Read on Twitter
I liked @/theryangeorge until I saw this video. I get that he thinks its apt giving the skit, but I was only reminded about NonNatives mining Indigenous cultures to use ceremonial items as props.
(To his defenders coming to tell me it's just a joke? You can skip this thread.)
(To his defenders coming to tell me it's just a joke? You can skip this thread.)
If his defenders assert that I should get over it because George didn't mean anything harmful by using a sacred part of our medicine cultures as a joke and that I should just get over it?
Well...
Well...
I will get over it when you get off the North American continent, defenders. I know Mr. George dgaf about the misuse of Dreamcatchers "because it's just a skit, a joke" but
*points at gif* this is how shit like this starts.
But defenders you can go now.
*points at gif* this is how shit like this starts.
But defenders you can go now.
The Anishinaabe (Ojibwe),
& Three Fires Confederacy tribes (google it,)
the Lakota,
& the Mi'kMaq Indigenous Nations still use dreamcatchers ceremonially today.
I will mostly be talking about Anishinaabe ties to the dreamcatcher.
& Three Fires Confederacy tribes (google it,)
the Lakota,
& the Mi'kMaq Indigenous Nations still use dreamcatchers ceremonially today.
I will mostly be talking about Anishinaabe ties to the dreamcatcher.
So if you are a NonNative who has a dreamcatcher, or who “stans” for Dreamcatcher (the kpop band):
maybe don't.
maybe don't.
Dreamcatchers are a ceremonial, sacred part of Nish, 3Fires, Lakota and Mi'kMaq cultures even though many other tribes began making their own during the pan Indian movement in the 70s.
When you try to use them, wear them, make them, sell them, or buy them you are distorting what they are and what they are used for. (see Ryan's usage of them as a prop.) Do not get dreamcatchers tattooed on you.
If you're not Indigenous, don't make them, buy them, sell them, wear them, or try to use them. They are not 'art,' they are items of sacred importance to the above mentioned tribes.
Do not be this person. v
Do not be this person. v
Dreamcatchers are not for everyone to distort and misuse. If you receive one as a gift from a NonNative?
Please don't hang them over your bed. They are not meant to be hung as wall art or worn as jewelry.
Or "remixed" like this. I see you, kpop band
Please don't hang them over your bed. They are not meant to be hung as wall art or worn as jewelry.
Or "remixed" like this. I see you, kpop band
They are ceremonial medicine for Anishinaabe & 3 Council Tribes, Lakota, & Mi'kMaq Nations that use them. They have a specific purpose for each tribe's ceremony. No I won't tell you because my explanation might end up on an Etsy listing. They are not toys. Don't >
put them on t-shirts, or wear them as earrings, or buy them without understanding what they do.
If you disregard these warnings you will be seen by many Natives as a cultural vulture, a thief. Dreamcatchers are not trinkets for your misuse. Please respect that.
If you disregard these warnings you will be seen by many Natives as a cultural vulture, a thief. Dreamcatchers are not trinkets for your misuse. Please respect that.
FAQ
Q "But what if a Non-Anishinaabe, Non-Lakota,or Non-Mi'kMaq person sold me one?"
A: They shouldn’t have. Esp. If they aren't Native at all.... but ...
see question 2 below:
Q "But what if a Non-Anishinaabe, Non-Lakota,or Non-Mi'kMaq person sold me one?"
A: They shouldn’t have. Esp. If they aren't Native at all.... but ...
see question 2 below:
FAQ
Q? But Natives who aren’t Anishinaabe/Lakota/Mi'kMaq need to sell these to make money!
A: I don’t begrudge a Native who MUST feed their family or themselves with it, but if you bought one, please consider taking it off the wall in your bedroom >
Q? But Natives who aren’t Anishinaabe/Lakota/Mi'kMaq need to sell these to make money!
A: I don’t begrudge a Native who MUST feed their family or themselves with it, but if you bought one, please consider taking it off the wall in your bedroom >
and storing it until you can ask a Nish, Lakota, or Mi'kMaq what to do with it. If none can be found my advice is consider gently disassembling it & reusing the materials or returning it to the tribe of the artist. If >
no provenance for it can be found, or if it has metal hoops assume it is not Native Made and please disassemble it.
Do not hang them above your bed, or anywhere in your bedroom. Do not tattoo them onto your skin or wear them as clothing/jewelry.
Do not hang them above your bed, or anywhere in your bedroom. Do not tattoo them onto your skin or wear them as clothing/jewelry.
Message to other Indigenous people
If you are a Native who is not Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), 3 Fires Confederacy, Lakota,
or Mi'kMaq & you are making DC's, I ask you if you would be okay with me making art of your
If you are a Native who is not Anishinaabe (Ojibwe), 3 Fires Confederacy, Lakota,
or Mi'kMaq & you are making DC's, I ask you if you would be okay with me making art of your
Tribe & selling that. Intertribal relations doesn’t mean I should make and sell katsintithu dolls or Hatałii paintings.
Bawaajigan (dreams) are important to Anishinaabe Nations. Dreamcatchers are important to Nish, Lakota, 3 Fires Confederacy & Mi'kMaq
Bawaajigan (dreams) are important to Anishinaabe Nations. Dreamcatchers are important to Nish, Lakota, 3 Fires Confederacy & Mi'kMaq
but dreamcatchers are constantly misused.
Please respect this fact and consider selling your own tribal creations instead.
Please respect this fact and consider selling your own tribal creations instead.
If you are a NonNative buying mass produced Dreamcatchers (I have seen Chinese “dreamcatchers”) & selling them anywhere… stop it.
( https://made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Dream_Catcher.html )
Stop taking from Indigenous cultures.
( https://made-in-china.com/products-search/hot-china-products/Dream_Catcher.html )
Stop taking from Indigenous cultures.
If you're about to ask me any questions about this, see https://twitter.com/wordglass/status/1345938902591234049?s=20 first
I'f you're still here to tell me to stop being a SJW, please see https://twitter.com/wordglass/status/1345938865761107970 tweets 1-3. Any other devil's advocate or alt right-left types can move along
I'f you're still here to tell me to stop being a SJW, please see https://twitter.com/wordglass/status/1345938865761107970 tweets 1-3. Any other devil's advocate or alt right-left types can move along
because I won't really be engaging with this 2021 Mari's Thoughts on Dreamcatchers Thread which is a more intertribally inclusive version of the one I did in August. If you don't know who I am, see my pinned tweet.
-Bamapi
-Bamapi
A ble3ak update
the hard reality that I've been forced to confront is that Indigenous culture items like the dreamcatcher are so visible around the world that the english names for them is trademarked, and I can afford to go up against the ATM manufacturing company that 1/
the hard reality that I've been forced to confront is that Indigenous culture items like the dreamcatcher are so visible around the world that the english names for them is trademarked, and I can afford to go up against the ATM manufacturing company that 1/
owns the other three megacorps that own each other and operates and finance the Dreamcatcher band.
Nor can I go up against the international megacorp that uses the word dreamcatcher to sell a line of audio visual products.
Nor can I go up against the international megacorp that uses the word dreamcatcher to sell a line of audio visual products.
I want to fight them, but you have videos of Cherokee Native people being paid to show folks how to make them, and you have @shaunking selling them at one point and it should have been obvious
Even though there are ~7 million Indigenous people in the united states and canada, people still treat us as the romantic extinct myth they can take and misuse and center themselves wearing our cultures like mascots. After all, the way NonIndigenous here in the US treat
https://www.roadarch.com/giants/ifindians.html
they treat our bodies like jokes to help them sell products.
they treat our bodies like jokes to help them sell products.
10 years ago I would have gone full steam ahead, no matter that giant megacorps and tiny tea companies and even hair products misuse the names. What they are doing is wrong, but I can barely breathe without coughing right now, and as long as there are companies churning
out products...and it hit me pretty hard. Some, many people don't care. I ask too much of them to respect cultures that they only see as full of opportunities to commercialize. Sorry, but even as angry as that makes me, it's just not the most important fight right now.
