This article is a reflection on my journey as an Indigenous Amazigh woman. I employ autoethnographic stories to make meaning of my narrative. The stories I tell of my ethnic identity will hopefully contribute to a discussion about decolonization and Indigeneity, whereby I mean to regain my Indigenous self and make meaning of my own experiences and history as an Amazigh person, which requires that I engage in memory work to claim my Indigenous voice as an Amazigh. In adopting this framework, I center my Indigenous self. Indigenous Amazigh autoethnography can allow diverse Amazigh communities to engage in making meaning of their own experiences. The stories we tell are a source of agency and community, and engaging in this type of inquiry will set a stage for Amazigh people to gain their own agency and accountability for the stories they tell about themselves and in relation to their Amazigh communities.
A Woman’s Journey of Decolonization and Indigenous Amazigh Identity
Mounia Mnouer is an Amazigh Indigenous educator and scholar. Both her parents and their families identify as Amazigh people of North Africa. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Mnouer is a lecturer in the Department of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. Her educational background also includes Linguistics and Ethnic Studies. Her previous research explored narratives and intercultural journeys of study-abroad students. Her current research includes critical narratives that pertain to Amazigh identities in Morocco and in the diaspora, engaging in social equity for girls in education, as well as employing decolonial frameworks to incorporate Indigenous voices and frameworks in Arabic language content and pedagogy.
Mounia Mnouer; A Woman’s Journey of Decolonization and Indigenous Amazigh Identity. Journal of Autoethnography 1 July 2023; 4 (3): 348–358. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/joae.2023.4.3.348
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