survivance

English

Etymology

From French survivance. In reference to Native Americans, sometimes alternatively interpreted as a blend of survival + resistance.

Pronunciation

(General American) IPA^(key): /sɚˈvaɪvəns/
(UK) IPA^(key): /səˈvaɪvəns/

Noun

survivance (countable and uncountable, plural survivances)

(now rare) Survival.
- 1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter CDIX”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; […], →OCLC:
  And what is the space of time to look backward upon, between an early departure and the longest survivance?
(in particular) Survival as a Native American or First Nations person practicing indigenous culture and resisting white European-American hegemony.
- 2011 October 4, Robert W. Preucel, Stephen A. Mrozowski, Contemporary Archaeology in Theory: The New Pragmatism, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 566:
  One cannot appreciate and experience the power of Native survivance if the stories and memories of our histories are not placed within the context of struggle.
- 2022 June 20, yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective (@yehawshow), post on Instagram:
  Joyfully existing as a queer Indigenous person is an act of survivance and reclamation of ancient ways of knowing who we are and how we love.
- 2025 04, Rae Garringer, To Belong Here: A New Generation of Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Appalachian Writers, University Press of Kentucky, →ISBN, page 87:
  Joy Cedar (she/they) is a Two-Spirited poet, community worker, and visual artist. She incorporates survivance into the heart of her work. They live in Kentucky with their dog.
(Canada, in particular) The survival of Francophone culture in the face of Anglo-American hegemony.
Succession to an estate, office etc. of someone who survives the previous holder, as nominated by them; survivorship.
- a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, edited by [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC:
  His son had the survivance of the stadtholdership.