Edited by Natacha Gagné, Laval University Press, 2020

https://www.pulaval.com/produit/a-la-reconquete-de-la-souverainete-mouvements-autochtones-en-amerique-latine-et-en-oceanie

In the course of processes of decolonization and self-determination, the “classical” definition of sovereignty, founded on the supreme authority and territorial integrity of States as well as non-interference in their internal affairs, is being questioned. Among many Indigenous peoples, the concept has been invested with new meanings that encompass a multiplicity of social, economic, cultural, and political rights. Under this expanded understanding, sovereignty is no longer limited to that of the State, but involves the right of these peoples to self-determine in various domains and to negotiate their interdependencies. It covers realities and claims that vary according to context, and the terms used to speak about it also differ: while some speak of sovereignty, others prefer to speak of autonomy, independence, decolonization, or to use concepts from their own languages and histories. Several historical, contextual, and strategic reasons underlie these choices.

This book is devoted to these varied expressions of sovereignty, particularly in two regions of the world: Oceania and Latin America.