Indigenous Futurisms and Decolonial Horror: An Interview with Rebecca Roanhorse

Abstract

This interview with Black and Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo author Rebecca Roanhorse explores the innovations she has brought to horror and science-fiction genres by speaking from the colonial difference and centring Indigenous histories, cosmologies, and spirituality in her works. The influence of Grace Dillon’s concept of Indigenous Futurisms on Roanhorse’s oeuvre is explored, as is the importance of Indigenous representation in white-dominated literary fields and how such representation can resist colonial repression while empowering Indigenous people in real life. Finally, Roanhorse speaks to the ways in which corporations such as Lucasfilm and Marvel are increasingly acknowledging a historic lack of diversity – or a historic offensive stereotyping of marginalised groups – and actively working to undo this harm by producing series entirely created by Indigenous writers that expand opportunities and give them the license to create stories from their unique cultural perspective.