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"PLAYING INDIAN " December 30, 2007 Spirit Hawk ^i^ |
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I met a lady in a store
yesterday. She was buying a ton of mock South Western " Indian type " things to decorate her house with. Many were decorated with the image of Kokopeli and I heard her make the comment that she had no idea who or what the image was. I introduced myself and tried to explain to her that Kokopeli is an ancient trickster, fertility, and rain god of Anasazi origin and this lady actually got irate! She was Christian didn't want to hear any such HEATHEN talk about " Indian " dieties! She had absolutely no problem decorating her house with stuff to make it and herself look " cool " though! You know something? There once was a time that it was anything but popular to be " Indian ". Remember the phrase, " The only good Indian is a dead Indian. " ? Trust me folks, there were many who truly believed those words and did their best to make it so! Those days weren't all that long ago. There are some still alive who remember those days and all of our People who live the legacy of those words to this day. But now, in this day and times, it seems very popular with " non-Indians " to be " Indian ". Seems most everyone claims a relative, either close or in the distant past, that has " Indian " blood. Some admit they have no blood at all but just want to learn our ways. All insist on their sincerity. What I find very strange though is just how fast that sincerity seems to fade when the realities of being " Indian " start to appear. When the image of the " Noble Red Man " becomes tainted with the problems of real life people. It seems that when the issues of how to deal with past and present problems arise their only solution is to forgive and forget. They sit in their comfortable homes and have all the answers for us. Just turn the other cheek and it will all go away and please, please, what ever you do, don't TALK about any unpleasant issues. To do so might offend some one and, if you do so, well then we don't like trouble makers like you! Teach us your customs, religion and ceremonies. We want to learn them, but bend them so they fit OUR beliefs, OUR ways. Seems they just want the cream off the top of the milk pail, not the milk underneath. They want their image of what an " Indian " is, and ONLY that image! Well, to those people I say this. That's not the way it works! All you are doing is " PLAYING INDIAN " . Nothing more, nothing less! There are those who are truly trying to learn or to re-connect. You insult them and us and distract everyone from the true path with your silly games. If you can't stand the truths of being one of The People then please just find yourself another HOBBY, and for Pete's sakes, quit judging and criticizing those seeking real answers, speaking real truths and doing their best to help our People survive. Leave those who are LIVING the life of BEING " Indian " alone if you're afraid of what it truly means. Quit PLAYING " Indian " and
grow up! |
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