THE TRICKSTER FIGURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IDENTITY IN THOMSON HIGHWAY’S KISS OF THE FUR QUEEN

This research examines the character of the Fur Queen as an archetypal trickster figure in Tomson Highway's Kiss of the Fur Queen from the perspectives of ecofeminism and postcolonialism. This study explains the concept of identity conflict by integrating the insights of Spivak's postcolonial theory with the conceptual framework of ecofeminism articulated by Shiva. In the novel, Highway creates the Fur Queen as a female trickster, symbolizing wisdom and healing, directly subverting the engrained suppressive norms set by the dominant colonial powers. In postcolonial societies, the trickster figure is widely lauded for her capacity to effect change and challenge the societal norms imposed by colonial forces. This research contributes to the recovery of ancient female symbols by describing the trickster figure as a symbol of environmental identity, which can transform social identity and play a more significant role in one's sense of self and worldview as a person in nature.