I hesitated for so long to post this drawing here…
The pain, humiliation and the perpetual fight for freedom were part of Damen’s journey back home and it shouldn’t be forgotten (exactly like Damen refused to hide what he went though to his people). It was so painful to draw his beautiful back to finally destroy it with this wounds. I probably apologized 10 times to him though my screen.
SO. After seeing fanarts of the Captive Prince series and protagonists after following one blogger
who reblogged YOI stuff
(who I thank from the bottom of my heart even if we don’t know each other), and of course getting to know the plot a bit, I decided to read it.I bought the whole thing and waited for it to come from the US. And then I DIED.
I’ve spent the last five days as a recluse in my room, frantically noting down unknown words and beautiful sentences. I shouted countless expletives at all the characters, I hate them, loved them, screamed in frustration at unexpected turns of events, blushed furiously, jubilated at revelations that I guessed before Damen…
After reading the three books, I picked up my old and unattended Kindle to get the novels and spent three hours laughing alone in the living-room, especially at Charls (best character ever btw).
And oh god, let’s talk about Damen and Laurent, because I think I’m still shaking in happiness. Their relationship is so intense, so tender and Damen is…aaaaaah!!! I can’t find words!!!!! I’m going to reblog a lot of that (and edit the tags I had because once I caved before the beauty of a fanart)! And I’m going ot read fanfics!!
I wish there would be a movie. Or several movies. Or a TV-show. Something to account to the splendor of the described cultures… I want to see Akielon palaces, bloody battlefields, the flourish of Vere forts… I want to see the endless laces of Veretian clothings. I want to see the voluptuousness of a court drenched in sex. I want to see the slaves, the gold, the pets, the gems, the venomous words, the wary and kind touches. I want to see the characters, regal through interpretation.
All of it is very vivid in my head and my imagination feels so full!! I’m so sad I finished the books (I counted down the page and lamented each time I forgot to, realizing I was closing in on the end), I was in tears by the end of it, and I keep re-reading passages… This trilogy is definitely going to be marked down as one of the best read I ever got!
The Plains warbonnet is not a Cherokee thing. It is not a Navajo thing. It is not an Indian thing. It is a Plains thing.
Stop calling every silly thing you draw that even vaguely resembles a native “Cherokee” or “Navajo” or “Aztec.”
Stop drawing the warbonnet everywhere as the apparently definitive native thing. It isn’t part of all of our 600+ cultures.
Same goes for the tipi, not part of every one of the 600+ indigenous cultures.
Stop thinking that if a native person doesn’t have dark, “mahogany” skin, that their heritage is invalid. Even without admixture, we actually do have varying skin tones.
Stop wearing crappy fake warbonnets.
Stop wearing redface.
Stop using us as your silly mascots. We are people.
Stop saying “spirit animal.” It’s derived from a New Age bastardization of a something that actually exists in some of our cultures.
Don’t smudge. Cleanse all you like, that’s fine, but don’t smudge.
Don’t call us “Indians.” “Native American” isn’t great either, it is not our name, but it’s slightly better than “Indian.” “Indigenous” is also fine.
Don’t use NDN/ndn. That is ours.
Step off about our hair. If you meet a long-haired native, admire it if you like, maybe even ask them about it (RESPECTFULLY), but do not touch. The same applies for someone with short hair, but additionally for those with short hair, don’t say things like “oh you’d look more native/Indian/etc if your hair was long.” We didn’t all traditionally have long, flowing hair. Believe it or not, there are actually different haircuts existing in our various cultures, and aside from that ultimately it’s a personal choice, one does not need to have long hair if they don’t want to. Doesn’t make them any less native to have short hair.
Don’t pray to our spirits/gods/energies. Native spiritualities are closed, they are not for outsiders.
Don’t say “The Native Americans believed…” Firstly, the past tense is silly, we still exist and do things. Secondly, we are NOT A MONOLITH. As I mentioned before, there are upwards of 600 different Native American cultures.
Don’t ask about someone’s “Indian name.” That’s not only insensitive, the name you are referring to in that instance is something sacred, and might not be something that person wants to share with you.
Don’t call yourself silly crap like “howling wolf” or “flying eagle.” That’s also racist and insensitive.
Regardless of whatever you might think you’re doing, or what your intentions may be, if a native person tells you that what you’re doing is disrespectful, STOP DOING IT.
You aren’t honoring us. You’re just mocking us further, demonstrating your continued ability to treat us like shit and get away with it even now, centuries after our colonization began. Your feelings are not more important than our history and survival.
To those doing your best as allies, thank you, keep doing what you do. HOWEVER, don’t let opportunities to educate others escape you. By letting them continue to be ignorant, you are failing. Spread the message.
There will be no “please.” It’s been more than 500 years, and we still are made to be invisible in our homelands. Still we are treated like less. Some even think we all died long ago.
We are still here
We will still be here
Treat us with respect.
Appropriation of Native cultures runs rampant in the pagan/witchcraft community. Remember, it’s just like kindergarten. Be kind, be respectful, and ask before touching something that does not belong to you.
