The Love of Stereotypes: It Starts Early In Germany, too

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Because many “others” “foreigners” specific ethnicities, and in this case “Indianer” or Native American Indians are only presented in shows, as entertainment, as costumed figures who are there to entertain Germans in some way…stereotypes abound here, and are expected and even demanded. Often you see the same rapt look and desire: “Teach us! Show us! Make us laugh with wonder! Cry with excitement, shudder with amazement, dread, outrage (as to native treatment of the past)” but whatever it is, they want what they want.

For Native Americans they expect, with very clear stereotype guidelines, how you should look, speak, engage, too. If you don’t look, act or perform as they expect, they are disappointed, dejected and dissatisfied. You must meet their expectations or you are not “real”, you are not “authentic.” Continue reading “The Love of Stereotypes: It Starts Early In Germany, too”

My Latest at Red Rising Magazine: A #Navajo Metal #Thrash Band in #Denmark? YUP!

Originally published in at Red Rising Magazine, July 2016. Their website relaunch is coming soon, to continue showcasing indigenous writing from indigenous writers. “Sure, our music has native characteristics sometimes, but we (as natives) don’t just play powwow drums and flutes, war songs. We show natives can do more than smoke a peace pipe. We’re […]

Our “Conejitos Amarillos”-Poetry & Piano-Selected for Anibar #Animation Fest 2016, Peja, Kosovo!

Our video “Conejitos Amarillos” with original piano composition and performance by German jazz pianist Uli Lenz has been selected for the Kids Program at the Anibar Animation ‪ Festival in Peja, Kosovo, 21-25 August 2016! About the video: “Conejitos Amarillos” is a short energetic piece composed and performed by German jazz pianist Uli Lenz, combined […]

The #BorderPersonalityDisorder Connection & Extreme #NativeAmerican Hobbyism

sloganSMALLIn the years of my observation and research on Indian hobbyists, whether personally or professionally, there are significant similarities between many of the most extreme in Germany, including their age group. Most often those born 1940-1970 or so, but can include others. As any social scientist can attest, those terrible events of Nazi Germany and WWII also had an effect on German society.

One was a need for escapism, conscious or unconscious, to a lesser or greater degree, and the avid interest and appropriation of other cultures, while still “being German” in their methods and mentalities. This is neither good nor bad, in and of itself. It is simply an after effect, but it does contribute to the sub-culture of Indian hobbyism and non-native “native” spiritualists.

Healthier personality types who more often came from homes with little or no abusive behaviors parentally or environmentally and who had positive reinforcement, may also have natural interest in other cultures but without attempting to “lose themselves” within them. Comparatively, those who grew up receiving frequent personal criticisms, for example, especially with added other stresses or abuses can develop a variety of psychological issues, one of which is borderline personality disorder.

Though having a name and description of the mental issue, behavioral traits aren’t always recognized, so the disorder (like others) can go undiagnosed or be “hidden” by the individual as long as their desires are satisified. When their desires and expectations are not? Behavior can quickly become emotive, extreme and shocking even to those closest to them. It is also frequently directed at those closest to them or those they feel closest to, whether or not having a relationship and/or connection to them (i.e. someone they perceive as a threat to their happiness, such as someone via Internet). In the particular case of hobbyists, native enthusiasts or “pseudo-Indians”, it is when the desire for validation, recognition or acceptance as their chosen culture is thwarted or challenged. Continue reading “The #BorderPersonalityDisorder Connection & Extreme #NativeAmerican Hobbyism”

“Forget Winnetou!” Our #Documentary on #NativeAmericans in Germany, Stereotypes & Reeducating the Resistant

“Whether from novels, non-native historians and so-called native experts, US systematic, institutional racism and white privilege caused the spread of misinformation and misinterpretation of natives around the world. In the US,  native stereotypes and Eurocentric perspectives at times nearly subsumed real natives and their reality. From kindergarten to post-doctoral university, misinformation and skewed history has […]