Comments on: Princess Snowbird and the Tinfoil Teepees http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/ se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:03:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: G. Highpine http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-180965 G. Highpine Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:03:26 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-180965 This story bears all the marks of a complete invention by Europeans/ European-Americans. The many details that show its European origin could be discussed at length, but for now I feel I must say something about one of the comments, with an apology if it sounds rude. Normally I would not directly contradict another in this way, but one comment was so outrageous that I felt that I had to speak and say unequivocally how outrageously wrong and absurd it is. This is the statement "The chiefs of peoples like the Haudenosaunee are very comparable to European royalty." Having lived among the traditional Haudenousaunee, who still maintain their traditional government, and learned of their history and principles from them (I am an indigenous person from the interior Pacific Northwest, or Plateau to anthropologists) I was astounded by this statement. I have to say that this statement is entirely absurd, and there is no such thing as an Iroquois princess, or Iroquois royalty. Nor does a chief have the power to name his successor. There is very much written about the Hodenosaunee, not to mention the fact that their culture and languages and traditional ways are still alive and they speak for themselves. I suggest that you read "A Basic Call to Consciousness," a collection of statements from the Iroquois Confederacy to the United Nations, with some supplemental material, which include discussions from the Hadenosaunee perspective of the fundamental differences between their form of government and those of the Europeans. This story bears all the marks of a complete invention by Europeans/ European-Americans. The many details that show its European origin could be discussed at length, but for now I feel I must say something about one of the comments, with an apology if it sounds rude. Normally I would not directly contradict another in this way, but one comment was so outrageous that I felt that I had to speak and say unequivocally how outrageously wrong and absurd it is. This is the statement “The chiefs of peoples like the Haudenosaunee are very comparable to European royalty.” Having lived among the traditional Haudenousaunee, who still maintain their traditional government, and learned of their history and principles from them (I am an indigenous person from the interior Pacific Northwest, or Plateau to anthropologists) I was astounded by this statement. I have to say that this statement is entirely absurd, and there is no such thing as an Iroquois princess, or Iroquois royalty. Nor does a chief have the power to name his successor. There is very much written about the Hodenosaunee, not to mention the fact that their culture and languages and traditional ways are still alive and they speak for themselves. I suggest that you read “A Basic Call to Consciousness,” a collection of statements from the Iroquois Confederacy to the United Nations, with some supplemental material, which include discussions from the Hadenosaunee perspective of the fundamental differences between their form of government and those of the Europeans.

]]> By: Matoaka’s Legacy (The Anthropik Network) http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-25206 Matoaka’s Legacy (The Anthropik Network) Thu, 12 Oct 2006 02:14:44 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-25206 [...] In my recent article, Princess Snowbird and the Tinfoil Teepees, I discussed the "Indian princess" fixation in our culture. The most beloved native women in American lore—come to think of it, the only beloved native women in American lore—were ones who were submissive to the white men (and, in fact, married white men) and helped them conquer their own people. These women were Pocahontas and Sacagawea. There are "good Indians" and there are "bad Indians"; the good Indians invariably aid in their own destruction, and if they're women, that aid tends to involve sex. [...] […] In my recent article, Princess Snowbird and the Tinfoil Teepees, I discussed the “Indian princess” fixation in our culture. The most beloved native women in American lore—come to think of it, the only beloved native women in American lore—were ones who were submissive to the white men (and, in fact, married white men) and helped them conquer their own people. These women were Pocahontas and Sacagawea. There are “good Indians” and there are “bad Indians”; the good Indians invariably aid in their own destruction, and if they’re women, that aid tends to involve sex. […]

]]> By: Giulianna Lamanna http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23136 Giulianna Lamanna Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:41:24 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23136 <blockquote>To me a seemingly valid explanation for people claiming female Indian ancestry is civilized white men raping Indians. Logically it's a pretty much one way street on that front.</blockquote> But then the child is raised in whatever culture her mother was from, and is considered by Europeans to be 100% Cherokee/Sioux/whatever. That child would never grow up to marry a white person, who would marry another white person, and so on and so forth until you've got this lily-white middle-class suburban dude claiming Indian descent. No, he and his descendents would be back on the reservation. It's the same way we view African-Americans: if some white plantation owner raped one of his slaves, the ensuing kid is 100% black, end of story.

To me a seemingly valid explanation for people claiming female Indian ancestry is civilized white men raping Indians. Logically it’s a pretty much one way street on that front.

But then the child is raised in whatever culture her mother was from, and is considered by Europeans to be 100% Cherokee/Sioux/whatever. That child would never grow up to marry a white person, who would marry another white person, and so on and so forth until you’ve got this lily-white middle-class suburban dude claiming Indian descent. No, he and his descendents would be back on the reservation.

It’s the same way we view African-Americans: if some white plantation owner raped one of his slaves, the ensuing kid is 100% black, end of story.

]]> By: BeyondCiv http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23135 BeyondCiv Wed, 20 Sep 2006 21:22:46 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23135 To me a seemingly valid explanation for people claiming female Indian ancestry is civilized white men raping Indians. Logically it's a pretty much one way street on that front. To me a seemingly valid explanation for people claiming female Indian ancestry is civilized white men raping Indians. Logically it’s a pretty much one way street on that front.

]]> By: Jason Godesky http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23114 Jason Godesky Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:15:45 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23114 The chiefs of peoples like the Haudenosaunee are very comparable to European royalty. Look at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Powhatan" rel="nofollow">Wahunsunacock</a> Ironically enough, in doing our family tree, my mother came up with an old family legend about an "Iroquois princess." No evidence for it, of course. The chiefs of peoples like the Haudenosaunee are very comparable to European royalty. Look at Wahunsunacock Ironically enough, in doing our family tree, my mother came up with an old family legend about an “Iroquois princess.” No evidence for it, of course.

]]> By: some random dude http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23111 some random dude Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:41:03 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23111 I have always found the Indian Princess phenomenon amusing. As far as I am aware, Indians didn't have royalty, or anything close to it. well, I could see how one could call a Big-Man's daughter a princess. I think this phenomen is somewhat related to one I discovered traveling in the Wiccan/Occult circles. Often, someone would claim their great-great-great grandmother/father was burned as witch, to bolster a claim of "magick" abilities. Genreally they would back this claim with little or no evidence other than " i saw it in a past life regression, or dream". Nice article though. I have always found the Indian Princess phenomenon amusing. As far as I am aware, Indians didn’t have royalty, or anything close to it. well, I could see how one could call a Big-Man’s daughter a princess.

I think this phenomen is somewhat related to one I discovered traveling in the Wiccan/Occult circles. Often, someone would claim their great-great-great grandmother/father was burned as witch, to bolster a claim of “magick” abilities. Genreally they would back this claim with little or no evidence other than ” i saw it in a past life regression, or dream”.

Nice article though.

]]> By: jhereg http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23092 jhereg Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:53:49 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23092 You know, normally, I don't post just to say "Great post!", but, well... Great post! :) You know, normally, I don’t post just to say “Great post!”, but, well…

Great post! :)

]]> By: casemeau http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23056 casemeau Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:10:30 +0000 http://anthropik.com/2006/09/princess-snowbird-and-the-tinfoil-teepees/#comment-23056 I live near the Grand Canyon, and on the main road to get there, there are of course many tourist shops. One of them (right across from the Flintstones Campground) has several teepees out front. Of course, none of the indigenous peoples from this area ever used teepees, but hey, a pithouse just doesn't bring in the dollars. I live near the Grand Canyon, and on the main road to get there, there are of course many tourist shops. One of them (right across from the Flintstones Campground) has several teepees out front. Of course, none of the indigenous peoples from this area ever used teepees, but hey, a pithouse just doesn’t bring in the dollars.

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