On colonization, racial supremacy and playing Indian
A response to ‘Statement of Global Indigenous Identity and Solidarity’
Wednesday, October 14, 2020
Indianz.Com
The following was written by Rhiana Yazzie (Navajo). It was originally posted on Facebook and is republished here with permission.
I’m responding to the “Statement of Global Indigenous Identity and Solidarity” that Rulan Tangen, the founder and artistic director of Dancing Earth Indigenous Contemporary Dance Creations published online on October 12, 2020.
I urge you all to read this masterpiece justifying theft: the stealing of Native American identity, fellowships, grants, leadership, thought leadership, movie roles, and countless other robberies big and small, personal and public. Her letter makes up the three legged dog of recent self-revelatory letters by women claiming to be an ethnicity that they aren’t, ask Jessica Krug and CV Vitolo-Haddad.
But I want to point out how this letter is more deeply disturbing and damaging than those. Rulan and Dancing Earth’s letter never once take active responsibility for stealing Native identity. Cloaked in Las Vegas proportions of smoke and mirrors, the letter actually makes a detailed case for why it is OK for Rulan to be a Filipino woman playing “Indian.” The letter even blames everyone else for assuming her Filipino features were Native American while she dressed up in Plains Indian traditional clothing, Southwestern style jewelry, and modeled Native American designer’s work.
What we should see as we read this list of excuses is how Rulan has masterfully delivered the idea of being “Indian” without actually being “Indian” and wants to get your permission to keep doing it.
Join us Sunday , to embody knowledge in empathy with the organic patterns of life on earth with Rulan Tangen's Zoom…
Posted by Dancing Earth on Saturday, May 23, 2020
Advertisement
Search
Filed Under
Tags
More Headlines
White House Fact Sheet: The American Jobs Plan Supports Tribal Communities
Native America Calling: Safety vs. learning as schools begin in-person classes
Biden administration relaunches White House Council on Native American Affairs
Native America Calling: Correcting the record with inclusion and accuracy
Elizabeth Cook-Lynn: Coming together in our tribalness
Secretary Haaland leads U.S. delegation to United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs examines COVID-19 response
Native America Calling: Music Maker
Native Sun News Today Editorial: Words have consequences in America
National Congress of American Indians set to announce new chief executive
Native America Calling: Elevated alcohol sales concerns health and safety experts
Native Sun News Today: Native women seek federal judgeship
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation celebrates art and culture
Tim Giago: Voter suppression on the Pine Ridge Reservation
More Headlines
Native America Calling: Safety vs. learning as schools begin in-person classes
Biden administration relaunches White House Council on Native American Affairs
Native America Calling: Correcting the record with inclusion and accuracy
Elizabeth Cook-Lynn: Coming together in our tribalness
Secretary Haaland leads U.S. delegation to United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs examines COVID-19 response
Native America Calling: Music Maker
Native Sun News Today Editorial: Words have consequences in America
National Congress of American Indians set to announce new chief executive
Native America Calling: Elevated alcohol sales concerns health and safety experts
Native Sun News Today: Native women seek federal judgeship
NAFOA: 5 Things You Need to Know this Week
Chuck Hoskin: Cherokee Nation celebrates art and culture
Tim Giago: Voter suppression on the Pine Ridge Reservation
More Headlines