(n.d.). Because white people have long been the oppressors denying other cultural groups their language and traditions and forcing them to assimilate and conform. These groups include the Kwahadi Dancers Venture Crew 9, Aabikta Indian Dancers, Coyote Night Dancers, Kaniengehaga Dance Team, Kootaga Indian Dancers, Inc., Kossa Indian Dancers, Crew 476 Lakota Dancers, Paumanauke Dance Team, Sahawe Indian Dancers, The Mic-O-Say Dancers, Tsoyaha Indian Dancers / Mossy Creek. Especially great to read the part about acknowledging the people from the Indigenous lands that you are on. For starters, cultural appropriation or "misappropriation" occurs when a dominant culture adopts convenient parts of a marginalized culture without experiencing the hardship of the latter. Case in point: Many fans came to her defense, calling her hairstyle a sign of cultural appreciation. It's a controversial topic, one that activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene and Jesse Williams have helped bring into the national spotlight. Part of me wanted to address the women individually but it seemed presumptuous as I was not the drum teacher. ~ Basil Johnson. By entrainment, I mean that a new voice, a collective voice, emerges from the group as they drum together. Your email address will not be published. Lenard PT, et al. What I hear when you say: Cultural appropriation. After we closed, I spoke with a friend who has been drumming in West African traditions for a long time. Are stereotypes and misconceptions being replaced with accuracy, with truth? 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. Its real motivation is sales, not salvation. 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. Background: Wellbeing plays an essential role in a complete and health community. Typically, people gather to drum in drum "circles" with others from the surrounding community. The Scalp Dance was part of the dance complex generally referred to as Nandobaniishimowin, or the War Dance. Getting henna body art might seem like a harmless way to appreciate something beautiful. And thats the way it should be. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The Boy Scouts of America are sensitive to public controversy. That is almost literally saying you were offended by it. Probably the most authentic Finnish thing you can do is rent a lakeside cabin for a few days, though your choice will be limited at short notice. Black said in an email that sheaccepts payment only for weddings. Powwows were common events on many reservations and were attractions for tourists. You even stated "I wasn't sure if I was being overly sensitive". The Koshare program has served as a model of cultural appropriation for other Boy Scout dance groups. In a circle of around 50, all of us but one appeared to be of European descent. All rights reserved. If you do use any elements from that culture, you ask permission and give credit to the creator or source. When you witness a friend or loved one appropriating someone elses culture, you might wonder whether its best to keep quiet. 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. In an emailed response to Uzoruo, Black said she began doing drum circles with a man named Anthony Barr in 2009, around the same time she began taking part in sweat lodges in New York state, and she had been performing ceremonies with Lakota teachings for six years. Thank you for sharing this, Judy. So I happen to live in a very liberal community. Under a dark sky with a temperature of 25 degrees, twenty-one dancers danced to the songs of the RedBone Singers, a Twin Cities based drum group. By sharing these feelings, we can learn from one another and continue to move forward. Idk which is why I'm asking. This is another example of cherry. Why did I not speak up? Additionally, their Summer and Winter Ceremonials feature dances of the Pueblos of the Southwest. Is this for real? "I've never heard of this man," Rickard wrote in an email. Many trends stem from elements appropriated from other cultures, so you might not realize your actions have passed the point of appreciation. 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. She had not thought about any of it but immediately supported me in my concerns, suggesting I email the leaders. Tracing the Paths of Ancestors in the American Landscape, A Post-Modern Queer Interrogates Cree Homosexual Life. Here's how to opt, The relationship people have with their bodies is more complex than their Instagram caption or photo. We break it. Uzoruosaid there isn't much Indigenous representation in Halton Hills, but she thought she found a connection when she saw a photo of Reverend Sheila Black leading a drum circle. Only when they have progressed about halfway up the Eagle Trail can they become Koshares. It was the opportunity to see firsthand what many thought was the remnants of the Vanishing Indian. 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. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Would a person of that culture see my actions as respectful? If its not your culture being appropriated, is it really your place to say anything? Whoever said it was 'cultural appropriation' is an asshat. Beginning with the Sioux peace-pipe ceremony, the boys ranged themselves in a circle about the skull of a buffalo. Exhibitions and lectures have played an important role in that they have allowed me to educate about dance and its meaning to Native people. Her fields of interest include Asian languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mental health. An exploratory study of African Drumming as an intervention in Diversity Training, Culturally Diverse Music Education in North American K-12 Classrooms: The Role of Teacher Attitudes and Attributes in Facilitating Engaged Practices, Pamyua's Akutaq: Traditions of Modern Inuit Modalities in Alaska, Intercultural Music Transmission at the Dagara Music Center and Development of Musical Interspace, 'I drum, therefore I am?' The halftime show was the main feature. Its worth keeping in mind that you can certainly say or do insensitive and racist things without necessarily taking anything from a culture. Still, as several Black women have pointed out, the hairstyle goes beyond a celebratory look. Participatory drum circles can lead to social resilience, emotional completeness, and mental health benefits. In September, the Koshares issued their first press release: Scouts of Troop 230 met last evening and perfected a formal organization of the Indian club, which will be known as the Koshare club. Not surprising in a state that forced out the Cheyenne and Arapaho Nations in its greedy quest for gold, that led to a notorious act of genocide the Sand Creek Massacre. You are using an out of date browser. If your use of cultural items or practices exploits that culture in any way, you're appropriating whether you realize it or not. "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.". One thing is certain. 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. Black hairstyles arent costumes or fancy looks, though. Acknowledging all elements of a culture extends to recognizing how white supremacy and racism have played a part in dismantling and oppressing other cultures. He said they claimed to be shamans or medicine people practising different Indigenous ceremonies, and he said this still goes on today. Tribal economies were basically non-existent. Although there are many great resources, many lack the specific tools to facilitate a drum circles as it pertains to specific technique and styles often utilized in percussion in the field of arts in health. To entrain and resonate. 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! Dance was deeply ingrained in the traditional life of the Anishinaabeg. Some of this critique was rightly directed at literal cultural theft . Gwen Sharp, PhD on July 7, 2011. 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 enriching our lives. They encourage you to dress in a yukata traditional Japanese summer clothing and help you put it on properly. Many schools and workplaces even ban or limit natural hairstyles. By the 1960s, the transitional periods of dance emerged into the contemporary powwow of today with its various dance categories and attendant regalia. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Maintain at least a C grade average in school. The only good option is to listen, learn, and change your behavior. Cultural appropriation often is viewed as a problem of . Barr is not Indigenous, but he told CBCNews in an email that he gained permission to perform ceremonies in 2005 when he began what he calls an apprenticeship with the late Mtis Elder Joe Paquette. 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. I think the most notable example I remember is the kardashians with their "boxer braids" trying to erase and white wash the protective hairstyles used for African American hair. By entrainment, I mean that a new voice, a collective voice, emerges from the group as they drum together. Yet I am well aware that people of color dont get time off from dealing with racism. Cultural appropriation takes place when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way. Cultural appropriation, then, happens when another culture borrows any of these cultural elements, typically without asking permission or crediting the source culture. Teenager Jalaiah Harmon created this dance and originally shared it on Instagram. Idk which is why I'm asking. What we want to achieve in our classroom is the promotion of cultural appreciation, not cultural appropriation. Wondering exactly what counts as cultural appropriation? Cultural appropriation, also called cultural mis appropriation, occurs when a person from one culture adopts the fashion, iconography, trends or styles from a culture that's not their own.. everyone is a person of color except one" dead, "hurry up I have a Trilateral Commission meeting later this afternoonJoe. Your willingness to engage in compassionate and respectful discussion with others can help encourage them to seek out more information themselves. The Koshares appropriation extends far beyond Tewa cultural property. Cultural appropriation is using or taking something from another culture without giving proper recognition or respect to that culture. Looking for guidance on recognizing when appreciation of another culture crosses the line? Failing to assimilate can carry heavy consequences, including fewer opportunities for work or career advancement and racist violence or threats. 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. Get tired of playing on birthboards you do not belong to? There are several communes within city limits, and it also happens to be a college town. All rights reserved. You also seek to understand people of that culture, as well as the culture itself, more completely instead of contributing to stereotypes. Ask different people, and youll most likely get a range of answers. Litigation regarding homosexuals has led to lifting the ban against homosexuals. I was uncomfortable with the blatant disrespect for the drum and unsure what to do about it. The result is the continued influence of the djembe and dunun drums and West African dance among African Americans. 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. We avoid using tertiary references. Naranjo suggests that tribal governments, under the rule of sovereignty, enact legislation to protect cultural property, in this case, Tewa cultural property. Still, I am uncertain about my actions at the retreat. I kept expecting her to attribute the drum to a particular tribe or at least say it was a Native American drum. Two non-Indigenous new age healers in Ontario are being called out by a Black-Indigenous woman for appropriating ceremonies in their practices. Attempting to conceive of white Europeans as apolitical participants in colonialist practices is impossible. Is respect developing? Within the myth of the Vanishing Indian, the Koshare program emerged and objectified Native American dance into a dance pageant that, to this day, lacks form and meaning. Appropriation affects people from exploited, marginalized cultures. This might feel uncomfortable, but its worth it, since it could help them avoid appropriation, too. Discussion of Cultural Appropriation. The name was derived from the term Nandobaniiwin, meaning warfare. You can download the paper by clicking the button above. Just know that true sharing requires permission, acknowledgment, and respect. For me, dance was part of a healing journey that was part mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Anyone can make a grammatical error, particularly in a language that isnt their first. Black said she is not appropriating Indigenous culture but would not facilitate further ceremonies publicly in Canada. Wouldn't it also tie back to pagan cultures in general? Now every year we have this thing called the Whole Earth Festival, which is just sort of a collection of hippy merchants selling some actually pretty cool stuff, live music, and a lot of college students doing drugs they buy from some weird guy who lives in a VW bus. Full stop. Some say they are as they come from African and Aboriginal cultures, some they they aren't. It is the price our ancestors have placed on the Drum-a price only we can pay. These changes fail to acknowledge the original cultures and render authentic recipes inauthentic. Yoga and the roots of cultural 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. Basil Johnson writes: These performances [were] more like ballet in style and purpose than ordinary dances. I didnt interrupt even though I often talk and write about the need to interrupt white supremacy. 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. To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds toupgrade your browser. Why? Robert DesJarlait is an environmental activist, writer, artist, and dancer. "If you have the knowledge to help people walk in a better way, a way that is beneficial to everyone and everything why wouldn't you want that shared? Adele wore this hairstyle, along with a Jamaican flag bikini, to celebrate the canceled 2020 Notting Hill Carnival, an annual event originally created to share Caribbean culture and promote multiculturalism. White women who choose to wear Black hairstyles as a fashion statement contribute to cultural exploitation by failing to acknowledge this prejudice. Am I using this item (or clothing, word, practice, and so on) to learn more about the culture? Is the source and inspiration of the music and traditions being acknowledged? This is seen as a negative when items from the minority culture are reduced in meaning - like when they are made into toys or mascots Can people of this culture freely use this item without discrimination? James. People try to pretend like one thing is insulting to a culture, without understanding the complexity of a culture and everything else it has. A study of the musical practices of three African immigrant performers in Norway, IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, Performing Blackness and African Diasporic Identity: Djembe Drumming in Washington DC, Performing Blackness And African Diasporic Identity, Contemporary Women Drummers and Social Action: Focus on Community Service, Drum Circles and the Effect on Wellbeing in a Community Setting, The Politics of Representation and Transmission in the Globalization of Guinea's Djembe, Teach Me Drums: Learning Rhythms through the Embodiment of a Drumming Teacher in Virtual Reality, Medical Ethnomusicology and Its Applications within Western Music Therapy, Introduction to The Beat of My Drum by Babatunde Olatunji, Rhtythms of Culture: djembe and African memory in American American cultural traditions, How We Got into Drum Circles, and How to Get Out: De-Essentializing African Music, Banging the same old colonial drum? The recipe, originally named Weeknight Ginger Chicken Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Soup), presented a fusion version of pho that failed to acknowledge actual elements of pho, including key ingredients, the effort and time required to make it, or even the traditional presentation of the dish. He is from the Red Lake Ojibwe Nation and belongs to the Bear Clan. Such laws would have limited application since they could only be applied within the tribal domain; but they would give a tribe the power to issue resolutions that strongly condemn specific acts of appropriation. 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. Their dance outfits are costumes that are without cultural context. 224-49. This year, they banned having drum circles during this event because they are harmful to people of indigenous and black communities, or so they say. Continued exploitation of people from other cultures. The performances [were] meant to dramatize some event, happening, story, or even dream.. Lastly, there was Chibiabos who brought songs to the Anishinaabeg and taught them that music was the language of the soul. Read on to get more insight, along with tips on how to avoid making potentially hurtful mistakes. 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. Do those count as appropriation? Its also worth considering why a movie about a key aspect of Black culture needed a white main character and a mostly white cast. 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. Theres nothing at all wrong with wanting to prepare or enjoy food from another culture. Pull them aside privately or send them a quick text or DM explaining what you noticed and why it could cause harm. Each team will form a drum circle and perform their collective voice, no more than 1-2 minutes. There is no such thing as cultural appropriation. Her portrayal clumps together Native American beliefs and traditions from several different Indigenous groups, reducing these cultural traditions to stereotypes and fantasy instead of acknowledging them as actual cultural practices that are still part of Native American culture today. In their 83-year history, the Koshare Indian Dancers have received worldwide recognition. The Koshare Indian Dancers are the members of Boy Scout Troop 232 and Venturing Crew 2230 of the Rocky Mountain Council. 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. And in the farthest circle is cultural production, or the . When our objective is to raise awareness and change behavior, we need to keep this in mind. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. 2, pp. Consequently, white people continue to benefit and hold positions of power. Pamyuas Akutaq: Traditions of Modern Inuit Modalities in Alaska. In MUSICultures (formerly the Canadian Journal for Traditional Music) 39 (1): 7-41. Loveless G. (2020). "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. The community work of these women evokes a sense of independence, purpose, and connection in drumming participants in a fun, relaxed context. In fact, the screenshots were from two different pages on Black's website. Barr said he does not make money from ceremony and never suggests donations are accepted, though his website states "by donation only." Still, shaming someone or criticizing them publicly usually doesnt have the best impact, so try calling them in instead of calling them out. Participatory arts interventions are popular to address wellbeing. The Koshare Indian Dancers epitomize the appropriation of Native American dance in mainstream society. 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. 'Cultural appropriation:' Inuit react to Calgary man's drum dance "A lot of people that I know don't support non-Natives taking these kinds of ceremonial situations and turning them into. It completed a circle in a city that has protested and marched against the Washington team in 1992, 2013, and 2014. When a person from a specific culture explains that your actions are harmful, theyre harmful. Sounds like an excuse. Not everyone criticized this look. Colleen Murphy. Specific dances include the ghost dance, eagle dance, deer dance, butterfly dance, and chiefs dance. I believe that speaking privately to the leaders was the right call IF your priority is changing behavior. By the mid-1800s, the Hethushka dance developed as a non-secular version of the war dance. Have I given credit to the creator and the culture it came from? 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. Koshare dance steps lack the rhythm of Native dance. 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. In her stories, the founder of the American wizardry school is a white woman. And I had not asked for this acknowledgement as we began. Although its appropriation has, by no means, replaced Native American dance itself, it has provided a representative of dance that distorts and misinforms a tribal reality. She also uses the problematic white savior trope. 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. Michael Cywink, an Indigenous arts educator and curator from the Wiikwemkong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, said he came across a number of non-Indigenous new age healers in the U.S. in the 1970s. Cultural . Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. That day came many years later, when I was in my mid-30s. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. The issue of cultural appropriation in the classroom is definitely one which educators should reflect on. Each team will be given $10 to purchase necessary materials on Friday, June 23rd 2017. It can too often turn into rejection of the message. Barr said that Paquette told himin 2009 thathe had learned everything he needed to know to perform ceremonies himself. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Cultural appropriation is an idea that comes from sociology and is when a dominant culture takes items from a minority culture and incorporates them. In my song you hear my soul, in my dance, you see its rhythm. Someday I knew I would be a dancer. But what about wearing the yukata around your house back home, saying, Japanese people dress like this every day? When Uzoruo was blocked from communicating with Black, she reached out to Anthony Barr but saidshe never received a response. 27, No. "Traditionally, when you do the ceremony, there is no fee.". We can only expose it for what it is. Henna: Its history and cultural significance. I just think because its Canada and Canada already has a thing with the Aboriginal people that possibly a drum circle may be appropriating given the context. Black's website also stated her prices were reasonable and affordable. The Nandobaniishimowin dance complex consisted of several interconnected dances. Is anyone being disrespectful or unkind? Their cultural appropriation includes Native American dance itself and exploits the cultural property of several tribes including the Ojibwe, Lakota, Blackfoot, Kiowa, and Comanche. Someone youve offended may offer an explanation, but you shouldnt expect them to fully educate you on what counts as appropriation and why. That takes time, expertise and resources - and we're up against a constant tide of misinformation and distorted coverage. The problem lies in the fact that white food bloggers continue to rebrand and fuse dishes from other cultures. Most of the work has been done by the boys themselves, even to dyeing the feathers and the stringing of their beads. 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.
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drum circle cultural appropriation