Sport History in the Dark

In this article, I discuss the intertwining of academic and activist activities tied to Indigenous sport history using examples from my professional career to argue for the relevance of hope and the need to draw on our many strengths as academics in creating “good” public sport history. Relevant conceptual underpinnings are outlined, including a strengths and hope perspective, survivance, collective hope, and a hope-enhancing environment. Links to Rebecca Solnit's assertion that hope requires action, and an outlining of the activities of “tempered radicals” who work within while concurrently challenging fundamental elements of the university system, support the contention that public history done this way potentially produces more meaningful sport histories for all and especially for marginalized individuals while also challenging those engaged in producing and/or reading such histories to be co-transformed through this process and outcome.