War at the Margins

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This work provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of World War II's effects on Indigenous societies. Lin Poyer utilizes historical and ethnographic sources to explore how these communities navigated wartime trauma, ultimately shaping their emergence as significant political actors in the twenty-first century. Highlighting Indigenous voices and agency, the study offers a global perspective on the diverse wartime experiences of these groups, linking the findings to comparative history, Indigenous studies, and anthropology. Indigenous peoples, often situated on the peripheries of Allied and Axis powers, participated as soldiers, scouts, laborers, and victims, with their roles influenced by complex questions of loyalty and citizenship. The conflict's front lines intersected with Indigenous territories, particularly in northern Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands, leading to profound impacts that extended beyond combat. Indigenous civilians faced bombing, displacement, and social disruption, while wartime infrastructure demands affected even remote areas. The war catalyzed the dissolution of empires and set the stage for postcolonial struggles for autonomy. Although military service was interpreted by national governments as a desire for assimilation, many Indigenous communities reaffirmed their cultural identities and pursued activism. By the century's end, Indigenous Rights emerged as a powerful political force,