Cultural appropriation is not cultural appreciation
Many many years ago (when dinosaurs ruled the earth!), I was a semi naked, definitely barefoot, hippie girl, at one of the “Rainbow Gatherings”, a large festival of peaceful, mind-expanding, earth worshippers gathering in a large National Forest. I believe this one was in the Umpqua National Forest, in Southeastern Oregon. We were a blissed out, peace and love embracing, mushroom taking, music making, ritual loving people. I hitchhiked there from Oakland California. I felt like I was in heaven, in the most beautiful, dense forest, participating in sweat lodge, circles, and even being served healthy oatmeal in the morning by none other than Ram Dass; I was looking raw, and ripe and smelling of campfire, and morning weed. At some point, in the main arena where the speakers talked, a young native Indian woman started talking. She was visibly upset, and told us all, with no holds barred, how disrespectful some of us were being, with their sacred rituals. Specifically the sweat lodge. She said that in her culture, the men, and the women DO NOT mix, and there is no nudity, not even partial. She could not believe what we were doing, and told us so, without blinking.
That was my very first enlightening of the mishaps of cultural appropriation, the disrespect. It was an awakening for me, one of many, in my life. I continue to have them.
As a dancer of black/Brasilian martial arts, and of West African dance, and Haitian dance, as a white girl, a white dancer, who may have the moves, or the DNA memory of past lives, but maybe did not “earn the right” to portray some experiences. Maybe I had the past life mojo, but my whiteness humbled me, annealed me, on my karmic, cultural quest.
But back to Native Americans for a moment:
There was an interesting article recently making the rounds on Facebook, at least with my shamanic practitioner friends. It was about cultural appropriation, specifically, in North America, and looking at the indigenous Indians, both here, and in Canada.
The point the woman was making was spot on, to be aware of, and diligent in respecting cultures rituals, sacred ways. She showed pictures of about 4 self proclaimed Shamanic practitioners, and was alluding to a premise that they are taking, and making monies from others sacred cultures, and ways.
The article had some good points, and I think in many ways she is correct, especially in a world here, that is eating their race, and sacred culture, the way we do our resources, maybe without thinking, just taking advantage of.
Where is the medicine culture of all these white people? It is OK to support a cultures sacredness, or the items therein, but not to do them, not to take it as your own.
I will post the article here for your viewing…
What is cultural appropriation?
http://www.stonecirclepress.com/blog-9658-ancient-spirit-rising/what-is-cultural-appropriation
But,
what is interesting, is that I have studied with 3 of these teachers listed on her page. Sandra Ingerman for over 3 years.
I have taken numerous courses with Betsy Bergstrom as well. I know that they call themselves Shamanic Practitioners, and not " Medicine Women”, which is the cultural expression for Indian culture.
They have never sung a sacred song without the permission of the one who created it, or by the head of their tribe.
The word Shaman is a Siberian “Tungus” tribe term, meaning, “One who sees, or One who sees in the dark.
Sandra commented after reading the article quite succinctly:
This issue has been up for so long. Shamanism is a universal practice. We all have ancestors who practiced shamanism. With the work I am teaching we are not taking practices from other cultures as again it is universal. But there are people who do take ceremonies that native people have asked us not to take and share with others. Many of teaching and practicing shamanism stay away from taking what has asked not to be shared. And in all shamanic cultures shamans were paid for their work. So there are two sides to the story. There are the native people thrilled by how many people are practicing shamanism today and there are those who feel that all shamanism should only performed by native people. We just have to work from integrity as we come up with our unique way of working with ancient practices that deal with our modern day issues. Blessings!
I have loved the answers of so many of my Shamanic practitioner colleagues and friends, and I am so grateful, as they have much respect, and experience.
They see Shamanism as a universal practice, with each culture being a different dialect. The hardship is when someone claims the ritual as their own, or disrespects the sacred ceremonies, or, in some way, only takes.
Most agree that we all have ancestors who practiced and were healers. Most agree that we have all had many lives, in various forms and timelines, and have probably been Native American, South American, Sami, Celtic, Russian, Australian, African. Some of us strongly feel one more than the other, and the teachings, and ways seem second nature, or we are strangely attracted to them. We have done this many times before. We have the information, and experiences in our DNA.
And, from what I’ve seen, read, and heard, have deep respect for the wishes of a particular tribe.
The other interesting thing mentioned, is that nature is at the basis of so much of this medicine, and art, and teaching, and that is for all of us. We all know the rivers, the mountains. We know the transformative power of fire, for example, and the teachings and mysteries are in us, in our collective unconscious.
No one can claim the coyote, and it’s cunning trickster medicine. Many cultures have stories about animals, or elements of nature, like thunder, or lightening, for example, and even see and revere them as alive, as deities, with a consciousness. These things are universal, and are in us.
There are some cultures that want to be private, that their objects have power in its containment,, and that is ok. They need to be respected, and supported in that belief, and necessity.
Some cultures are proud, even grateful, that others choose to carry on the teachings, and rituals that are many lifetimes old. Some even change, to fit the times, and the technologies.
I will admit, that I have a shamanic journeying app on my iPhone.
At times, and places where my drum or rattle won’t do, or won’t go, I can put on the sound of the drum and rattle, to invoke a state on NOR (non ordinary reality).
I wonder what Siberian shamans generations would think of that!
I know that all of my teachers have stressed to us the simple fact, and importance of getting your own answers in your journies. Shamanic journeying is a self revelatory art, or ritual.
It is hundreds of thousands of years old.
It is one of the very the first rituals.
We feel it, and know it within us.
Again, I am grateful for my colleagues, and their answers, and musings, including, that the author of the article, is trying to push her new book, about the subject. She has an agenda. She has never met, or studied with any of these teachers. She could have had experiences with the few individuals who have no integrity with the earth, and her sacredness, but just the hunger of the ego. These people can be dangerous, and cause mal intent, albeit unconsciously. There are also, the well meaning seekers who would fall prey to these “ self made medicine men”, because of their own pain, or urge to grow, and the unconscious fame machine has found another willing host.
So very sad, and the damage done for the general public towards the conscious, earth revering, healers, and teachers, who will be belittled, and disempowered because of them, and the trust that was abused.
I acknowledge the charlatans, the fame and money grabbers, who hook onto the latest metaphysical craze.
here is another quick link, about a photographer taking nude photos of a model, in a sacred mountain site. The Maori that honor that site were rightfully, pissed off, and disrespected.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39789508
Maori upset by nude photo on sacred mountaintop
I leave you with this quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (remember “The Woman Who Run With the Wolves” book?) I think I have two or three of them!
We do not become healers.
We came as healers. We are.
Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not become storytellers.
We came as carriers of the stories we and our ancestors actually lived. We are. Some of us are still catching up to what we are. We do not become artists. We came as artists. We are. Some of us are still catching up to what we are. We do not become writers.. dancers.. musicians.. helpers.. peacemakers. We came as such. We are. Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not learn to love in this sense.
We came as Love. We are Love.
Some of us are still catching up to who we truly are.
- A Simple Prayer for Remembering the Motherlode by Clarissa Pinkola Estes from The Contemplari manuscript ©2009
The picture just below is a Yakut shaman, from Siberia.
Gentle blessings on your day,
Helena
Many many years ago (when dinosaurs ruled the earth!), I was a semi naked, definitely barefoot, hippie girl, at one of the “Rainbow Gatherings”, a large festival of peaceful, mind-expanding, earth worshippers gathering in a large National Forest. I believe this one was in the Umpqua National Forest, in Southeastern Oregon. We were a blissed out, peace and love embracing, mushroom taking, music making, ritual loving people. I hitchhiked there from Oakland California. I felt like I was in heaven, in the most beautiful, dense forest, participating in sweat lodge, circles, and even being served healthy oatmeal in the morning by none other than Ram Dass; I was looking raw, and ripe and smelling of campfire, and morning weed. At some point, in the main arena where the speakers talked, a young native Indian woman started talking. She was visibly upset, and told us all, with no holds barred, how disrespectful some of us were being, with their sacred rituals. Specifically the sweat lodge. She said that in her culture, the men, and the women DO NOT mix, and there is no nudity, not even partial. She could not believe what we were doing, and told us so, without blinking.
That was my very first enlightening of the mishaps of cultural appropriation, the disrespect. It was an awakening for me, one of many, in my life. I continue to have them.
As a dancer of black/Brasilian martial arts, and of West African dance, and Haitian dance, as a white girl, a white dancer, who may have the moves, or the DNA memory of past lives, but maybe did not “earn the right” to portray some experiences. Maybe I had the past life mojo, but my whiteness humbled me, annealed me, on my karmic, cultural quest.
But back to Native Americans for a moment:
There was an interesting article recently making the rounds on Facebook, at least with my shamanic practitioner friends. It was about cultural appropriation, specifically, in North America, and looking at the indigenous Indians, both here, and in Canada.
The point the woman was making was spot on, to be aware of, and diligent in respecting cultures rituals, sacred ways. She showed pictures of about 4 self proclaimed Shamanic practitioners, and was alluding to a premise that they are taking, and making monies from others sacred cultures, and ways.
The article had some good points, and I think in many ways she is correct, especially in a world here, that is eating their race, and sacred culture, the way we do our resources, maybe without thinking, just taking advantage of.
Where is the medicine culture of all these white people? It is OK to support a cultures sacredness, or the items therein, but not to do them, not to take it as your own.
I will post the article here for your viewing…
What is cultural appropriation?
http://www.stonecirclepress.com/blog-9658-ancient-spirit-rising/what-is-cultural-appropriation
But,
what is interesting, is that I have studied with 3 of these teachers listed on her page. Sandra Ingerman for over 3 years.
I have taken numerous courses with Betsy Bergstrom as well. I know that they call themselves Shamanic Practitioners, and not " Medicine Women”, which is the cultural expression for Indian culture.
They have never sung a sacred song without the permission of the one who created it, or by the head of their tribe.
The word Shaman is a Siberian “Tungus” tribe term, meaning, “One who sees, or One who sees in the dark.
Sandra commented after reading the article quite succinctly:
This issue has been up for so long. Shamanism is a universal practice. We all have ancestors who practiced shamanism. With the work I am teaching we are not taking practices from other cultures as again it is universal. But there are people who do take ceremonies that native people have asked us not to take and share with others. Many of teaching and practicing shamanism stay away from taking what has asked not to be shared. And in all shamanic cultures shamans were paid for their work. So there are two sides to the story. There are the native people thrilled by how many people are practicing shamanism today and there are those who feel that all shamanism should only performed by native people. We just have to work from integrity as we come up with our unique way of working with ancient practices that deal with our modern day issues. Blessings!
I have loved the answers of so many of my Shamanic practitioner colleagues and friends, and I am so grateful, as they have much respect, and experience.
They see Shamanism as a universal practice, with each culture being a different dialect. The hardship is when someone claims the ritual as their own, or disrespects the sacred ceremonies, or, in some way, only takes.
Most agree that we all have ancestors who practiced and were healers. Most agree that we have all had many lives, in various forms and timelines, and have probably been Native American, South American, Sami, Celtic, Russian, Australian, African. Some of us strongly feel one more than the other, and the teachings, and ways seem second nature, or we are strangely attracted to them. We have done this many times before. We have the information, and experiences in our DNA.
And, from what I’ve seen, read, and heard, have deep respect for the wishes of a particular tribe.
The other interesting thing mentioned, is that nature is at the basis of so much of this medicine, and art, and teaching, and that is for all of us. We all know the rivers, the mountains. We know the transformative power of fire, for example, and the teachings and mysteries are in us, in our collective unconscious.
No one can claim the coyote, and it’s cunning trickster medicine. Many cultures have stories about animals, or elements of nature, like thunder, or lightening, for example, and even see and revere them as alive, as deities, with a consciousness. These things are universal, and are in us.
There are some cultures that want to be private, that their objects have power in its containment,, and that is ok. They need to be respected, and supported in that belief, and necessity.
Some cultures are proud, even grateful, that others choose to carry on the teachings, and rituals that are many lifetimes old. Some even change, to fit the times, and the technologies.
I will admit, that I have a shamanic journeying app on my iPhone.
At times, and places where my drum or rattle won’t do, or won’t go, I can put on the sound of the drum and rattle, to invoke a state on NOR (non ordinary reality).
I wonder what Siberian shamans generations would think of that!
I know that all of my teachers have stressed to us the simple fact, and importance of getting your own answers in your journies. Shamanic journeying is a self revelatory art, or ritual.
It is hundreds of thousands of years old.
It is one of the very the first rituals.
We feel it, and know it within us.
Again, I am grateful for my colleagues, and their answers, and musings, including, that the author of the article, is trying to push her new book, about the subject. She has an agenda. She has never met, or studied with any of these teachers. She could have had experiences with the few individuals who have no integrity with the earth, and her sacredness, but just the hunger of the ego. These people can be dangerous, and cause mal intent, albeit unconsciously. There are also, the well meaning seekers who would fall prey to these “ self made medicine men”, because of their own pain, or urge to grow, and the unconscious fame machine has found another willing host.
So very sad, and the damage done for the general public towards the conscious, earth revering, healers, and teachers, who will be belittled, and disempowered because of them, and the trust that was abused.
I acknowledge the charlatans, the fame and money grabbers, who hook onto the latest metaphysical craze.
here is another quick link, about a photographer taking nude photos of a model, in a sacred mountain site. The Maori that honor that site were rightfully, pissed off, and disrespected.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39789508
Maori upset by nude photo on sacred mountaintop
I leave you with this quote by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (remember “The Woman Who Run With the Wolves” book?) I think I have two or three of them!
We do not become healers.
We came as healers. We are.
Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not become storytellers.
We came as carriers of the stories we and our ancestors actually lived. We are. Some of us are still catching up to what we are. We do not become artists. We came as artists. We are. Some of us are still catching up to what we are. We do not become writers.. dancers.. musicians.. helpers.. peacemakers. We came as such. We are. Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not learn to love in this sense.
We came as Love. We are Love.
Some of us are still catching up to who we truly are.
- A Simple Prayer for Remembering the Motherlode by Clarissa Pinkola Estes from The Contemplari manuscript ©2009
The picture just below is a Yakut shaman, from Siberia.
Gentle blessings on your day,
Helena
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