Misappropriation of Native Cultural Traditions by: Donna Smith
I am honored to be asked to write to you, to express some thoughts about
the continuing (and growing) problem of bastardization and exploitation
(also known as misappropriation) of native cultural traditions.
Let me introduce myself to you: my name is Donna Smith. Originally I am
from the southwest but now live in Tennessee. I am an adoptee who's
found her birth family - both indian and non-indian. Although I am now
"found", who I am was never in question. I grew up in Costa Rica and in
Colombia, South America but have lived in the US for the last 32 years
or so. I am a 9th grade drop-out who is a simple housewife, married with
four sons (2 are grown).
Why am I speaking out on the subject of protecting native cultural
traditions? Over the last few years, it's become very obvious how
rampant exploitation and bastardization of native traditions, cultures,
languages, and most importantly ceremonies has become in non-indian
societies. To say that it's reached a critical point is an
understatement. It seems that anywhere one turns these days, a person
can find someone 'performing' an imitation (re: bastardized) form of a
sweatlodge or sundance. Those two particular traditional ceremonies have
become the favorites of people claiming indian descendancy or who "feel
indian". There are people who claim to be Cherokee, Delaware, Hopi, and
other Nations who are participating in the traditions that are not
traditional to their own People. And of course, there are non-indians
who also participate in the imitation ceremonies; mostly in a vain
effort to try and be something else or to try and find something they
feel is missing in their lives.
The protection of any Nation's traditions is vital to its cultural
survival. As has been well documented over the last several centuries,
when a culture is invaded by outside forces - be they materialistic
forces, military forces, or forces that claim to speak on behalf of a
religion, which is not the same as a spiritual force - the original ways
can and have been lost. Forever. When an old way is blended with
anything foreign, it is no longer an original way. It has become
bastardized - mixed, blended......forever changed.
Traditional ceremonies include spiritual rites, methods and items
(sometimes referred to as "artifacts"). Each Nation's People were given
specific Sacred Laws for living. The duty of caring for the ceremonies
has been handed down through time to individuals through the traditions
of each Nation. In other words, persons were traditionally acknowledged
for possessing and caring for the knowledge and understanding of each
rite, song, and other ceremonial item in a sacred way. When outsiders
are allowed to participate in sacred ceremonies that are not of their
origins, many times it's often difficult for the outsiders to grasp the
full meaning of the ceremony and its purpose(s). If simply imitating a
ceremony was sufficient to making it 'work', then leaders wouldn't have
been traditionally chosen/selected, ceremonial items wouldn't be
important and handed down, and neither would it be important to preserve
the ceremony as it has always been done traditionally.
Those with an understanding of the importance of protecting spiritual
ways know that there is no halfway mark. If there is a real belief in
the traditional ways of one's People, one knows things were done
deliberately and with purpose. There was meaning behind each ceremony;
there was a purpose for each ceremony. With that also comes the
understanding that there can be harmful consequences for those who
participate in and allow the perpetuation of bastardized, imitations of
sacred traditions.
Hate is a wasted emotion that serves no good purpose; it only serves to
destroy one's spirit. It has never been traditional to tell another what
to do or how to believe. Cultural traditions and the respective
ceremonies do not belong to the person(s) who is/are traditionally
responsible for their preservation and continuation, they belong to the
Nation. There is a difference between teaching respect for each other
through the sharing of basic cultural traditions such as the sharing of
food, material items such as clothing, housing, horses, a way of living
in a good way with each other in spite of differences, etc - and taking
what belongs to the People as a whole and 'sharing it' with anyone and
everyone. Simple honor and respect are also basic traditions to almost
all peoples but those important and basic traditions seem to have been
forgotten along the way.
When traditions of a Nation are stolen from the People - even by one of
their own - it hurts the person and the Nation. Is it any wonder why
non-indian society is so confused about Native Peoples? Is it any wonder
why the Nations are in turmoil, why the planet is being destroyed, why
our children's future looks bleak, why so many are committing suicide,
taking drugs and drinking, etc.? The list goes on.
It has to stop. Many traditional people are working together to spread
understanding of this particular and important issue - to try and
somehow make a difference. Unfortunately there are some 'leaders' who've
become well-known in the new-age circuits, whose followers will defend
the right of their 'leader' to perform imitation ceremonies. What is not
seen or understood by the people participating in such things is that
the supposed benefits of/in the imitation ceremonies do not exist - all
that exists in such a circumstance is greed and ego, in direct
opposition to anything dealing with spiritual issues.
I do not expect that my thoughts make much of a difference. It's not my
intent to 'convert' anyone or force my beliefs on anyone else's way of
believing. I merely want to provide an 'outsider's' view on this
important issue and also lend support to the traditional leaders who are
actively trying to protect the cultural and spiritual ways for their
People - on behalf of all Native People. I believe we can all reach a
level of respect, knowledge, and understanding for each others' cultures
and traditions without crossing the lines of misappropriating what does
not belong to the other.
Thank you for your time in reading this and any considerations you may
give to my thoughts.
with respect,
Donna Smith
There are too many to list but these are some websites about Native
cultural misappropriation:
