Selling Native American Soul Article

Commercialization of religious experience is not unique to our society or era......rise of interest in Native Spirituality.

This type of commercialization has ben ongoing for many many years. Who is to blame? Non-native or native people? I think that both are at fault. However, as Natives, we can become very indignant when faced with it and either snicker, get angry, feel insulted among other feelings are usually conjured up.

There was a time, in Canada anyway, that it was not cool to be Indian. In fact, for many of us, we tried to deny who we were, try to look like someone else, act like someone else and not have anything to do with our culture. This was the perfect recipe to being "messed up".

And then, as the healing movement was spreading across the land, and the desire to be "natural" and "holistic" had many people coming forward with native spirituality and teachings. Dreamcatchers are being displayed everywhere, as are other items depicting Indian-ness. Mainstream society is engaging in all sorts of native traditional ceremonies, they are so hungy for everything and anything that is Native. Perhaps they are hoping that it will make them well. They are kewl buzz words: "to be well", "our people are well people", "diversity", etc. All this continues to contribute to the Selling of the Native American Soul.

Again, as Natives, we are left with having to defend ourselves, set the record straight and trying to right the wrongs of stereotyping. It becomes an insurmountable task, because we find ourselves at times, fighting against our own people taking advantage of us and exploiting us, just like the non-native people.

I, for one, can firmly say that I do not condone it. When I see or hear someone using our culture to exploit, it angers me.