When a Scout has attained the rank of Star Scout, he must complete additional requirements to be elected as a Brave in the Koshare Indian Dancers: To become a Chief in the Koshare Indian Dancers, a boy must first become an Eagle Scout. Their program has taken a culturally significant aesthetic and turned it into a pantomime that lacks the meaning and connections that are deeply rooted in the collective psyche of Native Americans. The beginning of the contemporary powwow can be traced back to the Hethushka that developed among Omaha and Ponca warrior societies in the early 1820s. Its worth keeping in mind that you can certainly say or do insensitive and racist things without necessarily taking anything from a culture. When it became clear that she wasnt going to, once again I did not speak out, not wanting to interrupt the flow of the group settling into the ritual planned for the afternoon. Then came a hair raising Ojibway scalp dance, the Sioux circle dance, the sage chicken hop, the toe-heel step all intricate and strenuous. If you want to do the Arctic Circle trip, fly or take a train to Rovaniemi. Their repertoire includes dances from the Sioux, Kiowa, Ojibwe, Blackfoot, Navajo, Comanche, and Hopi. Instead, I went and spoke with the drum teacher. "I fear that this may become a trend amongst non-Indigenous spiritual healers, which will enablethem to continue profiting from Indigenous ceremonies/teachings without having to address or be held accountable by the community.". For example, you might recognize that cultural Halloween costumes and blackface are racist and never acceptable, but what about fashion influences? The literature in the field of arts in health demonstrate the specific ways a drum circle may affect wellbeing through socialization, rhythmic entrainment, and expression. The drum circle is a commercial enterprise wrapped in the guise of spiritual experience. I have always tried to be aware of these issues but it is complicated and each session I facilitate there wil be many different pieces I am trying to juggle and deal with; from late arrivals, confusion in the music, shy participants and so on, so I might not be always able to address every piece as well as it could be done at every session, but attempt to cover all the important pieces I can get to, that present themselves into my thinking as i facilitate I think that having a word with the facilitator in private in a kindly and clear way was a very good idea as it avoided putting her on the spot in public, where she might have found it very challenging, and it might have factured the space she was creating, or diminished its powerAnd it seems she was very open to your thinking so all good To my thinking, if there was something very offensive and unkind, very direspectul of race or culture, then these would certainly be times where an immediate response would be needed, although I would think this sort of situation is very rare in this kind of setting. So I wonder if the NAMM show will stop the big drum circle they let happen after hours in the main courtyard of the convention center? Vol. "I never received a penny or any type of remuneration for these drum circles. At the first break I thought of saying something to them, but there was a tattle-tale vibe to that. (2016). The Scalp Dance was part of the dance complex generally referred to as Nandobaniishimowin, or the War Dance. "Click? Multicultural food and art? This acknowledgement of being on Native American land at the opening of events is something I am used to and have made a commitment to myself to do whenever I am facilitating a workshop or speaking at a gathering. Lalonde D. (2019). What is (the wrong of) cultural appropriation? Appropriation is already a microaggression against people of color. If you dont understand how you messed up, do some work to understand why so you can avoid it in the future. Demonstrate quality in at least five of our major dances. But that didnt prevent me from dancing. Tribal economies were basically non-existent. Many trends stem from elements appropriated from other cultures, so you might not realize your actions have passed the point of appreciation. In fact, there is no evidence Sheila Black was paid for ceremonies. United States Senate Special Committee on Aging, Stepping Up to Address Cultural Appropriation. The reality is that adjudicating between cultural appreciation and appropriation is never simple, and that is because cultures are vast, complex, historically determined and . Here are the best options. Each team will be given $10 to purchase necessary materials on Friday, June 23rd 2017. CBCNews reached out to Andy Rickard, chief of Garden River First Nation, inquiring if he was familiar with Barr. Like most Red Lake families, we went to powwows as spectators. Still, I am uncertain about my actions at the retreat. Historically, deciding exactly what culture is hasn't been easy. Thank you for sharing this, Judy. People try to pretend like one thing is insulting to a culture, without understanding the complexity of a culture and everything else it has. The Koshares appropriation extends far beyond Tewa cultural property. It became popular on the app TikTok in 2020 but that isnt where it started. Dressed in turkey feather or porcupine and deer head- dresses, wearing leather chaps, and stripped to the waist, the band of 18 warriors, led by heap big chief Francis Burshears rushed into the lodge room and captured the attention and applause of more than twice their number. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Some people noted that since she grew up locally, her hair and outfit simply showed respectful participation. What is required is concerted effort to bring about that change and, in the effort, decolonize ourselves from the distortions of the settler mindset. 2, pp. A previous version of this story included two screenshots suggesting the wording about pricing on Black's website changed after speaking with CBC News. By entrainment, I mean that a new voice, a collective voice, emerges from the group as they drum together. Required fields are marked *. Many schools and workplaces even ban or limit natural hairstyles. Are the music and the traditions being treated with respect? Can people of this culture freely use this item without discrimination? "A lot of people that I know don't support non-Natives taking these kinds of ceremonial situations and turning them into their money-making happenings," he said. Loveless G. (2020). ': Spirituality, Community and Wellbeing in Christ Apostolic Church, Dublin. If you do use any elements from that culture, you ask permission and give credit to the creator or source. I'm sorry, but I hate drum circles. To fully understand its consequences, though, we need to make sure we have a working definition of culture itself. Heres How You Can Reverse It, sports teams with offensive and inappropriate names, naming teams after animals, plants, or noncultural concepts, choosing body art that doesnt carry cultural significance, presenting yoga as a wellness practice favored by white women, acknowledging yogas origin as an Indian spiritual practice, smudging, or the burning of white sage, by non-Indigenous people, getting tattoos or wearing accessories featuring religious symbols when you dont practice that religion, researching a planned tattoo to make sure it doesnt have religious or cultural significance, purchasing inaccurate knockoffs of cultural designs and art, like Navajo-inspired blankets or clothing with tribal designs, buying household items, art, and jewelry directly from the artisans who made them, writing a novel that combines stereotypical elements of various cultures and rebranding it as a new culture, researching and writing a historical fiction novel that accurately represents any cultures included, sharing photos of private or sacred cultural traditions on social media, asking permission before taking (or sharing) photos of festivals or other cultural practices, food bloggers creating recipes inspired by cuisines of other cultures without acknowledging the real work or significance of the traditional dish, learning about the cultural significance of key ingredients or preparation steps before modifying traditional recipes. Are stereotypes and misconceptions being replaced with accuracy, with truth? When Uzoruo was blocked from communicating with Black, she reached out to Anthony Barr but saidshe never received a response. Sex abuse cases have led to multi-million dollar lawsuits. And social media can be used to apply pressure to expose flagrant acts of appropriation. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is at the heart of Northern Europe, more precisely in the very south of Finland and it has some 230 km of Baltic Sea coastline. Discussion of Cultural Appropriation. The Best Travel, Food and Culture Guides for Helsinki, Uusimaa - Local News & Top Things to Do And US . Exhibitions and lectures have played an important role in that they have allowed me to educate about dance and its meaning to Native people. Typically, people gather to drum in drum "circles" with others from the surrounding community. Most importantly, dance became a way to decolonize my identity that had been subjugated by the boarding schools my parents and grandparents were forced to attend. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Anyone can make a grammatical error, particularly in a language that isnt their first. if anything I'd think the whole purpose of a drum circle is respecting! Idk which is why I'm asking. Be prepared to do your own research. Pamyuas Akutaq: Traditions of Modern Inuit Modalities in Alaska. In MUSICultures (formerly the Canadian Journal for Traditional Music) 39 (1): 7-41. Its just a way for people who see that the world has been shit to these cultures, and feel guilty about that fact, to try and comfort themselves by thinking theyre doing the right thing. "There's a long history throughout Canada in the U.S. of the cultural genocide against Indigenous people for practising ceremonies that she is selling, that she uses as a sort of personal resum, like the sun dance, attending sweats, being part of an Indigenous network and teachings from elders," said Uzoruo. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. That day came many years later, when I was in my mid-30s. This might feel uncomfortable, but its worth it, since it could help them avoid appropriation, too. In fact, this is a great way to appreciate that culture, when you go about it correctly. In short, dance has a deep and rich history among tribal peoples. Featured was the Eagle dance which depicted an eagle caught in a trap. She's Caribbean, Anishinaabe, Cree and Mtis, and originally from southeastern Manitoba. Delve beyond the surface of this city to discover its rich culture and artistically inspiring soul. PSA: Not everyone can be appropriated from, How to determine whether youve crossed a line, When and how to call in someone you know, Yoga in America Often Exploits My Culture but You May Not Even Realize It, Is It Cultural Appropriation? Their performances include Japan and England, and large sports venues including the halftime show between the Denver Broncos and New York Jets in 1962. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. This paper explores the work of six American women who are using their drumming and teaching skills to benefit their communities. Populations served include children, teens, adults, and elders, as well as those with movement and cognitive disorders. Is respect developing? Part of me wanted to address the women individually but it seemed presumptuous as I was not the drum teacher. These traditions, imported to North America with the enslaved Mandingue population, were incorporated into African American culture and re-introduced with subsequent African American interest in African culture from the 1940's until present. Also problematic was Chet Hanks response. While the title of the recipe has since been changed, many blog commenters feel retitling the dish falls short of an adequate response. Crystal Raypole has previously worked as a writer and editor for GoodTherapy. Appreciation, on the other hand, means you have an interest in all elements of the culture, not just specific aspects that look pretty, prove financially lucrative, or offer other benefits. everyone is a person of color except one" dead, "hurry up I have a Trilateral Commission meeting later this afternoonJoe. Definitely a ship that will burn and sink. 27, No. Am I using this item (or clothing, word, practice, and so on) to learn more about the culture? Let alone the fact that drums are part of pretty much any culture, since time immemorial. Someone youve offended may offer an explanation, but you shouldnt expect them to fully educate you on what counts as appropriation and why. In other words, people who appropriate generally pick and choose only the elements they consider appealing and ignore the rest, along with any important cultural context behind those elements. Colleen Murphy. Although the powwow may be labeled as contemporary, it isnt new. Wondering exactly what counts as cultural appropriation? Also, she recognized her responsibility to remind drummers to be respectful of the drum. As we settled into the circle I noticed a couple women resting their feet on the head of their djembes. It represents the dark side of colonialism that, by its nature, subjugates the things that culturally diverse people value, and turns them into a commodity that they can profit from. You can have as many drums and variety as you choose but at least one drum MUST be crafted (there are many examples on the internet). "I also believe that if Black truly seeks ally-ship, she would make a commitment to work with First Nations communities for improved relationships and understandings, instead of stating that she will continue to practise Indigenous ceremonies/teachings in private," said Uzoruo. Dance was deeply ingrained in the traditional life of the Anishinaabeg. ~ Basil Johnson. It was a small Native American drum, the type that is suspended from a stand and played by several drummers at once with large padded drum sticks. the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information. Whoever said it was 'cultural appropriation' is an asshat. All rights reserved. But I do thank this festival for doing away with theirs, whatever the reason. cultural appropriation, adoption of certain language, behaviour, clothing, or tradition belonging to a minority culture or social group by a dominant culture or group in a way that is exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical. So I felt kinda "hmmm" about it so I googled it. The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. Being corrected in public being shamed and embarrassed in front of others is tricky territory most of us dont handle well. The stereotypes that mark the Koshare dancers are not any different than professional models in headdresses, logos and mascots of professional sports teams like the Washington team, or Disneys Peter Pan Indians. Getting henna body art might seem like a harmless way to appreciate something beautiful. I hoped the two retreat leaders would say something, but they did not. Several articles have been written regarding the Koshare dancers and their violation of cultural property that is central to the tribal ceremonial practices of the Tewa. Is this for real? Be elected by a 2/3 majority vote of the active Koshares. I'll be watching with popcorn too. Barr said he does not make money from ceremony and never suggests donations are accepted, though his website states "by donation only." Just know that true sharing requires permission, acknowledgment, and respect. Henna was originally used to help cool the hands and feet in hot climates. I not only represented myself, but also my family, clan, tribe, and Native peoples across Turtle Island. So in honor of Canada turning 150 work has been planning all these competition events. In the story of Anishinaabe (Original Man), on the day of his creation, he rose up and took two steps with his left foot, then two steps with his right foot. I loved going out dancing in my street clothes, sitting on the wood benches around the arbor, listening to the old men at their drums, and looking at all the beautiful dancers in their colorful regalia. A drum circle is a celebration of life and community with the goal to share rhythm and form group consensus. The halftime show was the main feature. As the Mandingue traditions have become increasingly popular word wide, traditional West African drum and dance have remained a vital component of the African American connection with Africa. He said he would like to see the new age movement go away, but addedhedoesn't think that will happen because it has grown so much. The program included a pregame show with a presentation of 27 tribal nation flags from Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Lakota Warrior Womens color guard with service flags, and the national anthem by Rep. Peggy Flanagan of the White Earth Ojibwe Nation. Cultural appropriation is an idea that comes from sociology and is when a dominant culture takes items from a minority culture and incorporates them. It doesnt take much effort to find cultural appropriation in popular culture and on social media. Regional womens drumming groups are also explored. Appropriation also tends to involve some misuse of cultural elements. Bantu knots are an African hairstyle with a long history. Rhiannon Johnson is an Anishinaabe journalist from Hiawatha First Nation based in Toronto. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Their cultural appropriation includes Native American dance itself and exploits the cultural property of several tribes including the Ojibwe, Lakota, Blackfoot, Kiowa, and Comanche. By sharing these feelings, we can learn from one another and continue to move forward. Your willingness to engage in compassionate and respectful discussion with others can help encourage them to seek out more information themselves. Vernon Elder showed excellent understanding of the pantomime, the great wings he carried circling nearer and nearer the imaginary trap until with a scream he was caught. Specific dances include the ghost dance, eagle dance, deer dance, butterfly dance, and chiefs dance. By entrainment, I mean that a new voice, a collective voice, emerges from the group as they drum together. Do those count as appropriation? She had not thought about any of it but immediately supported me in my concerns, suggesting I email the leaders. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of people who belong to that culture. Their dance outfits are costumes that are without cultural context. Black hairstyles arent costumes or fancy looks, though. Adrienne K., from the excellent blog Native Appropriations, recently appeared on the Al Jazeera English show The Stream to discuss issues of cultural appropriation of Native American cultures in fashion and home decor, sports mascots, and so on. Appropriation generally exploits other cultures and reinforces stereotypes. So in honor of Canada turning 150 work has been planning all these competition events. Indeed, the Koshare halftime show at Mile High Stadium in 1962, was not a celebration of Native life; rather, it was a celebration of cultural appropriation. I do not accept my excuses and reaffirm my intention to take the risk next time and step up. I kept expecting her to attribute the drum to a particular tribe or at least say it was a Native American drum. Tracing the Paths of Ancestors in the American Landscape, A Post-Modern Queer Interrogates Cree Homosexual Life. Cywinksaid even if people are learning the language and participating in the ceremony, it doesn't mean they can lead the ceremony, adding that part of the protocol is conducting ceremonies within those languages, not English. All rights reserved. Sounds like an excuse. A number of people have criticized 818, a new brand of tequila created by Kendall Jenner. They also messed up which culture, because the drums that you use are rooted in Africa but the concept of the drum circle originated in the 1960's and 70's in the US and it was for ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE to get together and jam out music together. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You are using an out of date browser. Thank you for this post. In a brief moment in time, they witnessed the beauty of Native American dance. They also fail to give credit where credit is due. Get tired of playing on birthboards you do not belong to? A convergent mixed methods design will be used to collect quantitative data from the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale and the qualitative data will be received from a focus group. Hethushka dancers wore their warrior regalia, including roaches, scalps of opponents represented by braids of sweet grass, eagle bone whistles, and feather belts or bustles. Theyve never actually seen real racism, or real oppression, so they pretend like a bunch of hippies playing djembes is somehow a wider representation of how the world is doing these people wrong, as if the people who have actually been wronged give a shit about this at all, let alone think its harmful. Take henna art, or Mehndi, for example. the Middle East); frame drums, which I associate with Celtic tradition although they are used in many cultures; and other drums I didnt know. We avoid using tertiary references. "Traditionally, when you do the ceremony, there is no fee.". In a circle of around 50, all of us but one appeared to be of European descent. The money from grants and donations commodifies the Koshare program and institutionalizes it as a stereotypical tribal reality. Why did I not speak up? You can have as many drums and variety as you choose but at least one drum MUST be crafted (there are many examples on the internet). Moving from individualising practices and cultural appropriation to the ethical application of alternative practices in social work, Teaching and learning within the cross-cultural transmission of West-African music in Australian community settings, Music and Leadership among Adolescents in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, Conceptualising integrative exchanges: marginalisation, music and identity of African diaspora in Hong Kong, Set our spirits free: Exploring the role of spirituality as an anti-oppressive agent in the formal education of African Nova Scotian learners, Central Park Rumba: Nuyorican Identity and the Return to African Roots, Zero Tolerance and Central Park Rumba Cabildo Politics, [Preprint] How We Got into Drum Circles, and How to Get Out: De-essentializing African Music, Awakened to racial justice: Music educator responses to The Gahu Project. Cultural appropriation at music festivals like Coachella can be seen in decorative bindis, headdresses, henna, and other accessories deemed "exotic" or trendy. So I happen to live in a very liberal community. In my song you hear my soul, in my dance, you see its rhythm. When the Renegade went viral, Harmon remained uncredited. Someday I knew I would be a dancer. insist its fine because you have a friend from that culture, challenge them because they cant speak for every member of their culture, explain you didnt mean to cause any harm or tell them theyre being too sensitive, Hey! Beverley Diamond, Kati Szego, and Heather Sparling, Acculturation: an investigation into Afri-Afrikaans or is it Afri-African. The Koshare group is no stranger to controversy. And thats the way it should be. Group drumming is employed to bring people together, as a form of occupational therapy, and as a vehicle for confronting personal and large scale trauma, as well as natural disasters. Based in Halton Hills, Ont., Black was ordained through the Spiritualist Church of Canada and offers spiritual healing, weddings, workshops and funerals, her website says. But what is more insidious is the harm and divisive structures to Foundational Blacks to kidnap and our cultural and historical contribution to the world, know better than research is the classic book Stolen Legacy by G.M. This article is a social and historical survey of the interrelationships between African American cultural traditions with the music of West Africa, from colonial times until present--focusing upon the influence of West African Mandingue culture developed during the Mali empire of the 12th century. I think it sounds kind of iffy. This misrepresentation leaves people of color in a marginalized position where they lack the same opportunities for recognition, success, and profit. To entrain and resonate. People dealing with symptoms of postpartum depression can find support, advice, and treatment online. Koshare Indian Dancers, Halftime Show, 1962. As a young boy, I attended the annual powwows held at Red Lake. so I sort of understand the sentiment of if you don't get it , don't do it.. Well, i can imagine a drum circle formed by an african tribe with cultural background and knowledge sounding different (to say the least) than a drum circle formed by some housewives, it-guys and a few hippies who brought the percussion. In my opinion, if all your culture boils down to is drums, its a shit culture and i dont care about it. Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer. One thing is certain. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. All cultures have complexities and nuances that contribute to, but go far beyond, their art, clothing, and jewelry. In its organizational structure, there is a head chief and assistant head chief; it is further divided into clans Navajo Clan, Sioux Clan, and Kiowa Clan. They encourage you to dress in a yukata traditional Japanese summer clothing and help you put it on properly. And Ive been a part of dance exhibitions in schools. Although only covering three percent (9,440 km 2) of our national land area, our Region is home to around 1.7 million inhabitants, which is about a third of the country's total population. Henna: Its history and cultural significance. There was Papeekawis who gave dances to the Anishinaabeg and instilled in them a love for dancing. Updated on January 11, 2023. A drum circle though is harmless. Why? Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Exactly which culture is being appropriated? James. This is another example of cherry. Consequently, white people continue to benefit and hold positions of power. It was only a six and half minute performance, but it left an indelible impression on the dancers, singers, and crowd of 52,000 fans. One has me think, its a little inappropriate. Robert DesJarlait is an environmental activist, writer, artist, and dancer. Theres nothing at all wrong with wanting to prepare or enjoy food from another culture. Are we just looking for things to be offended by now? Those steps became the steps used in dance. You cant truly appreciate without this deeper awareness. "Hypothetically, if I wanted to learn more about the drum, then I would have to seek out not just someone who is a drummer, but go to the elders that are drummers that have taught drummers their songs and the protocol of what those songs mean and where they fit within the seasons or the ceremony," Cywink said. The results will be compared with the hopes of yielding similar themes. Plenty of people have been guilty of cultural appropriation without realizing it. Oberlender I. Special issue Indigenous Modernities, eds. Too much possibility for someone to be offensive and completely miss the mark. Adding to the burden by leaving it to members of that culture to call out the appropriation and explain why its wrong only makes matters worse. Speaking of Cannibalism! Two non-Indigenous new age healers in Ontario are being called out for appropriating ceremonies in their practices by a Black-Indigenous woman. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. I mentioned my discomfort with the disrespect for the drum I had witnessed and how I wished the leaders had acknowledged the rich cultures the drums came from. In fact, the screenshots were from two different pages on Black's website. If you laugh at yourself you'll never run out of things to laugh about.. by Judy Helfand At the day-long singing and drumming retreat on Saturday, I failed to fully step up and confront cultural appropriation and lack of respect for the people whose drums were en, so are we just openly talking politics on the forum now.
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