Makwa-giizis (Bear Moon), February 24, 2024
Gimiinigoowiz gakina gegoo ji-nisidotaman bimaadiziwin. Gego wiikaa anooj-igo doodawaaken inendamowin.
("Your mind is a powerful gift. Never abuse it.")*Boozhoo!
At times, you might question how we manage to deal with the overwhelming amount of information on Indigenous-related topics as we navigate the unpredictable journey of learning.
Indeed, it takes a lifetime and beyond to digest all the information we receive from books, movies, social media, and classes. Learning is a continuous process, and often we are misled, but eventually, we recognize this and expand our understanding through deeper insights. Trial and error is fundamental. Too often, I have been deceived by academically trained non-native authors with large egos who write definitive, authoritative, and epic books on Native American topics, only to discover much later that most of it was nonsense, often rooted in Western bias. And too often, we are exposed by false or misleading information through social media (especially Facebook), where it seems a host of popular Natives dedicate themselves to spreading false facts that appear to originate from a factory of distorted cultural self-images. Sometimes it seems like a popularity contest to ensure as many followers and fans as possible repeat your false narratives. This is why we are constantly being publicly attacked by self-proclaimed "Gatekeepers" and "Pretendian Hunters"—whom I refer to as "Only When There Is Snow on the Ground Cops" and "Who Are Your Teachers Police." **
Misleading and often harmful stereotypes are widespread. Building knowledge involves reassessing what we've learned and believed so far, constantly deconstructing before we can rebuild. Therefore, it's crucial for us to remain skeptical and not accept nonsense simply because it's propagated by popular figures with many followers. Mindlessly following false leaders is more detrimental than we realize. It's even more damaging than exaggerated fake news because its impact lasts longer.
Keep in mind that we have a mind of our own, a gift and treasure we should consistently appreciate and hold dear.
Mi'iw. Onjida gii bizindawiyeg.
That is all, thank you for listening.
NOTE:
*Gimiinigoowiz gakina gegoo ji-nisidotaman bimaadiziwin: Your mind is a powerful gift. It literally means:
" You are gifted by the spirits with the ability of comprehending life."
** In today's era of call-out culture and the pretendian hunters , it's become quite trendy on Facebook to openly challenge those who post about Indigenous-related topics. "Don't You Know You're Not Allowed To Share Stories As Long As Our Mother The Earth Isn't Covered With At Least Seven Inches Of Snow?" and "What's Your Tribal Affiliation? Where Did You Get Your Information From? Who Is Your Teacher?" are just a few of the mantras that seem to originate from the same source of culturally correct clichés. Ugh. It seems like everyone now feels the need to portray themselves as a "Super NDN." This is counterproductive because it takes us further away from a true understanding of our cultural heritage. It merely leads us in circles. Only an open, respectful, and non-judgmental dialogue will foster a better understanding of our lives, our current position, and our future as Indigenous Peoples.
Illustration: Enwaachiged - the Prophet - ©2024 Zhaawano Giizhik
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