I wrote an extensive piece about the trivialization of Spirit Animals and how it was damaging to the cultures where such concept is the basis of their belief system. Now, I know Dodai doesn’t even know I exist, so it is not that I am deluded enough to think that she should have read my piece. However, I am convinced that it is our obligation to hold media accountable for this kind of inanity. The burden is not on indigenous people to explain their beliefs, but on mainstream bloggers to know exactly which words they are using and the meaning behind them.
However, coincidentally, I also just came across an article about a group of people that do hold the concept of Spirit Animals to be sacred and what their current reality is in today’s world: Former radio director and indigenous leader detained, accused of terrorism and sabotage.
From the news item:
On 1 February 2011, José Acacho, the former director of the La Voz de Arutam radio station and leader of the Shuar Federation, was detained by police near the city of Macas – 366 km east of Quito – as part of the proceedings being carried out against him after he was accused of sabotage and terrorism because he allegedly used the radio station to instigate public protests.
A Macas Court of Justice acting judge issued a preventive prison sentence against Acacho and two indigenous leaders, Pedro Mashian and Fidel Kaniras, who are suspected of committing sabotage, murder and acts of terrorism during an indigenous uprising that took place on 30 September 2009. The protests resulted in the death of teacher Bosco Wisum and left 40 soldiers wounded.
According to recent statements made by Acacho and published by the “El Universo” newspaper before he was detained, “the process initiated against him is clear evidence of government persecution insofar as it suffers from serious procedural errors …”
While the indigenous leader remains detained at the Macas Police Command headquarters, several social organizations and the Indigenous Nationalities’ Confederation (CONAIE) have condemned his arrest and have announced that there will be demonstrations against it.
The Arutam mentioned in the name of the radio station where the detained leader was broadcasting from is the Shuar Nation’s belief in visions of ancestor spirits and Spirit Animals. The Shuar Nation live in poverty. They are prosecuted when they call for rebellion against the systems that oppress them (did you know that, unlike most indigenous nations in South America, the Shuar are the only group who never officially converted to Christianity and waged bloody wars against the colonizers?). And yes, this touches me very personally because some tribal leaders have accepted me as family. Much of what I have learned from the Shuar has shaped not only my politics, but my entire vision of the world. So, when I see the ongoing oppression and the trivialization that goes with symbols that these First Nations hold dear, I get pretty upset. Because the last thing we need is more pop culture vacuity thrown in their direction. They already have enough of that. And, if they decide to rebel against it, they might as well end up in jail.
So go ahead, Dodai, with your cutesy tale of Spirit Animals. Contribute to further erase cultures by making their symbols all about your poor excuse to turn on a post just to fill in a slot. After all, I learned not to expect any better from Jezebel.
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