismantling settler colonial structures. Ultimately, confronting colonial legacies and working toward transformative justice for Indigenous communities necessitates a collective responsibility, with refugee settlers playing a critical role in this process.


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