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Monday, April 12, 2010

Treasure Madness Update: Time to remove "Chief Scramble"

A few days ago, I posted this screenshot as a Random Appropriation of the Day:

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

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Sunday, April 11, 2010

Roundup time: There's been a lot going on!

Apologies for the lack of posts in the last week or so, I'm taking a statistics class that likes to take over my life every time we have an assignment due. But a lot has happened in the last few days, so I thought I'd do a little round-up!

In the news:

University of North Dakota retires "Fighting Sioux" mascot

(AK note: yay! I might write more on this later.)
The Fighting Sioux mascot will no longer be the face of the University of North Dakota, but the warrior's visage will still play a prominent role in the school's sports program.
The North Dakota State Board of Education on Thursday ordered the university to drop its Fighting Sioux mascot, prompting student protests on the Grand Forks campus and leaving many there feeling glum.

Seneca: Obama ‘deliberately betrayed Native Americans’ with PACT Act

“The president of the United States invited Native American leaders to Washington, D.C. in November and looked us in the eye as a sign of good faith in his pledge to protect federal treaties. Now four months later he has betrayed that promise.”

Obama signed the legislation, known as the PACT Act, March 31. The new law bans the U.S. Postal Service from delivering cigarettes and certain other tobacco products – a move that will effectively extinguish the mail order tobacco trade run by the many business owners of the Seneca Nation of Indians and other Indian-owned tobacco businesses around the country.

Tribes of Amazon Find an Ally Out of ‘Avatar’

Now, Mr. Cameron said, he has been spurred to action, to speak out against the looming environmental destruction endangering indigenous groups around the world — a cause that is fueling his inner rage and inspiring his work on an “Avatar” sequel.
“Any direct experience that I have with indigenous peoples and their plights may feed into the nature of the story I choose to tell,” he said. “In fact, it almost certainly will.” Referring to his Amazon trip, he added, “It just makes me madder.”

In the media:

Reel Injun

"Hollywood has made over 4000 films about Native people; over 100 years of movies defining how Indians are seen by the world.Reel Injuntakes an entertaining and insightful look at the Hollywood Indian, exploring the portrayal of North American Natives through the history of cinema."

AK note: I've been meaning to post about this film for awhile, it looks awesome and is getting great reviews. The issues covered in the film are many that I discuss on the blog. It's currently making the rounds in Canada, but will hopefully have some US dates soon! here is the trailer, definitely check it out:

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htyEJSEZYNU )

In the blog-o-sphere/world of internets:

Native Appropriations has gotten some shout outs on great blogs/sites, check 'em out! (theres a few more to come this week)