Sifting through Cultural Appropriation

Do you desperately want to belong- to feel like you fit within a great community, but are also worried about offending others?

And if part of your identity or personal history falls within a dominant culture, are you worried about offending others in non-dominant groups by cultural appropriation?

Do you love nature, and feel how nature heals and want that for all of us, but also see that nature is divided, commodified, and owned in unfair ways?

I get you.

I've been trying to figure out for decades how to practice cultural humility, while becoming aware of and engaging less in cultural appropriation. It’s tricky. And it makes me feel nervous and a bit scared, and I have to call on my inner hope, trust and courage to move forward. I have to ask my desire for equity, liberation and belonging to take lead over my fear of shame or rejection. Each time, it’s tough. For many reasons. Though not as tough as being on the end of discrimination and erasure. The beautiful thing is, the struggle to not appropriate is a part of belonging.

I'll share my personal story below.

Here’s a few definitions to start with, if you’re not sure what I’m talking about:

What is cultural appropriation?

“Cultural appropriation refers to the use of objects or elements of a non-dominant culture

in a way that reinforces stereotypes (https://www.verywellmind.com/harmful-psychological-effects-of-racial-stereotyping-5069394) 

or contributes to oppression

(https://www.verywellmind.com/an-equity-practitioner-reckons-with-ethical-relationships-5210881) 

and doesn't respect their original meaning or give credit to their source. It also includes the unauthorized use of parts of their culture (their dress, dance, etc.) without permission.

In this way, cultural appropriation is a layered and nuanced phenomenon that many people may have trouble understanding and may not realize when they are doing it themselves.

It can be natural to merge and blend cultures as people from different backgrounds come together and interact. In fact, many wonderful inventions and creations have been born from the merging of such cultures (such as country music).

However, the line is drawn when a dominant cultural group makes use of elements of a non-dominant group in a way that the non-dominant group views as exploitative.” 

Read more at:

VeryWellMind (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cultural-appropriation-5070458) What Is Cultural Appropriation? (https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-cultural-appropriation-5070458)

***

What is cultural humility?

Cultural humility is a lifelong process of self-reflection and self-critique. It involves acknowledging differences and accepting others for who they are.

It is defined as “the keen awareness of how culture shapes all individuals’ experiences and perspectives, including the impact of power, privilege, and oppression.”

Cultural humility is the “ability to maintain an interpersonal stance that is other-oriented (or open to the other) in relation to aspects of cultural identity that are most important to the [person].”  Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_humility)

A note about how this came about for me:

With a deep desire for a world of equity and joy, I’ve often found myself asking, “What exactly am I supposed to do?!” because we live in a world with so many injustices to change. Pre-parenthood I spent lots of time in volunteer community organizing for justice, equity, and liberation. I joined BIPOC-led groups like the CIW and followed their lead. In my busier life, like everyone who’s busier, I’ve had to make choices. One area I’ve continued to invest in is awareness of my microaggressions, cultural appropriation, and cultural belonging. As I’ve focused more on these areas, I still hear my question, “What exactly am I supposed to do?” because I’m not in a group with clear goals led by BIPOC voices. Instead, I’m sifting through my interpersonal relating and my personal connections, and at times unsure of the best steps. So I’m learning.

Sifting through Cultural Appropriation

Because I like to learn from deep reflection on real life experiences (okay- so I love it), and I know some of you do too, I want to share my most recent learning story with you. I hired a graphic designed to help me make a logo that would express the energy of my work. The bison photo above was one of her drafts, based on my requests.

I showed a few friends, one of whom stated that since I'm white, using this bison in the way it was designed, looked like cultural appropriation. Sad and nervous, I knew I had to explore this further.

So I asked around for help, and an acquaintance referred me to an indigenous designer, Iris Cliff (they/them). They agreed to give me feedback (for fair compensation) on my logo draft, and in summary, opined that "I think you should remove the circle from the logo because the circle starts to visually hint that there is a story. In some Native art and sacred objects they use shapes inside an animal to tell a story or hold symbolic meaning."

While I was trying to imply meaning (the circle moon was representing shadow inside of us, and a burden on our backs that also provide light), I didn't want to imply I had native affiliation or training, because I don't. I was glad to learn more from them about why using this animal might be misleading.

The following is about half the response I received from indigenous designer, Iris Cliff (they/them) (shared with their permission; the bolded sections are bolded by me.)

“...Sometimes folks connect Native Americans with buffalos, but they don’t always know why. This lack of knowledge is an example of erasure. You hold responsibility when using an image or icon that is significant to a culture. If you choose to use the buffalo as your logo then you could set up a page on your website informing your clients that you are not Indigenous and offer information to your clients about Native American history and culture. In addition, you could offer monetary reparations to future Native clients or a percentage to Plains nations.

My advice on cultural appropriation… For many Indigenous folks in the US, our cultural and spiritual practices were illegal until 1978. After the American Indian Religious Freedom Act was passed, we slowly gained access to, and use of, sacred sites, objects, plants and animals.

… Before colonists arrived and altered the lives of Indigenous people, Indigenous people in the midwest relied on the buffalo for food, clothing, etc. This relationship with the buffalo was overhauled by genocidal policies and practices of colonization. In response the buffalo’s symbolism was enhanced in the Indigenous community. The buffalo became a message of sacredness and resilience.

Today, Indigenous people are reconnecting, restoring, and preserving the prairie that the buffalo roamed peacefully before settler colonialism. Less than 1,000 buffalo remained after the mass slaughter of nearly 30 million buffalo by the 1900s.

Many Native folks have faced genocide and assimilation and are still fighting for basic human rights as well as visibility... In order for there to be change across the world about Native American stereotypes and culture - we need non-Indigenous support.

Here are a few Indigenous brands to review and support:

Eighth Generation (https://eighthgeneration.com/)

Urban Native Era (https://urbannativeera.com/)

Tanka Fund for Tanka Bars (https://tankafund.org/the-return/)

Additional Links:

Paths Remembered (https://www.pathsremembered.org/about-us/)

Native Appropriations by AMR (https://www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/podcast/episode/46e6ef0d/native-appropriations)

Illuminative: Invisibility (https://illuminative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IllumiNative_industry-guide_June-2022.pdf)

Reclaiming Native Truth (https://rnt.firstnations.org/)

~Iris Cliff

They/Them

Assiniboine &

Turtle Mountain Chippewa

Illustrator + Designer

www.iriscliff.com (http://www.iriscliff.com/) ”

***

While I knew about the genocide and massive forced movements of indigenous peoples when colonizers violently stole their land,

and while I knew that indigenous tribes have spiritual practices and ceremonies based on relationships with plants and animals,

it hadn't fully dawned on me that the removal of native people from their land also removed them from the specific sacred sites that were essential to their religious rituals, and when these sites were made into public land or privately owned, there were no longer useable for native ceremonies. From Iris’ message, I looked up and read more about it here: American Indian Religious Freedom Act (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Religious_Freedom_Act)

So, I decided to change my logo from the buffalo to the deer, which is relevant for me in many ways. My extended family all hunt deer for food processing. I grew up seeing deer hanging in my grandparents' shed and garage, and I visited the small, local meat locker that processes deer. I grew up eating deer meat.

I see deer regularly on the land I live with now.

I love to look in deer's eyes. I find depth and beauty there.

Deer are abundant, strong and graceful. They also hold mystery in their silence. I like these qualities as part of a healing journey.

I had thought the bison logo would create a sense of belonging for me and the people I serve, because it is confident, grounded, and so integrated into the plains of Kansas we live on. But if it is misleading or contributes to other's erasure, then it doesn't.  The deer actually is a more accurate belonging for me.

Though it cost me a fair amount of time and money to change (I had to compensate my designer to start over), obviously it was worth it. I also donated to the Tanka Fund. I posted the other informational links on my Facebook page. I've still been thinking about what else to do.

Then something came up- the story in the next blog. See you there.