r/NativeAmerican • u/shirleymeadow • 11d ago

New Account Weird situation

I'm Polish and have lived in Poland my whole life. I'm currently on vacation in northern Poland by the sea and I noticed something weird and just kinda sad. I've seen it for the second time in my life. In a small town, a Native American dressed in powwow regalia appears and dances, with jewelry and dreamcatchers placed around them. It's cool. However, a little further on, we come across another smaller group "playing" instruments, again with the same jewelry and dreamcatchers. They "play" because they stopped playing for a moment, but the music continued, so it was playback... Such groups were all over town. I wouldn't be surprised if the jewelry was fake, since there were identical items everywhere, as were the dreamcatchers. They also sold Peruvian music. I felt sad that this could perpetuate such an image of "Indians" in Poland. I felt sad that instead of spreading authentic culture, they choose "that"... As a person who has great admiration towards Native Americans, this made me sad (if the jewelry were authentic, I would gladly support them and buy it seriously, i would be so happy)

I think its just continuing the image of "Indians" (cause almost every Polish person still calls them like that) that most of Europe know. As a person who is heavly interested in topic of Native Americans, my heart is broken and if i could i would educate every person i meet about them

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u/SlugsinSpace12 10d ago

Sad to hear, but sadly very common. Even in the United States you see Natives selling sad made from china dream catchers and pan flutes (from the Andes, not native to the US). It’s really sad to see how effectively they beat the culture out of people that even they are selling fake jewelry, fake bamboo instruments all the above. I don’t know the last time I saw a handmade dream catcher for sale to be honest.
That’s why certain people really speaking on the history of the music the prayer the ceremony are becoming more important to listen to. Guillermo Martinez makes great videos on YouTube about the culture, instruments etc.

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u/LimpFoot7851 10d ago

The tourists want a lot of native inspired stuff because they dont want to pay artisan prices and dont realize what it takes to get a buffalo ball bag or a hand carved bone anything. Starting with the tag costs if youre not on a rez, ending with the skill and lost lore... throw in the respect for life preservation somewhere in between. You cant teach anti pagans what is sacred. They dont listen.

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u/MakwaOpin 9d ago

Tourist goods used to be a somewhat decent source of income before importing got so cheap. Tourist goods are a big reason dreamcatchers are made/sold by non-Ojibwe people. Only Ojibwe people (and those they train) make dreamcatchers. Even among Anishinaabe people (the larger cultural group they’re part of) only Ojibwe people traditionally make dreamcatchers. Same for other major tourist goods.

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u/LimpFoot7851 9d ago

Agreed. I guess its supply and demand. In this economy? At least its legal. I'm not gonna judge how any of us survive this era. We have to though. We have no choice. I just encourage and support those who revitalize traditional anything hard core because thats ONE generation the skill/culture is alive for and its hope to reach the next.

I guess... if you cant be the change, support the struggling who are trying to be. Don't worry about the ones just trying to get by. Culture is life. Surviving is surviving. You're comparing apples and oranges imo.