The next day, I was surprised when I received this comment on the post, from a representative of Treasure Madness:
Hi ADRIENNE,
Sorry if this egg offended you, it's really just a joke.
In Treasure Madness there are also hundreds of more authentic treasures to find, related to lost civilizations. Currently we have mostly explored pre-columbians with loads of artifacts from Aztecs, Maya, Inca etc.
And some day soon we will venture into North America and pay some honest respect to the cultures of Chreokee and all other native tribes.
I hope this makes up for annoying you in the first place, do you think we should remove Chief Scramble and why?
thanks,
For Treasure Madness,
Louis.
So, here is my open response to them--I tried to remain rational, calm, and collected, though I was very tempted to behave otherwise. Apologies for being long winded, I had a lot to get in there.
Hi Louis,Thanks for your comment in response to "Chief Scramble," I really appreciate you reaching out to me, and I hope I am able to illuminate how and why this egg that you deem "just a joke" is actually quite hurtful and offensive to Native peoples.I'd like to start by noting I have not played Treasure Madness, nor do I plan to, so my analysis is based solely off the image that was sent to me and the description you offered in your comment.The image of "Chief Scramble" itself is offensive because it offers a stereotyped and inaccurate image of Native American people. The egg is shown with "war paint", braids, and a feather headband. These are false cultural markers that have been popularized by hollywood and other forms of pop culture, and bear only minimal resemblance to traditional regalia worn by plains tribes. In addition, by calling this image the "Native American Egg," it collapses 564 federally recognized tribes, each with their own unique cultures, languages, traditions, and histories into one stereotyped view of what an "Indian" looks (or "should" look) like. In addition, while the color of the egg may or may not have been a conscious choice, the redish hue makes me think only of the derogatory term "redskin."
By calling this egg "Chief" you are degrading the role of tribal leaders, both contemporary and past, in our communities. While not every tribe calls their leader a "chief," these men and women are held in a position of highest honor in their communities, and the title is one given utmost respect and reverence--not something that would ever be lightly assigned to a cartoon egg named "scramble".
Finally, in the description you sent, you claim to have "authentic" treasures for your players to find from indigenous groups, and that "someday soon we will venture into North America and pay some honest respect to the cultures of Chreokee and all other native tribes."
All I can say is, please don't. I already cringe at the thought of what "authentic" artifacts you offer from the Incan and Mayan cultures, I can't imagine what would be an "authentic" Cherokee artifact. There is no way that anything of that nature can be "honoring" to my community. The mere thought of being "honored" by anonymous players in an online game finding disconnected, out of context, "artifacts" of my living culture makes me feel ill.
So, in conclusion, please remove Chief Scramble, it represents a set of hurtful, false, and offensive stereotypes of Native people. And please, please be careful in your further representations of "lost" Indigenous Peoples in your game--these images are not "jokes," these are our cultures, our histories, and our lives.
Wado (Thank you),
Adrienne K.
Member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma