About Cultural Appropriation - As the cultures of our World become every more connected and enmeshed, it is helpful to carefully consider cultural appropriation. This topic is especially important to me and for me, as the two aspects of my Life that are the most valuable to me - my spiritual identity and my gender identity - can be viewed as forms of cultural appropriation. Here are my thoughts…
To Appropriate is to: “take something that doesn’t belong to you without permission”.
The act of appropriation can be tricky to identify. For example, if a person of European ancestry and culture feels drawn to learn how to prepare a food recipe that had it’s origins from Mexican culture, or Chinese culture, it is more likely than not, a Mexican or a Chinese person would be both appreciative and supportive of their interest, rather than offended. Unless this dish is part of a culturally scared ritual, it is unlikely either of them will consider this interloping-recipe-trial as cultural appropriation. Cooking, experimenting in the kitchen, and sharing food is common to all humans - a part of humanity’s international joy of cooking and eating! Aspects of Life which are common to all humans - are common to all humans.
Where appropriation becomes - inappropriate - is when the “taker” has an unrepentant history of abuse of power and disrespect toward the party from whom they are taking something. An easy-to-recognize example of this is when a culturally-dominant-money-making sports team uses a cultural name and icon of a minority culture, without their permission or compensation - e.g. Cleveland Indians, Washington Redskins, etc.
These are often historically pejorative or insensitive words and images associated with the Indigenous People of North America whose Cultures and People were very intentionally and systematically vilified and killed, with the intent of complete erasure of their culture, language, religion and ceremonies by the European Settlers. This centuries’ old history of unrepentant abuse of power and disregard for humanity, juxtaposed with today’s Indigenous efforts to revive their cultural practices and ceremonies, makes even the appearance of cultural encroachment by a non-Indigenous person (like myself) suspect at this time. Meanwhile, there is questionable folklore predicting that one day, the Indigenous’ view-of-the-Universe will become common to all of Humanity, and in fact, is needed to save our Planet. Weather these stories are authentic or bogus - most thoughtful people agree, for the sake of our Planet and Humanity, such a cultural transformation cannot happen soon enough.
When a person from one culture feels drawn or moved to explore and participate in another culture, the seeker needs to approach humbly and do serious homework and consultation to ensure appropriate levels of respect and understanding of what they are seeking, especially if the seeker is a member of the historical oppressor group - as I am.
When an entire populations has been denied, for many generations, their culture, religion and ceremonies, this deeply wounds the Spirit of the People, traumatizing their Community Life, their Personal Health and Sense of Well-Being. A seeker of Indigeneity needs to seriously and intentionally education themselves on the unending “missing” list of the true facts of history. The seeker needs to develop the emotional awareness and sensitivity to acknowledge the effects of the historical trauma on Indigenous People’s personal and community life and health, as well a sensitivity to the recovery time needed. Patience, gentle curiosity and care are good guideposts.
The Earth Wisdom Teachings described in other parts of this website, are part of an oral tradition that is said to have been given to the Mayan People by the “Star People from the beyond”. Many of these teachings reflect the fundamental perspectives of Indigenous People all around the World. While some aspects of the Teachings reflect some aspects of many Indigenous North American Tribes, Earth Wisdom Teachings are not directly associated with any particular Tribe. They are a body of sacred teachings - knowledge and training that is available to anyone who seeks it.
Similarly, the name RedHeart RedHeart has the appearance and connotation of being “Native American”. RedHeart is a spirit name that came to me in a 10-day training ceremony in the Yucatan in 2004. It is said a spirit name becomes one’s teacher. For over a decade, I used this name only in ceremony before it revealed its meaning to me - “You have a red heart, and I have a red heart - and we are all connected.” I realized then the name is actually a prayer that calls for unity each time it is spoken. I feel deeply honored to carry this name, and I feel the joy of its responsibility.
I was of senior age when I come out non-binary trans-gender in 2015. Here I began participating in another possible appropriation - leaving the culture of men, to join the culture of women. Having a gender-identity is a deeply personal aspect of Life which is common to all humans. Each sex has their own distinct culture and politics arising from the intermingling of their distinct biology and hormones, overlaid by the larger cultural traditions and politics. Nearly world-wide, our collective culture has and still does maintain an attitude and behavior of an abuse of power and disrespect by granting greater political and economic power to males over females. Am I appropriating (taking something that doesn’t belong to me) by seeking becoming a transgendered human - especially since I am coming from the oppressive group (men) that has had an unrepentant history of abuse of power & disrespect toward women?
It’s tricky. Transitioning, I felt I had finally stepped into my full and true self. Does my deep and intimate personal satisfaction grant me the permission to claim a standing among women? Again, the seeker needs to approach humbly and do serious homework and consultation to ensure appropriate levels of respect and understanding of what they are seeking, especially if the seeker is a member of the historical oppressor group.
World-wide, half of our human population has been denied, for centuries upon centuries, a full and respectful cultural acknowledgement and appreciation of their dangerous work as humanities’ birthers, of the bodily sacrifice and inconvenience this biological role imposes upon them. World-wide, cultures collectively ignore women’s emotionally and physically demanding unpaid work as caregivers of children and family. World-wide, girls and women are kidnapped into wonton and careless sex-slavery, routinely beaten and killed if they resist or attempt to escape. World-wide, our collective cultural consciousness is judgmentally oblivious of the limitations, restrictions and constrictions of what clothing women can or cannot wear all based on the unexamined and unbridled exhortations of the culturally dominant male oppressor.
As with Indigenous oppression, ongoing unrepentant oppression of any kind deeply wounds the Spirit, traumatizes one’s self-image, and embeds habits of internalized oppression which injure the precious and rightful experience of developing a positive and authentic sense of Self without which, no human can achieve their full potential nor experience genuine happiness. As above, the male seeker of the transgender experience needs to seriously and intentionally education themselves on the unending “missing” list of facts and behaviors of what it takes to create and maintain the community of humanity, and how we have collectively taken for granted these many essential tasks, an ignorance which contributes to our world’s long-standing oppression of women. The seeker also needs to develop the emotional awareness and sensitivity that shows an acknowledgment the effects of this history of inequality and take a discrete but deliberate activist stance to correct it.
At the time of my gender transitioning, I had been immersed and committed to the daily practice of the principles of Earth Wisdom Teachings for over 15 years. Intentionally honoring each aspect of Creation one encounters is a moment-by-moment unending practice that gradually begins to illuminate and animate the Spirit in all things. Physical life becomes spiritual life. Spiritual life becomes physical life. Not surprisingly, the spirit name RedHeart, also felt to be a true reflection of my daily life. Thus, as part of my coming out, I chose to take RedHeart RedHeart as my legal and public name - in part as a reflection of my truest self, and in part, as a public commitment to the beloved and sacred Earth Wisdom Teachings.
No one “owns” a cosmology or a religion - a way of seeing the Universe. No one owns another’s intimate yearning for a true sense of identity. Spiritual seeking, seeking a true sense of self, are common to all humans. If one has the good fortunate to stumble upon a body of teachings and identity that satisfies the inherent “spiritual and identity thirst” every human carries, they quickly recognized they are among the very lucky of humans. I am so blessed!
My conclusion: Freedom is good for everyone. Change is difficult for everyone. When freedom is initiated by the minority - it will inconvenience the life-style of the privileged and they will find a way to call it a crime. When freedom is initiated by the privileged - it may rightfully be experienced as insensitive to the disadvantaged life-experience of the minority. Care must be taken to minimize this outcome.
My prayer is - We should all “Feel free to move about the cabin” of Life - in a kind, thoughtful and respectful way.
RedHeart RedHeart Two-Not-One