What is people's fascination with being Native (or any culture that isn't theirs...like African?) You can't just *poof* one day declare you're a Native simply because you *think* you practice Native ways. Being Native is in the blood (unlike Witchcraft). It's not just a bunch of rituals and beliefs that makes a Native a Native, it goes far beyond that. I know this because I AM Native. I come from a Native family that hold strong ties to their beliefs and practices as well as their culture.
In a sense I am a complete contradiction. I am a Native Witch...but I don't see that as being a tradition of Witchcraft or Native Americanism (or Canadianism in this case). I say I'm a Native Witch, because I am of Native ancestry. My mother is full Native, My aunts and uncles are too...as are many of my cousins; My Grandfather and Grandmother were full Native (may they rest peacefully and blessed); I am half Native...my father is of irish ancestry (probably where my love of my practice comes from considering some of his family were Druids). The Witch part comes into play because I CHOSE to practice Witchcraft. I decided to begin studying the ways and practices of Witchcraft, and continued from there. The contradiction lies in the fact that Natives hate the comparison to being Pagans. For me to say I'm a Native Witch is a contradiction if I were to use the label as a tradition (which I don't. I say the term to detail what I am and what I do)
Now, to continue with the rant. I aggrivates me to see people claim to be a "Native Witch" as though it were a tradition in and of itself. There's really no such thing as a Native Witch (here is the contradiction). It's not a real path. Natives balk at the mere thought of being labelled Pagan, much less be compared to Witches. Witchcraft is thought to have originated in Europe (generally where many "Witches" were said to have practiced). Natives largely inhabited the Americas, and resent the Europeans for what they did (hence the shudder when being compared to as Pagan).
It also aggrivates and irritates me when I see people who practice things like Wicca, having no real idea WHAT Wicca is, throw in bits and pieces from what they *think* is Native practices and beliefs and think it makes things legitimate.
I'm all for individuality, and uniqueness when people practice what they believe, but when you start making false claims about something, THEN I have a problem. Totems for example. Many Wiccans (particularly the teenagers) see someone talking about Totems and think to themselves "I want a totem too" so they go out and research bogus websites that tell them what their "totem" is (and it's ALWAYS a wolf, or a raven, or a bear or something popular like that), and they think cool, and Native so it's legit. I think not.
Totems come from grueling quests that push the body to it's limits. It's not something plucked from a website.
Names also aggrivate me. People seem to think that by taking on a "craft" name, it means creating a cheap knockoff, english version of native names...like Dances with Wolves or Stands with a Fist (to borrow names from a popular movie). Taking on a personal name doesn't mean you have to put together ridiculous words that TRY to sound Native. Come up with your own using IMAGINATION!
Sorry, but I'm just irritated at people's ignorance regarding the Native way of life. I reiterate. There's no such thing as a Native Witch (as a path or tradition). The only way one is a Native Witch, is if they are of Native ancestry, who just happen to practice Witchcraft. Dont' piss on my head and tell me it's raining. Don't sell me bullshit that there's some "Alliance" between Witches and Natives. I know better.
Hi: Just wanted to tell you I agree this comparison does not make sense, how could Native people's original beliefs be the same as European people who assimilated them?
ReplyDeleteHmmm... except for maybe the Red River Metis who had blended European Christian and Native spiritual beliefs.
Also I think it is quite annoying for people consider "Native Americans" (or Canadians) as one thing when there were so many different Bands, Native peoples in the Americans spoke more than 70 distinct languages jeez and their cultures had been for thousands of years before European contact.
Btw love your blog!
Thank you so much for your comment...and compliment. Yes, there is a distinct difference between bands and traditions...my Ojibwa heritage is not the same thing as the Cree heritage, or the Iriquois...they all have their own unique traditions.
ReplyDeleteI'm a white Wiccan (not witch yet) and I try to tell fellow caucasian Pagans to be culturally aware. Many think they're respecting the Native's practices by including white-washed versions into their work, but they don't understand that we were never INVITED to steal their practices. We just take, take, and continue to take from the Natives, and now we're starting to take from the African religions as well as if we have a right to steal everyone's culture. I'm not innocent either, as I used to be one of those people who thought very ignorant things about Natives in the past. (I was young, but that's not a good excuse.) There's respecting Native/African religions/cultures, and then there's downright stealing and exploiting them. Many do the latter. Sometimes I wonder how I'm going to collect all my people and talk to them like they're 3. "No, You cannot wear that, that's a sacred outfit." "No, that's no good to try to talk to ancestors that aren't even yours." "Go take a seat in the corner, kiddies."
ReplyDeleteBlah.
I'm probably getting at totally different points than what you were saying lol. It aggravates me though.
Anyway, I agree with every single thing you said.
I appreciate your comment. It IS aggravating, and I agree that many "steal" practices, if not outright disrespect many sacred native traditions. I see many acts participated in by many a "Wiccan" (and I'll use the term loosely for this point), utilizing many bastardized traditional native acts and shake my head in disgust. Wicca has nothing to do with Native traditions and Natives have nothing to do with Wicca, so why combine the acts.
DeleteSorry to start ranting. But yes, thank you for your comment. :) :)