The problem with “pop culture” being represented in the native art forms

Good evening to each and everyone and thank you for always being loyal and supportive over here @ Jacobson native art. I feel like it’s certainly time to address this new wave of pop culture shit and ideas and this influence that is happening in small pockets of our woodland school and First Nations art in general. This small and weak movement is quite troubling and I’ll go into my exact reasons as to why.

First of all it’s a distorted message and one that does not fulfill the authenticity of our culture and art. The levels of plagiarism, theft of concepts, copyright violations, stealing ideas, ripping off artists and bastardizing the art forms with this mixing and mashing of concepts sends a message of a colonial mind set. At the base of these is a warping of our traditional culture, stories and art. It is essentially mis-information. It is a false spirit being Introduced into the mainstream of a colonized mind set of yet another generation. 

I look at this stuff popping up on social media and think to myself? Holy fuckin shit...is this ever ugly. Not only that but it’s a fake spirit, a false narrative. The problem is on both sides of this coin really, both their audience and the art itself. It’s understandable that this society has been bamboozled. Colonization is the culprit and really is the brainchild of this brain fart of pop culture shit being indoctrinated into our art, into our culture then on to the mainstream. At the base of that is no culture, no true identity. A generation of lost children still being hypnotized by the television and the Internet. 

Runway Model and reference: How spirit world sees this shit

Of course the institutions of colonialism absolutely love this shit. They are certainly behind the driving force of supporting anything and everything that tries to blend the two together, thus muddying the waters between the clarity and authenticity of our culture, of who we are as Anishanabe. Take for example this poor rendition of throwing the Simpson's into the mix and adding woodland art and sacred motifs of our Thunderbird teachings into this. It’s gross, it insults my indian name and my ties to Thunderbird medicine. It is disrespectful to the animal clan teachings. The ceremonies that are performed around the art and spirit of what it means to be Anishanabe. When I go out into the Bush, the mountains and rivers I don’t see any of this out there. 

Mother Nature in her wisdom and power doesn’t confuse me with this regurgitated garbage. I see real animals out there, I connect with the real forces of creation. There are sacred teachings that come with our animal clans and their roles in Anishanabe life. You learn that by getting involved in the ceremonies, the teachings and finding those who can connect you to this wealth of power and true spiritual force. Not the television, not Facebook, not instagram, not tik tok and not the Internet. That is not our way. Those are not our teachings. That is what a colonial mind set does. That is what colonial sickness spreads. A watered down and misinformed version of who we are as Anishanabe. 

It’s a backwards energy and misinformed spirit. It’s just another form of artistic prostitution. And that’s the sad part. That these kids are being lied to through social media platforms and the whole desire to express, connect and become the next sensation because your attention starved and in need of being loved on Instagram, tiktok and whatever else that gives a false sense of identity. 

I will leave you with this last thought on this and explain as to why it’s a false spirit and narrative. Here we have Betty White being adorned in our woodland art form. A funny and cute old white lady who was a pop culture icon to some. Ok, give her some shine and create a conversation I suppose with this design. I know the artist who made this didn't do his research. And this is why you have to be careful. Watch this video of Betty white and Sandra Bullock culturally appropriate our cultural integrity. Watch them make fun of who we are as First Nations. It’s disgusting, artists like Blake and the rest of these plagiarizing prostitutes need to stop. You are hurting our culture and teachings with this shit...stop spreading this false narrative and fake spirit. Enough is enough. All my relations, MAJ

VIDEO LINK: 

The house of Jacobson - Honouring the life and death of my father and sister

 Just reflecting tonight here in the studio on two of the most important souls of my family who have left this world. It would’ve been by dad’s birthday so happy birthday to you and sending love to my forever adored sister in Angie Jacobson. Mother to 2 beautiful souls...any how, I love you always and forever. 

This is for you both. From me to you in the spirit world: 

Disclosure of some personal revelations of truth here @ Jacobson native art

 Good morning to each and everyone and I have been in a deep place of transformation ever since I left Vancouver in 2017 and headed out to the Kootenay mountains. The reality of the vastness of space, power and quiet inspiration out here has absolutely changed my point of view and perceptions about many things. I’ve had tons of time out here to reflect on the cultural fabric of this country, the realities of surviving genocide, being a 60’s scoop survivor, escaping death, battling the disease of alcoholism (been sober now for over 23 years and counting). 

Being heavily involved in the rebirthing of myself as a true Anishanabe soul, sovereign from Canada and the Queen of England, truly. My identity as a real version of a freeman on my land. I am governed by the Creator first, my ancestry, 7 sacred grandfather teachings and the experience in who I am in relation to this and through my own lense. As much as the occupier in Canada and their so-called rule of law which is founded on genocide in actuality, I am free to live my life governed by these principles which supersede the rule of law. These are universal source codes in reality. Applicable to all human beings. This is a spiritual perspective that really shows the way to what real freedom is for us Anishanabe. I know Canada doesn’t want me to see this truth for me and my people, but sorry to say to them, it is our ways which must come first. This is what you have tried to kill in me. This is what you have tried to strip from me, my voice, my truth, my identity, my power. 

The real truth of my real fight has been in establishing who I really am. My own views and experiences throughout my life and telling it truthfully, no sugar coating, raw and real from a true First Nations and indigenous lense. This is my voice speaking up, speaking truth to power. Exposing these crimes against humanity and pointing my arrows where they ought to be pointed. I’m absolutely fuckin disgusted to tell you the truth and I make no bones about my dissatisfaction with my abuser in Canada. This country owes us trillions and trillions of dollars, let alone all the land and resource thefts, cultural artifacts being stolen, etc. It’s so gross about how the majority of white settlers don’t even know the real history of how this country came to be. What a disgrace to the fallen...many of them had no fuckin clue either that they were all that deceived. But these residential school children are showing us some things that this country has tried to deny and tuck away into the past, somewhere non existent.

But they speak and speak they will continue to do. I too will continue to speak and to tell it as it is. Unfiltered much like the Canadian media cannot do because of how fucked up that whole industry truly is. Mostly parasites and maggots feasting on the pain and misery of others who get paid for that. I don’t get paid by anyone here. Only by the truth do I get to see more and get paid. It’s more of a spiritual thing for me seeing things on the upper plains, middle plains and lower plains. Laws of spirit. Other than this, I don’t give a shit about Canadian media at all. Most of it is pretty useless information and at the end of the day, I don’t need any of it. I am my own media. I am the truth of my experience. My lense is purely from an indigenous point of view. It’s as simple as that..

The same can be said of being recognized by this country for all the good I’ve done concerning the reality of getting directly involved in saving the lives of numerous sexual assault victims, helping to facilitate justice for them by getting their abuser arrested, charged and put into a federal penitentiary for 5 years. I know, not nearly enough time as he has always been not only the chief suspect of this Morrisseau art fraud,  but he is also the main suspect of the murder of Scott Dove in Thunder Bay back in 1984. It’s still an unsolved murder, even now. These guys have been wanting to deal with Gary Lamont up there for years, but it took Indians to get the job done. Even up until this very day nobody from Thunder Bay never thanked me for getting involved in not only saving the lives of these victims/survivors and helping to remove a serial rapist from their streets. Not once...

So, things like medals, awards, the order of Canada, etc mean absolutely fuckin nothing to me. I simply dont care. It’s a lot like being awarded from your sexual abuser. It’s bad enough that no one from the AFN gave me any support or help or anything. I had to do it on my own. From the money of paintings that I sold of my art. That’s how I flew to Thunder Bay to help everyone there, on several occasions. I didn’t realize it at the time but surely all these years later, my ancestors have shown me that it was the order of the Anishanabe that I was producing. Putting things back in order from our way, our perspective. Setting the record straight. For future generations. 

Once again I feel extremely grateful for the process of awakening and decolonization. I believe in my people make no mistake about that. But we are a long long way from meaningful change and truth and reconciliation. Over 500+ years of surviving genocide will take its toll on anyone, let alone a nation of people who identify as First Nations. Even though I have seen so much pain and suffering and have had to illuminate so much darkness, I feel I have come a long long way. A few years ago I finally applied for my indian status. I was obviously hesitant for all the reasons I’ve shared around this genocide of my people and even in me, trying to wipe me out, my family bloodline, to bleed the Indian out of me. I have survived this far. Still here and still present fighting the good fight for not only my people but people all around the world. 

I’m grateful that this country knows and recognizes my status as being Anishanabe. It is one of the good things I can reflect on with regard to trying to see the progress between our various nations. I feel though that even that in itself is quite backwards and weird. But this is survival of genocide. It isn’t easy navigating these realities. I am a voice for myself, my family bloodline and ancestry. I will continue to be a strong voice for my people, the great Anishanabe. 

All my relations, MAJ