Course blog for the 2018-19 Muwekma House Seminar
We'll be posting reflections from the course on here, as well as any other pertinent course materials.
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Naturally Native part 1
We will be watching the rest of the movie next class!
For this prompt please write about/identify some of the stereotypes/issues that you saw in the movie related to Native identity. Feel free to include personal experience. 200-250 words
There were a ton of issues that I picked up on. I think I saw this movie when I was younger, but didn't understand the nuances. I noticed that the three lead characters represented different Native identities. The oldest had the opportunity to think about her identity more than her siblings. She kind of embodied how it feels to know how much injustices exist, but faces the barriers to make people understand what is obvious. I resonated with her reactions so much. She was definitely was at different place with self-realization of what it means to be Native compared to her sisters. The second oldest represented the "educated Native", she seemed like she was ready to compromise her identity to succeed in business. She definitely wasn't where the oldest was at as far as Native identity goes. The youngest seemed to embody confusion about her identity.
I think the movie depicts the contemporary struggles of Native identity well. It touched on self-identity issues, exploitation, federal recognition, Native entrepreneurship, Native adoption, alcohol abuse, and inter-generational trauma. Makes me think about what happens when you commodify Native culture. Natives commodifying their culture, and non-Natives exploiting their culture. A scene to think about is when she tells the white lady she cannot sell ceremony, but was there to obtain funds to start a business on cultural teachings from her father. Can Natives be guilty of exploiting their own culture?
One of the issues that I noticed was in the scene where the sister went to seek help for their business and the white lady was using culture, such as smudging, and hosting “vision quests,” and sweats, to make a profit and claiming she was Native American in her past life to make it more “authentic.” This issue is actually more common than we think, the whole concept of plastic medicine and neoshamanism can be seen everywhere from fortune teller shops, “mind, body & soul” retreats, in films and other media, etc. Another issue that I noticed was because the sisters were put in foster care and adopted by non-Natives, they were in a sense pulled away from their culture. The youngest sister showed this the most, and the older sister portrayed to have the most knowledge about the culture of the three sisters. This reminds the viewer of the film that removing Native children from their homes & communities and placing them within non-Native foster homes, can have a very destructive effect on the child(ren). This was the first time I have seen and even heard of this movie, I am looking forward to watch the remaining time of it, and interested in seeing what other issues and stereotypes are shown.
The video was very questioning. It many issues that were debatable but it mainly makes me raise the question of who directed or made the movie. Who was the audience to? I have was very shook when they mentioned themselves as Indians and were proud of calling themselves that. Although it is very debatable about the name Indian given to Native Americans or the South Asian geography? And some kinda take pride in the name of being called Indian? And many believe that Native Americans gave themselves the name, which I would like to explore – maybe some other time. I want to also talk about the part of the ladies coming to shaman women, who appeared white. Everyone in the Muwekma lounge laughed about the lady saying she was Indian too, but I didn’t. Sometimes I have to remind myself that race and ethnicity is two very different things, and the lady could be white passing but also “Indian.” But I realized that the Native ladies asked her if she was “Indian” too, and she replied, In the past life. And that was the part where I was like, oh she’s a wanna-be. But the amount of microaggression given to the ladies just so the shaman could make a profit of the ceremonies. But didn’t the Native ladies also do the same thing, using something sacred in their culture for profit. They used their medicinal herbs to make a company? I was very confused, because these actors were maybe influenced by the money of the movie to say and perform such things. If I were to guess that the director was a non-indigenous person who made the movie for non-indigenous people. There were many things in the movie that made me questioned their actions. The movie was a headache tbh, I enjoyed it but also despise it.
I found the multiplicity of ways in which the movie presented the various stereotypes and assumptions that Native people have to deal with to be very interesting. Additionally, the movie made a point to portray life as a Native person living in the suburbs. One example of an interesting aspect of the movie was the difference in perceived connection to Native heritage between the three sisters. While the oldest sister seemed to have the strongest connection to her indigenous roots, the two younger sisters (in particular the youngest) had increasingly weak connections to their heritage. This was confirmed by various quotations made by the youngest character, which expressed her frustration with her own perception of her connection to her culture. Another poignant aspect of the movie was the mutual friend of the sisters that wanted to appropriate Native traditions and sell them for profit. I think that this is indeed something that exists in today’s society, where I feel as though oftentimes, Native culture is seen as being something “mystical” and more of a spectacle. This fascination with Native traditions has at times lead to appropriation for the purpose of turning a profit. In the movie, the character portrayed by Chelsea’s mom found this to be problematic, saying that those traditions and aspects of culture were not for sale.
The biggest issue I saw in the video takes place when the sisters seek help form the non-native lady. The sisters going to seek help from the non-native wasn’t the issue, but instead it was how the lady used culture and certain aspects of culture to make her help seem credible and believable. Of course, If the sisters were non-natives who sought this woman, I’m sure they would probably believe it to a certain extent, but based off the entire lounge’s reaction and how everyone was cringing at this scene, we all know how bad, inaccurate, and overall uncomfortable this was.
On a different note, one scene that made me kind of mad was when the sisters go to the office to discuss why there isn’t an option that describes them (their tribe) in an application. Majority of it was alright and I was agreeing with the argument one of the sisters was saying about how the U.S. government doesn’t hold true to treaties, but the part that upset me was the very end when the guy asks one of the sisters if they would like to fill out the application being identified as a Mexican. When the sister answer “No, I’m Native” or something with a proud posture I was like, “That’s right! Be proud of who you are!” (I said this in my head)
The first half of the movie dealt with many issues that I think impact a lot of people in the native community. One of these issues is dealing with the negative connotations associated with being native. The youngest sister seems to struggle with her identity as a native woman, saying that life would be easier if she weren't. She questions why her sisters are so proud to be native when all it does is make life harder. I personally struggled with my identity as an on-reserve native when I went to high school, which was the first time I was able to experience life off of my reserve and interact with non-natives. They made me feel like I had less than them, asking questions like whether I had electricity back home, or if I rode a canoe to school. I felt like they saw me as someone less fortunate. Until 9th grade, I was always trying to prove that I had all of the things that they did: wearing expensive brands and always talking about how my parents had money. It took a few years for me to grow up and realize that I didn't need to prove myself to these people because I knew that I was not less fortunate. I grew up with a culturally rich background, and a family who loves me. Being native means people might look at or treat you differently, but it's important to remember that being native is a blessing, and should not be taken for granted.
The best issue, because of how cringey it was, was the scene with the non-native lady. I believe this is the most important issue as it showed how people utilize and appropriate culture in order to boost their credentials, and it seems like this is definitely a widespread societal practice. I also took great note of the point that the movie made to display Native life, especially those without documentation, live with their heritage, especially in a predominantly white lifestyle in the suburbs. I liked the display of different appreciations of culture among the generations in the family, as it helped illustrate how the connection to Native culture is continuously fading as time goes on. I found it very interesting that the movie reiterates my own belief that many people view Native culture as pretty much extinct, as many people I have encountered do not really care about discrimination towards Native people and I have even heard some people say that they did not even know that Natives existed anymore. I think that this movie so far has been a fair portrayal of life of some modern Native people and the marginalization of Natives as a population by the United States government.
The scene that really baffled me was the older, non-native woman who told the sisters she planned to exploit the use of the Sundance and vision quest for profit. I find this very problematic because I come from a culture in which these ceremonies are prevalent. Knowing the power of the ceremonies and their true intentions as well as knowing this happens in real life sort of frightens me. These ceremonies that are being messed with are very powerful and could cause more harm than good. Secondly, the scene where they discuss blood quantum and what not kind of woke me up. I did not have the realization of how low the government thinks of us. Put us in the same department as wild life. It’s a shame they put us in any department for that matter. As well as my blood being considered as being only ½ “Indian”, which is due to my father’s, father not being represented in his birth certificate and birth records. It is such a burden to have to carry around a card proving who I am. The card does not accurately identify me either. I wish we could all be identified as human beings, all these labels do us no good as beings of this world.
What was really interesting to me was the differences between the three sisters themselves, how they all treated their Native identity. The scene in which this disparity was highlighted most prominently was the one with the psychic, as many people have already commented. When the psychic asked the sisters to attend her event in order to lend an air of "authenticity," I was really disturbed. Because the psychic didn't seem to value Native customs and traditions for much more than their profitability, I read it as a disrespectful act of cultural appropriation. Another part of the movie I found really interesting was the card-carrying scene. I really admired the eldest sister when she asked the government official why Native people had to carry a government-issued card in order to prove their identity when people of other ethnicities did not. This made me question the ways in which the American government defines identity, and whether that's something that has to be "proven" or if it's something more intrinsic. However, as a more tangential note, I have a few observations about the medicinal herb company that the sisters are trying to get off the ground. Although they are also marketing their products as coming from Native heritage, their approach differs from the psychic's because it's more about true belief in what they're selling than it is about a purely advertising ploy. Part of me also wonders if the sisters have any qualms about selling these herbal remedies that are so special to their family and their tradition.
I feel that the part of the movie that caused the most issues was when the sisters went to see the elderly lady. This woman was non-indigenous yet she was inappropriately and incorrectly smudging. She went on to say that she was native in her past life? This is a poor excuse to disrespect a culture. I don't practice smudging but I can imagine how offensive this part of the movie was to people who actually do practice it.
In Alaska, we have traditional regalia that is specific to the region we live in. In western Alaska, we use Qaspeqs. Traditional, they are made by native people and used to wear in celebrations or dances. In recent times, non-native people have picked up on our regalia and have changed it and have called it “modern.” Personally, I know a lot of people who do not like change that has been done considering many people wear Qaspeqs casually now. That particular part of this scene reminds me of this ongoing thing in my life. As a person who is a part of the native population, it is important that we correct these wrongs and educate people on the importance of respecting all cultures.
One of the issues that I saw in the movie related to Native identity is that there was this feeling of being disconnected from their Native identity, mostly by the two younger sisters. The older sister mentioned going back to the reservation and visiting their father, and how she learned from him their traditional ways and doings, but the two younger sisters said that they were not able to go. While both the two younger sisters seem to not have the same connection as their older sister to their Native identity, it seemed that the youngest sister struggled more with her identity and being Native because, during the first half of the movie, she talked about knowing one’s heritage and being able to go back and trace your lineage. Another issue that I saw related to Native identity is when the sisters went in to discuss receiving the money to start up their business, the man told them that since they didn’t have their tribal enrollment papers or numbers, that they couldn’t receive the money because without the papers or tribal enrollment numbers, they would not be considered Native. The man also told them that they could receive the money, if they were to say that they were Hispanic.
The film's depiction of the struggle between conflicting identities is interesting. While one sister proudly identifies with her native roots, another prefers not to date a native man. The scene when the sisters approach a white woman for advice on entrepreneurship depicts another contradiction: a white woman who does not belong to native culture openly immerses herself in it and even capitalises it. The question on the duty and the right to identify with native tradition seems to be central to the film. The film makes you empathize with the youngest sister's desire to assimilate by highlighting the intergenerational trauma and injustices one suffers because of their native identity. It mentions the abuse of the sisters’ biological parents and gives background to her desire to want to be someone else. Yet the eldest sister's love and veneration for native culture is passionately communicated. Her refusal to identify as Hispanic to get welfare benefits is a touching moment and the film makes you feel her indignation when she sees a white woman selling her native culture. It seems unfair that the sisters are at a disadvantage for being native but a white woman is running a business out of her belief that she was ‘native in a past life’. By showing the sisters’ exasperation to the venture, the film leaves no question that you should be angry with the white woman’s appropriation of native culture. But it remains a question as to what can tangibly be done about such appropriation.
There were a ton of issues that I picked up on. I think I saw this movie when I was younger, but didn't understand the nuances. I noticed that the three lead characters represented different Native identities. The oldest had the opportunity to think about her identity more than her siblings. She kind of embodied how it feels to know how much injustices exist, but faces the barriers to make people understand what is obvious. I resonated with her reactions so much. She was definitely was at different place with self-realization of what it means to be Native compared to her sisters. The second oldest represented the "educated Native", she seemed like she was ready to compromise her identity to succeed in business. She definitely wasn't where the oldest was at as far as Native identity goes. The youngest seemed to embody confusion about her identity.
ReplyDeleteI think the movie depicts the contemporary struggles of Native identity well. It touched on self-identity issues, exploitation, federal recognition, Native entrepreneurship, Native adoption, alcohol abuse, and inter-generational trauma. Makes me think about what happens when you commodify Native culture. Natives commodifying their culture, and non-Natives exploiting their culture. A scene to think about is when she tells the white lady she cannot sell ceremony, but was there to obtain funds to start a business on cultural teachings from her father. Can Natives be guilty of exploiting their own culture?
One of the issues that I noticed was in the scene where the sister went to seek help for their business and the white lady was using culture, such as smudging, and hosting “vision quests,” and sweats, to make a profit and claiming she was Native American in her past life to make it more “authentic.” This issue is actually more common than we think, the whole concept of plastic medicine and neoshamanism can be seen everywhere from fortune teller shops, “mind, body & soul” retreats, in films and other media, etc.
ReplyDeleteAnother issue that I noticed was because the sisters were put in foster care and adopted by non-Natives, they were in a sense pulled away from their culture. The youngest sister showed this the most, and the older sister portrayed to have the most knowledge about the culture of the three sisters. This reminds the viewer of the film that removing Native children from their homes & communities and placing them within non-Native foster homes, can have a very destructive effect on the child(ren).
This was the first time I have seen and even heard of this movie, I am looking forward to watch the remaining time of it, and interested in seeing what other issues and stereotypes are shown.
The video was very questioning. It many issues that were debatable but it mainly makes me raise the question of who directed or made the movie. Who was the audience to? I have was very shook when they mentioned themselves as Indians and were proud of calling themselves that. Although it is very debatable about the name Indian given to Native Americans or the South Asian geography? And some kinda take pride in the name of being called Indian? And many believe that Native Americans gave themselves the name, which I would like to explore – maybe some other time. I want to also talk about the part of the ladies coming to shaman women, who appeared white. Everyone in the Muwekma lounge laughed about the lady saying she was Indian too, but I didn’t. Sometimes I have to remind myself that race and ethnicity is two very different things, and the lady could be white passing but also “Indian.” But I realized that the Native ladies asked her if she was “Indian” too, and she replied, In the past life. And that was the part where I was like, oh she’s a wanna-be. But the amount of microaggression given to the ladies just so the shaman could make a profit of the ceremonies. But didn’t the Native ladies also do the same thing, using something sacred in their culture for profit. They used their medicinal herbs to make a company? I was very confused, because these actors were maybe influenced by the money of the movie to say and perform such things. If I were to guess that the director was a non-indigenous person who made the movie for non-indigenous people. There were many things in the movie that made me questioned their actions. The movie was a headache tbh, I enjoyed it but also despise it.
ReplyDeleteSo I don't know why my name is showing as Unknown. But it's me, Ely
ReplyDeleteI found the multiplicity of ways in which the movie presented the various stereotypes and assumptions that Native people have to deal with to be very interesting. Additionally, the movie made a point to portray life as a Native person living in the suburbs. One example of an interesting aspect of the movie was the difference in perceived connection to Native heritage between the three sisters. While the oldest sister seemed to have the strongest connection to her indigenous roots, the two younger sisters (in particular the youngest) had increasingly weak connections to their heritage. This was confirmed by various quotations made by the youngest character, which expressed her frustration with her own perception of her connection to her culture. Another poignant aspect of the movie was the mutual friend of the sisters that wanted to appropriate Native traditions and sell them for profit. I think that this is indeed something that exists in today’s society, where I feel as though oftentimes, Native culture is seen as being something “mystical” and more of a spectacle. This fascination with Native traditions has at times lead to appropriation for the purpose of turning a profit. In the movie, the character portrayed by Chelsea’s mom found this to be problematic, saying that those traditions and aspects of culture were not for sale.
ReplyDeleteThe biggest issue I saw in the video takes place when the sisters seek help form the non-native lady. The sisters going to seek help from the non-native wasn’t the issue, but instead it was how the lady used culture and certain aspects of culture to make her help seem credible and believable. Of course, If the sisters were non-natives who sought this woman, I’m sure they would probably believe it to a certain extent, but based off the entire lounge’s reaction and how everyone was cringing at this scene, we all know how bad, inaccurate, and overall uncomfortable this was.
ReplyDeleteOn a different note, one scene that made me kind of mad was when the sisters go to the office to discuss why there isn’t an option that describes them (their tribe) in an application. Majority of it was alright and I was agreeing with the argument one of the sisters was saying about how the U.S. government doesn’t hold true to treaties, but the part that upset me was the very end when the guy asks one of the sisters if they would like to fill out the application being identified as a Mexican. When the sister answer “No, I’m Native” or something with a proud posture I was like, “That’s right! Be proud of who you are!” (I said this in my head)
I guess i'm unknown as well.....this is Michael.
ReplyDeleteThe first half of the movie dealt with many issues that I think impact a lot of people in the native community. One of these issues is dealing with the negative connotations associated with being native. The youngest sister seems to struggle with her identity as a native woman, saying that life would be easier if she weren't. She questions why her sisters are so proud to be native when all it does is make life harder. I personally struggled with my identity as an on-reserve native when I went to high school, which was the first time I was able to experience life off of my reserve and interact with non-natives. They made me feel like I had less than them, asking questions like whether I had electricity back home, or if I rode a canoe to school. I felt like they saw me as someone less fortunate. Until 9th grade, I was always trying to prove that I had all of the things that they did: wearing expensive brands and always talking about how my parents had money. It took a few years for me to grow up and realize that I didn't need to prove myself to these people because I knew that I was not less fortunate. I grew up with a culturally rich background, and a family who loves me. Being native means people might look at or treat you differently, but it's important to remember that being native is a blessing, and should not be taken for granted.
ReplyDeleteThe best issue, because of how cringey it was, was the scene with the non-native lady. I believe this is the most important issue as it showed how people utilize and appropriate culture in order to boost their credentials, and it seems like this is definitely a widespread societal practice. I also took great note of the point that the movie made to display Native life, especially those without documentation, live with their heritage, especially in a predominantly white lifestyle in the suburbs. I liked the display of different appreciations of culture among the generations in the family, as it helped illustrate how the connection to Native culture is continuously fading as time goes on. I found it very interesting that the movie reiterates my own belief that many people view Native culture as pretty much extinct, as many people I have encountered do not really care about discrimination towards Native people and I have even heard some people say that they did not even know that Natives existed anymore. I think that this movie so far has been a fair portrayal of life of some modern Native people and the marginalization of Natives as a population by the United States government.
ReplyDeleteThe scene that really baffled me was the older, non-native woman who told the sisters she planned to exploit the use of the Sundance and vision quest for profit. I find this very problematic because I come from a culture in which these ceremonies are prevalent. Knowing the power of the ceremonies and their true intentions as well as knowing this happens in real life sort of frightens me. These ceremonies that are being messed with are very powerful and could cause more harm than good.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, the scene where they discuss blood quantum and what not kind of woke me up. I did not have the realization of how low the government thinks of us. Put us in the same department as wild life. It’s a shame they put us in any department for that matter. As well as my blood being considered as being only ½ “Indian”, which is due to my father’s, father not being represented in his birth certificate and birth records. It is such a burden to have to carry around a card proving who I am. The card does not accurately identify me either. I wish we could all be identified as human beings, all these labels do us no good as beings of this world.
What was really interesting to me was the differences between the three sisters themselves, how they all treated their Native identity. The scene in which this disparity was highlighted most prominently was the one with the psychic, as many people have already commented. When the psychic asked the sisters to attend her event in order to lend an air of "authenticity," I was really disturbed. Because the psychic didn't seem to value Native customs and traditions for much more than their profitability, I read it as a disrespectful act of cultural appropriation. Another part of the movie I found really interesting was the card-carrying scene. I really admired the eldest sister when she asked the government official why Native people had to carry a government-issued card in order to prove their identity when people of other ethnicities did not. This made me question the ways in which the American government defines identity, and whether that's something that has to be "proven" or if it's something more intrinsic. However, as a more tangential note, I have a few observations about the medicinal herb company that the sisters are trying to get off the ground. Although they are also marketing their products as coming from Native heritage, their approach differs from the psychic's because it's more about true belief in what they're selling than it is about a purely advertising ploy. Part of me also wonders if the sisters have any qualms about selling these herbal remedies that are so special to their family and their tradition.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the part of the movie that caused the most issues was when the sisters went to see the elderly lady. This woman was non-indigenous yet she was inappropriately and incorrectly smudging. She went on to say that she was native in her past life? This is a poor excuse to disrespect a culture. I don't practice smudging but I can imagine how offensive this part of the movie was to people who actually do practice it.
ReplyDeleteIn Alaska, we have traditional regalia that is specific to the region we live in. In western Alaska, we use Qaspeqs. Traditional, they are made by native people and used to wear in celebrations or dances. In recent times, non-native people have picked up on our regalia and have changed it and have called it “modern.” Personally, I know a lot of people who do not like change that has been done considering many people wear Qaspeqs casually now. That particular part of this scene reminds me of this ongoing thing in my life. As a person who is a part of the native population, it is important that we correct these wrongs and educate people on the importance of respecting all cultures.
One of the issues that I saw in the movie related to Native identity is that there was this feeling of being disconnected from their Native identity, mostly by the two younger sisters. The older sister mentioned going back to the reservation and visiting their father, and how she learned from him their traditional ways and doings, but the two younger sisters said that they were not able to go. While both the two younger sisters seem to not have the same connection as their older sister to their Native identity, it seemed that the youngest sister struggled more with her identity and being Native because, during the first half of the movie, she talked about knowing one’s heritage and being able to go back and trace your lineage. Another issue that I saw related to Native identity is when the sisters went in to discuss receiving the money to start up their business, the man told them that since they didn’t have their tribal enrollment papers or numbers, that they couldn’t receive the money because without the papers or tribal enrollment numbers, they would not be considered Native. The man also told them that they could receive the money, if they were to say that they were Hispanic.
ReplyDeleteThe film's depiction of the struggle between conflicting identities is interesting. While one sister proudly identifies with her native roots, another prefers not to date a native man. The scene when the sisters approach a white woman for advice on entrepreneurship depicts another contradiction: a white woman who does not belong to native culture openly immerses herself in it and even capitalises it. The question on the duty and the right to identify with native tradition seems to be central to the film.
ReplyDeleteThe film makes you empathize with the youngest sister's desire to assimilate by highlighting the intergenerational trauma and injustices one suffers because of their native identity. It mentions the abuse of the sisters’ biological parents and gives background to her desire to want to be someone else. Yet the eldest sister's love and veneration for native culture is passionately communicated. Her refusal to identify as Hispanic to get welfare benefits is a touching moment and the film makes you feel her indignation when she sees a white woman selling her native culture. It seems unfair that the sisters are at a disadvantage for being native but a white woman is running a business out of her belief that she was ‘native in a past life’. By showing the sisters’ exasperation to the venture, the film leaves no question that you should be angry with the white woman’s appropriation of native culture. But it remains a question as to what can tangibly be done about such appropriation.