REAL Native Americans Taking Over Tumblr
Submissions are welcomed by REAL Native people who want to discuss some of the issues we talk about on here.
Nike made “new” uniforms for all 32 football teams in the NFL. In reality, they simply made technological advancements to material of the uniforms themselves, making them sleeker, tighter, and more strategically padded.
As Mark Parker, CEO of Nike, told the USA Today, the jerseys are up to thirty percent lighter, they’re made with a four-way stretch that gives players a more contoured fit with less material for tacklers to grab, and there’s built-in padding in certain parts of the uniforms. “It’s extra layers where you need it and none where you don’t,” he told the USA Today.
As for the actual look of the uniforms, most of the 32 teams in the leagues saw no discernible change in their logos, colors and designs…save for the Seattle Seahawks.
USA Today reports that the Portland, Oregon-based Nike drew on design features from the team and company’s home in the Pacific Northwest, and were inspired by the rich Native history of the region. Specifically, Nike drew on the designs taken from totem poles, making the bird on the helmet come to a significant point on the back. Instead of the Seahawks taking an Indian name and image for their mascot and logo, they’re simply allowing themselves to be inspired by the history and heritage of Native peoples of their region. See for yourself below, and let us know what you think:
ADR: Too bad that the Coast Salish, the people who’s land they’re on, never used Totems. That’s British Columbia and Alaskan Native peoples.The Coast Salish are one of many people who inhabit the PNW, which yes does include Alaska and British Columbia tribes. Perhaps the designs were inspired by totem poles, but the carving and artwork on totem poles was also found on bentwood boxes, masks, weaving, canoes, and other forms of artwork, which was similar for most of the region. The Coast Salish lands stretch from southern Washington into British Columbia [Southern Coast Salish, Lushootseed [Puget Sound Salish, where Seattle actually is], Central Coast Salish, and Northern Coast Salish.] The PNW tribes are more than the Salish, and they all influenced each other in art.
Not to mention, fans of the Seahawks don’t have to live in only Seattle, they’re the team for our whole region [which includes Alaska]. So I think getting cranky that the designs are inspired by a native group of the region, instead of the specific group where Seattle is, is pointless. No where has anyone said the design was based on Salish totem poles, or that Seattle was once the land of the Tsimshian or Haida or Kwakwaka’wakw or Tlingit.
Not to mention, totem poles ARE a part of Salish modern day life and culture.They are used in many tribal buildings today in the Salish region, and modern Salish carvers are well within their rights to carve a totem pole [and do.] One was erected just last year in memory for carver John T. Williams in Seattle.
First, let me start off by quoting my friend who is Duwamish who read your comment; he says,
“Interesting as it is, and heavily considering how colonization has substantially misconstrued much of the greater public’s knowledge on exactly what each individual tribe did or did not do, it is hard to believe that the Duwamish tribe, whose land resided where current day Seattle, WA does, would appreciate the Seattle Seahawks misrepresenting Duwamish culture through foreign tribal art (Haida or Tlingit). Especially when the Seattle Seahawks attract national attention to the Duwamish land – which that land was never properly given to the Duwamish people. As you tried to mention: “masks, weaving, canoes, and other forms of art” — such as paddles, fishing hooks/lures, wood utensils, etc., would better represent the Duwamish people.
Should it always be the quickest stereotype that makes a bigger (false) impression of what the local indigenous peoples’ culture are? Does the Duwamish – not the Haida, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Kwakwaka’wakw, other Coast Salish tribes – want the Seattle Seahawks – which, of course, the city of the NFL team’s home-turf is named after the Duwamish chief Seattle – to have their jerseys “inspired” by totem poles? Does the totem poles that “inspired” the Seattle Seahawks new jerseys accurately represent the Duwamish people, their land, and their culture? Or would it be better of the Seattle Seahawks to have jerseys inspired by the Duwamish people’s “other forms of art” found on drums, paddles, baskets, etc.
Honestly, it is rather upsetting seeing people think that Tlingit and Haida artwork is of Coast Salish culture. Modern society is considerably misconstrued of Coast Salish culture by Tlingit and Haida art being sold in gift shops, being on displays in city galleries, and now “inspiring” the Seattle Seahawks’ new Nike jerseys. Thus, should it really be that Tlingit and Haida art that is referred too on the Seattle Seahawks’ jerseys whenever the Seahawks play on national television? Or for the sake of acknowledging a tribe that has not been federally recognized by the U.S. Government have its art be referred too whenever the Seahawks play football?”
Secondly, it’s the Seattle Seahawks. Not the Washington Seahawks. Not the PNW Seahawks. True, the fans are not only from Seattle; but that’s a point that should really go without saying as that’s an obvious statement and is of little significance.
Also, the Salish (not Coast Salish) extend from Eastern Washington on eastward into Montana and Idaho. Lushootseed is also a language not a people.
Finally to address your comment which pertains to the totem pole carved for John T. Williams by his brother and family which was erected back in February: John T. Williams and his family are Alaskan Natives, not Coast Salish. At the memorial service back in August, they specifically had the folks whom were Alaskan Natives in the crowd to come up because they are the Williams’ Family’s people. The family most likely moved to Seattle during the 1950s or later during the termination period much like many other native people from other parts of the country. It’s not uncommon for urban natives to be from varying parts of the country and continent.
Moreover, totem poles ARE NOT traditional to the region (as I stated before, they’re from British Columbia and Alaska… one area which doesn’t consider themselves apart of the PNW namely Alaska). If Coastal artists create Totems it’s generally to make money, not to practice their traditional art, modern or not. Though there are a good number of Totems here in Washington, many (that I’ve seen) are bullshit reproductions or blatant rip offs made by non-Native people, whose presence only further the misconception that the Coast Salish people traditionally carved Totem Poles.
To wrap this up and get to the main point which I expressed from the start of this forum: Totem Poles do not represent the people whom this land belongs to which the Seattle Seahawks choose to represent to the rest of the country. Thus using a totem pole as the inspiration of the new design only further spreads stereotypes and misconceptions of the people of this region and also misrepresents the peoples whom the Totem poles come from.
Might as well say that teepees belong in the northwest and should be an item which the Seahawks should use as inspiration.
I am Coast Salish. I am from Tulalip. Our tribe is made up of the the people from Seattle to Camano Island. This would include the Duwamish people. Many of our people are descendants of chief Sealth and are Duwamish descendants. (Duwamish is not a recognized tribe and so yes there are people who are trying to get recognized as Duwamish, however many were forced to move to Tulalip and surrounding tribes) that said. I know for a FACT that my people had “totem” poles or story poles as we call them. In our longhouses (this includes Duwamish band) story poles or carved poles indicated families and yes stories.
As I sit here with my family on our land, the same shore and beach that us Puget Sound, Salish Sea natives have lived on for over 4,000 years I can say I’m excited to see the inspired art, I only hope the art had actual Coast Salish Artists input.
Thanks, adailyriot, for the other input a well! Your friend has some good input, I enjoyed his point of view and yours. It’s not that I’m saying we should perpetuate stereotypes or anything. The information I talked about I learned in a art history class at Northwest Indian college. So forgive me, but because of how my studies are set up, I consider tribes in Alaska and British Columbia to be PNW. So when an article says the inspiration comes from “NW native designs” I don’t consider tribes in BC or southern Alaska coast out of that realm of possibility. Also, thanks for the further details on the John T. Williams pole. It was still an important day for Salish tribal members, all tribal members in the area regardless of tribe, as well as his family and friends and tribe, and the significance was not lost to anyone.
I don’t think it’s necessarily a requirement that the Seahawks [the Seattle Seahawks] ONLY represent Seattle. That is not how I see the them. I do see them as a team for the region, because I have friends and family members in Alaska who are more fanatic than I am. [My uncle who lives in Deering, AK which is in the arctic, has season tickets.] So I see them for Washington and for the PNW, not just Seattle. So I don’t think it’s bad if the uniforms are inspired by the region. Which is why I think it’s a cranky point!
Please see what Pipud said, she’s Tulalip, and she knows her culture. She’s amazing like that. And she knows it better than I do, because it’s HER culture.
I wasn’t referring to non-native owned buildings in my last paragraph. I grew up near the Puyallup Reservation, and live amidst the Muckleshoot Reservation. These tribes have totem poles present at their buildings. You should acknowledge that in modern PNW native culture, modern Salish cultures included, totem poles are used. It’s a disservice to modern natives to dismiss their lives and experiences as not “true” or “proper” culture/tradition. Totem poles may have originated in B.C./Alaskan tribes [if you’re going to dismiss Pipud], but they’ve since become a part of the Salish people’s culture too.
I’m not requiring you to change your opinion, you can keep it. Just something to think about and consider. A different point of view!
At this point, the same information will have been passed around. I’m sticking by the points I’ve said earlier and that my friend had also shared. He is also from Tulalip (from one of the many tribes that live at that reservation), and knows his culture as well. I said what I said before because at this point it’s just getting into tribal politics which I’m sure few of the people on here are aware of if they haven’t lived in Tulalip or know folks from there… and frankly I don’t think it’s worth having it spilled all over tumblr cuz most people aren’t going to understand it anyway. I’m saying this, and I know I only understand a very small fraction of it.
What I know of there regarding things is not my information to share either so I’m not going to post it on here.
But like I said, I’m sticking to my points regardless and reiterating that at this point it’s almost not worth discussing further as two of the people here that would know better than most folks (my friend speaking through me as he doesn’t have a tumblr nor want one) are both from the same reservation and still do not see eye to eye on this issue.
I understand that you don’t intend for me to change my opinion on this, but i’m still sticking to my guns.
When discussing a Tribe you’re not from you always need to be respectful. If someone from that Tribe tells you they also know the culture and have been taught something is important to their Tribe then you need to respect that.
You should never talk down to someone who is discussing their own Tribe. You don’t have to agree but you have to realize that it is their culture and not yours. Regardless of whether your friend is saying anything to you isn’t the issue. The issue is that you’re being disrespectful to someone who was trying to share their own culture or a certain part of their culture.
If your friend disagrees about the issue then he has the right to disagree because it is his own culture. It is pipud’s culture and she can speak out about it if she disagrees. If you aren’t from the same Tribe then you need to respect their opinions and keep your own separate.
Understanding other Tribes means respecting other tribes. Talking as though you are an authority figure for other Tribes is rude. It wouldn’t be alright if someone else was arguing with you about your own Tribes so it’s not alright for you to do it to someone who is from another Tribe with a different culture than yours.
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My question is for the author the psost from 4_27. Do you think that it is not possible for some tribes to be prejudiced in thier enrollment practices? I believe in a tribes right to determine it's membership but I do think that it can be prejudiced. I'm not talking about the Cherokee either. I would like to hear the opinions of others.
We did not state that there was no prejudice within any type of decision making processes. However, we are trying to provide awareness about the issues affecting connected and accepted Native people and Native communities which is why many of the issues discussed on this blog will provide information about that specific side of an issue.
We did not create this blog to state that there are no issues of racism, prejudice or discrimination within communities but rather to promote the fact that connected Native people can often have different viewpoints and experiences that also need to be discussed openly. There are numerous blogs on tumblr alone that discuss how being of mixed ancestry is difficult and the issues those people encounter, which is good, but we feel that other viewpoints need to be discussed at the same time.
Native communities are diverse and bringing up only the issues affecting people who are not connected or accepted is not promoting equal understanding of all of the issues affecting Native people.
People are so quick to judge and assume that Native people are oppressive for not allowing simply anyone to join their communities. An oppressed group is finally allowed to define identity in their own communities but yet we are the ones oppressing others by not accepting you?
There are too many…
I think the way my tribes enrollment is effective. We do not use blood quantum as our people continue to marry outside our small population. However we have very strict guidelines for enrollment. You MUST reside ont he reservation for one year prior to giving birth to the child becoming enrolled. You must prove by many written documentations of your residence on the reservation. This means every tribal member has lived amongst the community since the beginnig of our culture thousands of years ago. Your lineage is also referenced with your family tree and must be a direct descendant to a person who signed the Point Elliott Treaty of 1856. We are “treaty indians”. I was born and raised on my reservation. I moved away for a few years (still was very involved in my community) and moved back 3 years ago. There’s no place like home.
It’s very important to learn about how different each Native community is. Posts like these are important. Thank you for providing this information.
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Oppression
People are so quick to judge and assume that Native people are oppressive for not allowing simply anyone to join their communities. An oppressed group is finally allowed to define identity in their own communities but yet we are the ones oppressing others by not accepting you?
There are too many biased opinions being circulated about Native identity and it’s relation to things like blood quantum and identity policing. A lot of Native people tend to notice that many of the people who so often speak out against the use of identity policing or blood quantum standards are people with very minimal ancestry, people who are unable to trace their ancestry and people who have been rejected from their own communities.
Do people not see an issue with that biased opinion? If you are not considered a member of your community or you don’t have the requirements to be considered a member of your community then of course you will not be rooting for the use of identity policing or blood quantum. You will be looking at it all as an outside who’s trying to get in.
If you qualify to be a member of your community then maybe there are some serious issues within your community that are holding you back from getting recognized. If you are connected to the community, the culture and the language, and you meet the ancestry requirements for the community you should now be disregarded or rejected.
On the other hand if you have neither of those things then why don’t you begin to look at why a community would feel the need to reject you or not accept you instead of imposing your opinions about your situation on others. If everyone continues looking at only the opinions about Native identity from one perspective then everyone will be continuing to oppress Native people who are connected and accepted in their communities.
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Honesty is the Best Policy
There are often many cases of people with supposed Native American ancestry who tend to change their stories about specific ancestry. A lot of people notice these discrepancies and begin to question their identities and real ties to community.
There is nothing wrong with saying that you “have Native American ancestry (or an ancestor) but you and your family are not aware of the full history” or “research needs to still be done to determine information about my ancestry” or even “we just don’t know all of the details yet”. Saying things like that are admirable and respectful. It’s honest.
It’s not good to make up elaborate stories or to try and piece together information on your own. Even if the historical information is difficult to find it does not mean that stories need to be created within a family to validate ancestry.
A lot of people also just make assumptions about their ancestry. They assume that because their one ancestor lived in a specific area that they must have come from the closest Nation. To do this erases not only your own history but the history of your ancestor’s people. Native people have been getting displaced for centuries and not all Natives living in one region necessarily originally came from that region.
There are many historical documents and oral stories that discuss mixing of Nations or the integration of entire groups into other communities. The history for each Nation and each family will always be unique. Assumptions shouldn’t be made about an individual or a Nation.
If you are able to respectfully say that you’re simply not aware of all of the details about the specific ancestry or ancestor it’s much more honest and positive. It means that you may be genuinely interested in learning about this ancestry and that you are not willing to infringe upon the rights and identity of Native people in this era. People may also be much more receptive to this, especially if you are attempting to approach communities that are more resistant to accepting outsiders.
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RNATOT
- does not send and has not sent anonymous messages to anyone on tumblr
- will usually not message anyone unless clarification is asked or needed
- will edit submissions or ask for clarifications if something seems unclear
- will respond to messages related to various topics but as mentioned previously we will not confirm anyone’s identity
- we do not support any of the anonymous messages that have been displayed on people’s blogs that are using our name, title or link within them
- whatever statements of issues that we feel we need to discuss will be addressed solely on this blog rather than through messages or submissions to others
- members will decide whether or not to reveal their identity as a collective so if any member is not comfortable revealing their identity then we will remain anonymous
if people do not want to read this blog, then that is understandable and it means you should not follow us.
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Understanding Native Identity from a Historical Perspective
This is the short and general version seeing as how this topic can be further discussed in many ways.
Prior to contact with Europeans Native American groups were always divided. They were often divided geographically or based on kinships. There were various groups that formed alliances with one another but the entire spectrum of Native Americans were not united. Each individual group had their own culture, their own language and their own viewpoints. Even within regional areas there were many groups that did not have identical or similar cultures.
This is why there was and there still is a divide in Native viewpoints. Even within larger alliances, such as some of the confederacies that are discussed in Native history, there were often differing viewpoints and special decision making processes had to be utilized to come to a conclusion or a final decision.
After contact occured with Europeans there was a further divide amongst not only Native identities but with the newcoming European identities. New identities, cultures and languages were imposed upon Native people. A generalized view of what Native culture, language and identity consisted of was made by many European settlers who were unable to understand and accept the differences between themselves and the Native population.
As colonization began Native people were often forced to rid themselves of any ties to their Native identity. They were forced to speak English, Spanish or French. They were forced to change their clothing, cut their hair, practice religions and relocate from their original territories. They became displaced and confused and many Nations, cultures and languages became extinct. Despite the overall goal of assimilation of Natives by many parties each individual Nations history became unique when colonization began. Not every Nation endured the same timeline, attempts at assimilation or relocation. Various Nations were exposed to contact centuries before other groups and some groups are still currently not in complete contact with the outside populations (such as some various groups in South America).
Defence mechanisms were often created by many Native Nations and individual Natives to provide safety to their families and communities. Some Nations and individuals hid the use of their cultural practices and the use of their languages. They often met secretly or had a system set up in order to keep utilizing these things without getting in trouble with the outside population. Others accepted assimilation and rid themselves of their culture and languages. Some people even hid in areas that were not easily accessible by groups who were unaware of the territory. Different defence mechanisms were created throughout “Indian country”.
Acts and laws were created by governing bodies to attempt to identity police Native communities. They were often created to eliminate Native groups and communities. They consisted of unfair regulations and practices. Native groups were often not given the opportunity to change these laws and acts. They were imposed by these governing bodies.
However, now Native communities have gained access to control who is and isn’t a member of their community. They are allowed to choose blood quantum standards and enrolment standards. They are now making these choices for themselves. While the initial process of identity policing was imposed by outside governing bodies Native communities are now taking those rights back and making these choices based on what would work best for each individual community. Native communities are slowly beginning to take control over policies that were once imposed on them.
We are not living in an era where all Native communities are currently being forced to have to deal with identity policies that don’t fit well within their own communities. Each community is setting their own standards which is why you will continue to see very differing viewpoints on what is entailed with Native identity. Many Native people are embracing this new right and are using it as a tool to distinguish who is or isn’t Native in their own viewpoints. This is why some groups require higher blood quantums while other groups may look more at the cultural involvement of the individual. Each individual Nation has it’s own unique policies and definitions of what it mean to be a Native person from that Nation.
This is part of the many reasons why Native identity has now become so important to Native communities. We have endured a long history of being minimized and oppressed. We still continue to deal with many continued assimilation attempts by current governing bodies. We are still oppressed and will still have to deal with discrimination and racism. We are still attempting to heal from things like boarding and residential schools. We are dealing with intergenerational trauma and various health and social issues. However, we are also slowly receiving rights that we have not been able to access in previous time periods. We are taking the rights we are given and adhering them to our own cultural beliefs and practices.
Native identity is now being able to be defined by Native people themselves. This is an important part of our history. It does also cause some issues because many Nations are at different eras or stages within their development. No two Nations will have identical viewpoints about how to define Native identity. However, it is still important to realize that despite all of our negative history in relation to outside governing bodies we are now slowly receiving rights. We are continuing to protect and use our cultures and languages. We are now entitled to choose whether we want to share our cultures and languages or keep them private amongst only our own Nation. We are now allowed to choose who can be a part of our communities. We are choosing these things on our own and we are discussing them amongst our own people.
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What this blog will not do for you: validate you as a Real Native.
There have been a large number of asks recently, asking the members of this blog to “judge” whether or not they themselves are Real Natives or not.
Stop getting hung up on the word Real. It is a play on the Native Americans Take Over meme. Believe it or not, we do have a sense of humour.
This blog is not here to validate you or not. The people who contribute to this blog are recognized and accepted in their Nations. Unlike the wider Tumblr community, we have not merely taken it on faith that we are who we claim to be. We have verified.
Contrary to popular opinion, we are not here to decide who is a Real Native and who is not. The purpose of this blog is to have these discussions. The kind of normal conversations you have with someone new you meet, where you ask one another where you are from, who your relations are, and so on.
All of us began our time on Tumblr accepting the claims of those who identified as Native. It has become very clear that there are people claiming false identities, and others who are exaggerating their connections. This would be quickly found out in person, so why should we not start asking questions online? How can we have discussions relevant to us as indigenous peoples if people who roleplay a Native identity get to monopolize the conversation?
We have never said that being an urban Native makes you a fake.
Nonetheless, if you message us with your particular situation and ask, “Am I a Real Native”, you are not going to get much of an answer, if any. You cannot get “cred” off the internet. Stop trying to find it.
Every single one of us has had to struggle with identity issues to some extent. This blog is being written by those who feel that their experiences as people who are intimately and currently connected to their Nations, are being ignored. We are not saying that there are no other valid experiences. We do not accept that everyone claiming to be Native on the internet is truthful. We do not accept being represented solely by those who are disconnected. We do not accept that wanting to speak for ourselves is oppressive.
Like any community, there are different approaches on this blog depending on who is contributing. We support one another in those different approaches because we recognize that we come from different perspectives and realities. We might call specific people out on this blog openly, but we will not be directing anonymous and abusive messages to people, saying that they are fakes. Nor do we support those who take it upon themselves to do this.
In short, if you want validation for your identity, you have to go to the places all the rest of us do for that. Off-line and personal.
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Information about RNATOT
This blog was created to give a voice to the people who felt unable to discuss their viewpoints on Native identity or Native issues online, especially on a site like tumblr. Too many accusations and assumptions were made because some people were not able to understand any other viewpoint that differed from their own.
There are users who access the account and users who contribute. They come from different Native groups and are all recognized members of their communities. They are Indigenous from this continent.
This blog is being used to get out the viewpoints and frustrations of Native people about things like identity. There were several issues discussed by Native people about the issues occurring on tumblr surrounding Native discussions. There was often a huge lack of participation from fully recognized members from specific Native communities.
We want to make posts so people realize that we are frustrated and that we don’t like many of the conversations that occur on things like tumblr. We want people to understand what identity means to Real Native people.
We use the term “Real Native” because it means that all of the users and contributors are currently and have always been accepted members of their specific Native communities. We have higher quantities of Native ancestry and we are still connected to our communities even if we all don’t live within the communities itself.
If people would like to minimize our viewpoints by stating that no one on tumblr has caused anyone else frustration then that further proves our point that Native opinions are often being dismissed or not heard.
Most Native communities do not just willingly accept Non-Natives or people with minimal Native ancestry into their communities. We want to show people that this is how it currently works. We want to share the truth with everyone. We are tired of people with minimal Native ancestry and no real ties to Native communities speaking over us. We are tired of being told that we need to accept people with minimal ancestry as Natives because they choose to identify as Native. We are tired of the misunderstanding by people who are unable to accept any other viewpoints but their own.
We are all living people who practice our cultures. We will question your identity because we are allowed to. We deserve respect. Each Nation has it’s own rules for identity policing that need to be respected. We are not all part of some Pan-Indian culture where everyone is easily accepted, we are part of an ethnic group with many different types of Nations. We are all individual and we do not support the idea that all people who identify as Native should be simply accepted as Native.
We will call out people on this blog because that will happen in Real Life in Real Native communities. We will question people. We will argue. We will make posts that can be seen as rude or that can be misunderstood. We are here to take our rights back. We are here to get our voices heard.
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How do you feel about white people (on and off tumblr) calling out other white people who are appropriating various parts of native culture or using stereotypes of natives? Is it helpful to have more people adding to the conversation or do you think it's not their place?
We feel that sometimes it is necessary for White people to call out other White people when it comes to things like cultural appropriation. As long as it is done to inform and provide valuable information about the issues Native people have with cultural appropriation.
It should not be based around their own specific feelings or opinions but it should be used as a way to keep Native voices active and heard. Their viewpoints should be kept subordinate. They should not add their own biases or viewpoints into any discussion of an issue that affects a culture or group they do not belong to, but rather they should provide meaningful dialogue that they have witnessed.
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