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Cultural Appropriation
Aug. 12th, 2007 12:27 pmJust posted this in a discussion thread on ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lupabitch's LJ. I posted other responses, but I wanted to share this one.
"I recall a rather snarky argument I had with a fluffy otherkin a few years ago, who was trying to say that white people have every right to appropriate the religion/spirituality/iconography of Native American people, and that they're just being whiny children by "keeping it for themselves"."
This last term, I took a course called "Native American Psychological Healing" at PSU. It was taught by a Lakota psychologist. He gave us the most AWESOME amount of information that I would have never found otherwise, for not knowing where to look. He showed us videos of Sundances, described healing rituals, the Native thought behind many of their most common and uncommon rituals. And this was what he said when asked what other Natives thought of him teaching such a class.
There is a bit of a controversy regarding the subject. Many Elders are happy the course is being taught. They feel it is time that the Nations share with the world what they know. The more people that can be brought closer to Earth Mother and Sky Father, the better the world will be. (I'm generalizing. I don't remember the exact words). Others still feel that it is wrong to share the information with the White people, because they still hold major amounts of hate and anger towards the Whites.
I am a Turtle Islander. I carry a Turtle around my neck. I was born here, I will die here, and become part of Turtle Island once more. I may only have a smidgen of Native blood in me, and I have no idea how much or of what Tribe. But I feel such a strong pull towards Native Americans that I cannot deny it. Yes, the majority of my blood is European. But I don't feel a connection towards any of the European cultures, except for the Greek Pantheon, and I don't even have any Greek blood in me. So, I go where I am lead. I have Hindu Goddesses and Gods on my altar. I have Native American tools and sacred herbs. I honor Earth Mother, Sky Father, and Grandmother Moon. This is what I do for that is where Spirit has lead me. It is where I am comfortable. Is this cultural appropriation? Many may say yes. I say I am honoring that which is within me, celebrating all that I am and all that I have been born from. That is all I can do in this lifetime.
Mama Gaea
lupabitch's LJ. I posted other responses, but I wanted to share this one."I recall a rather snarky argument I had with a fluffy otherkin a few years ago, who was trying to say that white people have every right to appropriate the religion/spirituality/iconography of Native American people, and that they're just being whiny children by "keeping it for themselves"."
This last term, I took a course called "Native American Psychological Healing" at PSU. It was taught by a Lakota psychologist. He gave us the most AWESOME amount of information that I would have never found otherwise, for not knowing where to look. He showed us videos of Sundances, described healing rituals, the Native thought behind many of their most common and uncommon rituals. And this was what he said when asked what other Natives thought of him teaching such a class.
There is a bit of a controversy regarding the subject. Many Elders are happy the course is being taught. They feel it is time that the Nations share with the world what they know. The more people that can be brought closer to Earth Mother and Sky Father, the better the world will be. (I'm generalizing. I don't remember the exact words). Others still feel that it is wrong to share the information with the White people, because they still hold major amounts of hate and anger towards the Whites.
I am a Turtle Islander. I carry a Turtle around my neck. I was born here, I will die here, and become part of Turtle Island once more. I may only have a smidgen of Native blood in me, and I have no idea how much or of what Tribe. But I feel such a strong pull towards Native Americans that I cannot deny it. Yes, the majority of my blood is European. But I don't feel a connection towards any of the European cultures, except for the Greek Pantheon, and I don't even have any Greek blood in me. So, I go where I am lead. I have Hindu Goddesses and Gods on my altar. I have Native American tools and sacred herbs. I honor Earth Mother, Sky Father, and Grandmother Moon. This is what I do for that is where Spirit has lead me. It is where I am comfortable. Is this cultural appropriation? Many may say yes. I say I am honoring that which is within me, celebrating all that I am and all that I have been born from. That is all I can do in this lifetime.
Mama Gaea
