Nathan Giede, a contributing writer for the Prince George Citizen, has come charging to the defense of a group of Canadian writers and editors who recently sparked a racially tone deaf debate about cultural appropriation. Giede is another individual, draped in the mantle of Western values, trumpeting his and Canadian society's right to consume and shape what is considered to be 'useful', 'titillating', and 'exotic' from other cultures. His article, "How cultural appropriation saved the world," celebrates the value of appropriation to Western society and with his narrowly focused perspective, threaded with lines of racism, does not consider the impacts of cultural appropriation on long-marginalized groups, most notably First Nations in Canada.
Giede places himself within the dominant Canadian context, the "anglosphere," and his perspective in this article contributes to the constant messaging we all experience in the history books, media, advertising, religion, etc. that the dominant society are better and more important than indigenous people. While one may explicitly reject the notion that one is inherently better than another, one cannot avoid internalizing the message of anglo superiority, as it is ubiquitous in mainstream Canadian culture. Appropriation shows disregard for another culture. You borrow one aspect of a culture -- say, wearing a sacred First Nations headdress, or using caricatures of Native Americans in sports team names-- we are mocked and stereotyped, nothing can be more offensive.
Giede's writing in this article paints historical imagery of a benevolent, gracious and benign European society embracing, saving, and adopting indigenous groups as they moved into new territories and established the structure of colonization. This is a narrow and dangerous revision of history that must be resisted as it lays the foundation for future abuses and the continuing spread and strengthening of colonial imperialism. The truth is colonialism destroyed indigenous societies in North America, where some estimates are as high as 90 per cent of indigenous populations. Furthermore, indigenous peoples are losing their languages at an unprecedented rate because of colonialism. First Nations have lived the truth of European "benevolence" and cultural genocide in Canadian society for more than 150 years as the state attempted to force assimilation on them through the residential school system. No amount of cash compensation can make right the pain and losses endured by First Nations families and communities during this time. It is only one step of a very long process of reconciliation, which Giede doesn't seem to understand as he seems to imply that First Nations should take the money and get over it.
Much pain and loss has been expressed by indigenous writers and artists since the proposal of a "Cultural Appropriation Award." Giede's article continues to build and spread the anger and frustration that has been explicitly expressed as indigenous peoples across Canada vigorously push for systemic and institutional change. The voices of indigenous peoples are not being listened to and this article demonstrates this fact.
Mr. Giede, as an individual who is seen as a "leader" and is given a platform from which you trumpet your opinions, I encourage you to examine your moral and indigenous values and embrace a new code to resist and condemn cultural appropriation. In this time of truth and reconciliation, and in the year of Canada's 150th birthday, I believe there will be no celebration in First Nations communities so long as cultural appropriation and stereotypes exist.
Terry Teegee, Tribal Chief, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
Prince George
