Reflections of a Storyteller, part 5: Wenabozho and the Pretendian Hunters

Baashkaakodin-giizis / Gashkadino-giizis (Freezing Moon/ Freezing Over Moon) (December 13, 2024)

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"A story-teller gives “power” to his/her listeners. Our ancestors shared, so must we. A liar can not sustain itself in a fresh water lake. A stick thrown on a lake will eventually sink. Truth be told. – Inino Elder Michel Sutherland

According to US law, if a libel attacks someone in their professional or official capacity, the law presumes that they suffer pecuniary damage from it.

From my perspective, "Pretendian Hunters" like Cristal Semaganis, who slander and defame those who do not fit their personal standards of who qualifies as a 'real Indian' and seem to dedicate their lives to  publicly spreading falsehoods, to ruin people's careers and reputations, are federal offenders – or at least, should be viewed as such. Unfortunately, libel is not a federal offense (at least, not in the US); I dislike the fact that there is still criminal impunity for them. In my stories, this is where Wenabozho comes in ... A People's hero, who, despite himself, is setting the record straight – making things RIGHT.

I wish that spreading falsehoods were a federal offense, but unfortunately, it is not. While I am unsure about the situation in Canada, in the United States, victims of criminalized libel have only the option of pursuing a civil claim. In most states, libel is considered merely a civil wrongdoing. States cannot arrest individuals on libel charges; these matters are handled exclusively by the state's civil courts. However, in some US states, libel cases may involve both criminal and civil courts, depending on the situation. In those states, libeling is illegal. I believe this should be the standard across the entire country.

>Next episode: Wenabozho and the Stepping Stones

Illustration: Wenabozho Defies the Ghost Warrior ©2024 Zhaawano Giizhik