FW: FW: [Nn-powwow] Problems with New Agers at Powwows (fwd)

["Craven, Jim" <jcraven@xxxxxxxxx>]

Comment: I do not take exception to anyone attending pow wows--necessarily;
I do take exception to what some do with/to the pow wow experience. We not
only have the problem of the "New Ageies" ("Crystal/Granola freaks) bringing
in/helping to create ersatz versions of Indian spirituality and culture, we
have a bigger problem from some Indians themselves: taking "fancy dancing
competitions", pow wows themselves, the commercialization of pow wows and
riding the pow wow highway as some kind of contribution to/exercise of
"Indianness". Much of the Hollywoodization and commericalization of Indian
cultures come from supposed "bloods" or Indians themselves. Instead of
practicing real spirituality, and all the commitment that that involves, or
instead of doing hard-core research on history, treaties, conditions on the
reserves/reservations, corruption, status of Indian women or whatever--the
burning issues of Indian Country--instead we get pow wow strutting and
posturing among some insiders on the pow wow highway as a sample--for
Indians and non-Indians alike--of what being Indian is all about.

This lack of definition and authenticity makes it easier not only for white
new-agers and wannabes to interlope and pollute the authentic with the
ersatz, it also makes it easier for another type of colonizing interloper to
enter and wreak havoc on Indian sacreds and authenticity: the white [and
some nominally Indian] academic "Indianist" for whom Indians--and their
critical issues--are mere commodities or objects to be "studied" and written
about thus to add another knotch to someone's bullshit CV. Just go to
H-Indian on the net (where real Indians are not allowed) and look at the
pure crap that poses as serious scholarship on that list. What you see there
is so typical: jargon-laden crap, very little primary source material and
even less in any original Indian languages, often esoteric, often irrelevant
to any real issues in Indian Country and often using cherry-picked sources
and data being cranked out by the future consultants and BIA bureaucrats of
America; it is as sickening as the crystal/granola freaks interloping at pow
wows.

James M. Craven
Professor of Economics
Member, Blackfoot Nation


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2002 12:59:14 EDT
From: LisaAldred@xxxxxxx
To: nn-powwow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Nn-powwow] Problems with New Agers at Powwows

I have been asked to write a chapter in an anthology on powwow culture about
problems with New Agers who come to powwows. I would appreciate your sharing
your stories, opinions, and ideas about the issue. Do you feel like their
actions are another rip-off of Indian culture.
Please let me know if you mind being quoted in the article. If not,
please let me know if you would like your name & tribe l! isted or prefer to
remain anonymous.

Thank you for your help.
Lisa

You can e-mail me directlly at LisaAldred@xxxxxxxx

Lisa Aldred, JD Ph D
Assistant Professor
Native American Studies
Montana State University
(406) 994-3993
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