Colonial Nostalgia and Reflective Memory in Zitkala-Sa’s American Indian Stories

Abstract

This paper explores the complex dynamics of nostalgia within literature, focusing on colonial nostalgia and its implications for identity and memory in Zitkala-Ša’s American Indian Stories. By juxtaposing Svetlana Boym’s theory of nostalgia as a “longing for a home that no longer exists or has never existed” with Derek Walcott’s insights on colonial amnesia, this study examines how Zitkala-Ša’s reflective nostalgia serves as a form of resistance against cultural assimilation. Zitkala-Ša uses her autobiographical essays and fictional narratives to challenge colonial narratives that sanitize the past, instead highlighting the trauma and cultural dislocation caused by forced assimilation in boarding schools. The paper argues that Zitkala-Ša’s work not only critiques the romanticization of the colonial past but also asserts the richness of her Dakota heritage, transforming her nostalgic longing into a powerful act of cultural reclamation. Through her storytelling, she preserves Indigenous traditions and values, resisting the erasure of her identity while challenging contemporary neo-colonial attitudes. Ultimately, this paper demonstrates that Zitkala-Ša’s reflective nostalgia is not merely a wistful look backward but a critical engagement with history, one that upholds the resilience of Indigenous identity in the face of colonial oppression.