Of Flesh and Voices: Examining Queer Indigenous Embodiment and Identity in the Novels "Johnny Appleseed" by Joshua Whitehead and "A Minor Chorus" by Billy-Ray Belcourt

Abstract

This thesis investigates instances of embodiment in relation to queer Indigenous identity formation in Joshua Whitehead's Johnny Appleseed (2018) and Billy-Ray Belcourt's A Minor Chorus (2022), two critically acclaimed works in contemporary Canadian literature. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, informed by seminal works from queer feminist and Indigenous studies, as well as a decolonial theoretical perspective, this analysis focuses on how the protagonists' complex identities and sense of belonging within the broader context of settler colonial Canadian society are narrated, and how these novels challenge Western epistemologies and contribute to the reclamation of Indigenous ways of knowing. Applying frameworks of felt theory and affect studies, this work examines how both works emphasize the queer Indigenous body’s capacity for relational identity to enact a collective mode of resurgent embodied life despite the challenges of a settler colonial present. I argue that the authors foster a healing affective orientation among the characters in the novels,– an outcome significantly enhanced by the novels’ autofictional forms. By focusing on affect theory as the primary methodology, this research investigates how emotions, sensations, and embodied experiences shape the storytelling and self-telling practices of the characters. Through the close reading of Johnny Appleseed and A Minor Chorus, this study seeks to uncover the affective dimensions of resilience, resistance, and resurgence within Indigenous communities, demonstrating how these novels challenge and defy oppressive hegemonic narratives that constrain intersectionally marginalized voices. This thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of queer Indigenous literature, highlighting the transformative power of storytelling in fostering healing, resilience and resurgence. Ultimately, it advocates for continued scholarly engagement with the intersections of identity, community, and embodiment within marginalized narratives, emphasizing the importance of self-aware scholarship that respects and integrates Indigenous forms of knowledge within the academic sphere.