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.
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
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