Decolonizing the Canon: Reimagining World Literature through Indigenous Texts

Abstract

This study interrogates the necessity of decolonising the literary canon by situating Indigenous texts and epistemologies within the discipline of World Literature. Canonical literary traditions have persistently sidelined or appropriated Indigenous voices; yet, emergent scholarship now urges the development of a global literary practice that is anchored in reciprocity, cultural sovereignty, and a pluralism of worldviews. Utilising contemporary Indigenous authors, critical Indigenous theory, and innovative pedagogical frameworks, the present examination elaborates methods for broadening curricula, recalibrating translation methodologies, and contesting extractive reading practices. It contends that the decolonisation of the canon signifies more than a quest for inclusion; instead, it demands the recalibration of interpretive paradigms to respect and sustain Indigenous knowledge systems according to their protocols. By placing a plurality of narrative traditions at the centre of literary inquiry, this research charts a route toward a World Literature that is equitable, polyphonic, and resistant to colonial hierarchies, thereby fostering authentic intercultural dialogue.