#and then they KILLED THE INDIGENOUS SPIRIT

[shih-coulda-had-it]

my sister and i made a book bingo for 2024 and one of the categories she chose was romantasy and i rarely, rarely do this, but i MUST tell you that my pick for romantasy (a far wilder magic by allison saft) has me looking up one-star reviews on goodreads to validate my feelings.

[underwaterspiderbird]

never before have i genuinely wanted to kill an animated wolf as much as i do Death from Puss in Boots II

[panics-side-blog]

You can skip the whole rant and go down to the links to support indigenous people

Reminder to myself never talk to a white person ever again about blood quantum. 9/10 times they hold up white supremacy with their uneducated ass. And even when you try to educate them they just don't get it and deflect or use strawmen arguments. And then get all defensive,mad and surprised when you get mad because they try to defend their "argument" with words that have deep rooted pain and suffering and completely ignoring the history of it. Like you expect me to stay calm when you talk about that shit where literal Nazis have used this to erase others like it isn't a big deal?

"oh but 100% indigenous people don't exist anymore"

OF COURSE THEY DON'T, they got killed and the once who survived where stripped off of their culture and got raped in order to "get the savage out"(god i hate that word but i don't know how to word it better (also nothing 100% exist)). And in this situation this shit is extremely harmful. You hold up shit that erases us and then you tell me that i'm not indigenous because I'm not "100%" and saying that i identity as indigenous means i say i am "100%"?? Bruh.

Your swiss you identify as swiss but your dumb fuck has German,polish and french but yet you can say "I'm swiss" but me whos history got massacred,ripped away and being actively destroyed can't say "I'm indigenous".

Your an adult use your two brain cells that are on live support and pick up a book.

Your way of thinking kills us and is destroying our culture. You think i would be standing here if that shit didn't happen?? I most likely would have been chilling with my fellow Mapuche, learning about their culture being accepted as two spirit and maybe being trained to become a machi because of my connection to gender.

It's so painful to think about it what could have been how live would have been different as a whole. It feels like a part of me was taken away.

And then seeing my siblings all over the world hurting, be it because they live like me completely ripped away due to the horrible things that happened desperately learning, listening and trying to finde back to our ancestors picking up the tiny bit of culture that is left and doing our best to empower the once who live in their communitys.

And the once who are connected and actively live in their community live in horrible conditions with dirty water, their land and culture stolen, destroyed and bastardized, fighting to not lose the tiny bit of rights they have fought for for DECADES.

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊

🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶

To finish the whole rant i want to give you guys links on how to help (specifically) my siblings on turtle island and my people. ICWA is currently about to be taken away please sign up and use your voice to spread our voices in hopes that they keep the tiny bit of safety they still have left.

Also i linked a bunch of articles to read

____

Edit; also reminder my people are also fighting to get their land back and the old ass law that was writen by a fascist STILL DIDN'T CHANGE. This shit is like 30-50 years old and actively hurts. If you want to change it please impower my peoples voices listen to them and spread the message.

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(articles about their fight)

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-55042838.amp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.abc.net.au/article/100907988

https://www.iwgia.org/en/chile/3932-from-fighting-for-their-land-to-fighting-for-their-freedom-mapuche-political-prison-as-a-counterinsurgency-mechanism.html

___

Petition :

(against the selling and exporting of our cultural clothing(not in the, i made [insert thing] to sell, but in the sacred garment got stolen and sold ))

https://www.change.org/p/poder-judicial-y-sociedad-civil-no-m%C3%A1s-expropiaci%C3%B3n-de-nuestra-cultura-y-kimun-mapuche?source_location=topic_page

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(for the visibility of my people)

https://www.change.org/p/sebastianpinera-conadi-gob-feriado-nacional-we-tripantu-chile?source_location=topic_page

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(more support for my people because the government didn't help enough when covid hit/had let them rot and fight for themselves without any support)

https://www.change.org/p/sebastianpinera-hernanlarrainf-adrianamunoz-diegopaulsen-chile-no-puede-ser-indiferente-ante-la-grave-situaci%C3%B3n-de-presos-mapuche-en-huelga-de-ham?source_location=topic_page

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Also side note my Spanish isn't that great and the translation is the bare minimum of what they wrote for the petition. If anyone who can speak Spanish better a proper translation is appreciated, thank you :))

____

https://action.lakotalaw.org/action/protect-icwa

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Here are some general links to support us;

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/guide/support-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-communities

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people/helpful-contacts-and-websites

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-demand-congress-support-indigenous-communities-by-passing-the-not-invisible-act?source=direct_link&

https://chng.it/ynNMKw69QL

(change dot org list for indigenous support)

https://www.change.org/t/indigenous-rights-3

🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡

Things to read:

https://www.theindigenousfoundation.org/articles/bloodquantum

https://www.californialawreview.org/blood-quantum-and-the-white-gatekeeping-of-native-american-identity/

https://www.nativejustice.org/mmiwg2s#:~:text=The%20MMIWG2S%20abbreviation%20stands%20for,Girls%20and%20Two%2DSpirit%20People.

https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/communique/2018/11/standing-sisters

https://www.gatheringthunderfoundation.org/mmiwg2s

🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶🪶

(this one has a free to call hotline for MMIWG2S and also things to read)

https://scoinc.mb.ca/mmiwg2s-and-violence-prevention/

[felucians]

Nex Benedict's death wasn't just for being transgender, it was for being native too. 2 Spirits are revered in many native cultures and it is a native-specific identity. This wasn't just a hate crime against trans & NB individuals, this was also a hate crime against Natives of Turtle Island.

You cannot separate Nex's trans identity from their native identity - this is a case of MMIWG2S (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2 Spirits).

Native children being killed at school is nothing new, so it's equally important to talk about Nex's native identity and being intersectional, this is a devastating tragedy for indigenous people, the queer community & especially those of us who are both indigenous and queer.

May Nex rest in peace 🪶

[nepenthean-sleep]

john gaius is an interesting character because he is a charismatic and nice and funny guy AND he is an indigenous man living in his homeland that has been colonized by a brutal imperial force for centuries AND he's an anticapitalist working hard to prevent climate change AND he's a biologist trying to save all of humanity and get everyone out alive, not just the elite with the means to pay for it AND he is an indigenous healer being targeted and hunted down by multiple colonial governments AND he is entrusted with the powers to save people by the spirit of the earth itself AND he kills everyone on the face of the planet to try and stop the trillionaires from leaving but fails AND he resurrects his colleagues and friends but wipes their memories AND he cannot forgive himself but also cannot let go of the very feeling that made him guilty to begin with AND he puts the soul of a planet and 10 billion people into a flesh-and-bone doll AND when she is furious at him (what they did to you and what they wrung from you and what shape they made you fill) and scaring the others he locks her away AND he's a masterful manipulator AND his actions towards the earth are a metaphor for sexual assault AND he based an entire society around violating other people's bodily autonomy AND he's committing genocide by killing all the other habitable planets AND he kills his closest friends a second time when they learn the truth about him AND he half-resurrects his own daughter to use as a weapon AND he's a neoliberal fascist and serial liar and in all his time searching for revenge, he still hasn't noticed that revenge is out for him instead

[homoquartz]

why is no one talking about the fact that nex benedict is indigenous?

they are choctaw.

native women and two-spirits are at the highest risk of sexual assault and domestic violence of any group. natives as a whole are at the highest risk for suicide. natives are also tied with Black americans for risk of being killed, both by police and by others.

it's critical to note that more than 90% of violence done against natives is committed by non-natives. this is a colonial issue, it's a genocide issue, it's an anti-indigenous issue.

when it comes to indians, our intersectional identities are often erased in favor of more visible or mainstream marginalizations like sex and gender.

this same thing happened when ezra miller kidnapped an indigenous teen. it happened when a nurse assaulted a native coma patient and she became pregnant and gave birth in her hospital bed. our indigenous identity is barely mentioned, despite this being a multinational crisis.

please learn more about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement here, here, and here

and please spread the word about this

don't let native people disappear in this conversation. nex's death is national news and they should be remembered for all that they are.

[slyandthefamilybook]

Why do people hate Jews? Simply put, because we're still here. Jews are one of the oldest continuously existing indigenous groups. We've survived persecution from such ancient empires as Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. We've survived while their mighty walls crumbled to dust and their lives were lost to mythology. We've survived expulsions from practically every country in Europe, most of the countries in Central Asia, and even a few in Africa.

Everything we are is in defiance of every nation on Earth.

We pride ourselves on our communal spirit. We care for each other. We're self-sustaining. We ensure our own existence. Against all odds, we're still here, and we will still be here after whatever hardships we're currently facing. Our oppression has hardened our skin, reinforced our bones. You cannot kill us. Every time you try, it only makes us stronger

It's circular reasoning. People hate the Jews because it's been the thing to do for millennia. "109 countries can't be wrong!" They hate us because we've been hated, they oppress us because we've been oppressed. The irony is the more they try to kill us, the harder we'll fight for survival. The more they try to exterminate us, the more they guarantee our longevity. We will outlive them

[burst-of-iridescent]

South Asian and Hindu Influences in ATLA (Part 1)

disclaimer: i was raised culturally and religiously hindu, and though i've tried to do my research for this post and pair it with my own cultural knowledge, i'm not an expert on hinduism by any means. should i mess up, please let me know.

please also be aware that many of the concepts discussed in this post overlap heavily with religions such as buddhism and jainism, which might have different interpretations and representations. as i'm not from those religions or cultures, i don't want to speak on them, but if anyone with that knowledge wishes to add on, please feel free.

it's well-known that atla draws from indigenous, east and southeast asian influences, but something i rarely see discussed in the fandom is the influences the show takes from hinduism and south asia, and there are actually far more than i think people are aware of.

so here's a (non-exhaustive list) of the main inspirations atla drew from south asian culture and hinduism, starting with...

The Avatar

the title of the show itself is taken from the ancient language of sanskrit, often considered the sacred tongue of the hindu religion. in sanskrit, the word "avatar" means to "descend" or "alight".

the concept of the avatar is a very old one, referring to the physical incarnation of a powerful deity or spirit. the idea of the avatar is most often linked to the god Vishnu, one of three supreme hindu gods collectively called the trimurti, or trinity. the avatar is said to manifest upon earth primarily in times of great need, when balance must be maintained between the forces of good and evil.

atla borrows heavily from this idea in having aang be the incarnation of a divine spirit who returns to the world during a time of immense strife, and is tasked with defeating a great evil to bring balance back to the world. and though i don't know if it was an intentional reference, it's interesting to note that Krishna, the most famous incarnation of Vishnu was also reborn amidst a fierce storm and carried through a raging sea to a new home where he would be protected from the king who sought to kill him. sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?

Agni Kai and the Philosophy of Firebending

the word "agni" derives from the sanskrit name Agni, the god of fire, though it can also generally mean "fire".

the concepts of lightning bending and the sun being the source of firebending are likely also taken from the idea of Agni, since he's said to exist simultaneously in three different forms on three different dimensions: as fire on earth, as lightning in the atmosphere, and as the sun in the sky.

Agni is a significant aspect of many rituals, including marriage rites, death rites, and the festivals of holi and diwali. the concept of Agni is one of duality: life and death, rebirth and destruction. hindu rituals accept and celebrate both aspects, revolving around the idea that destruction is not separate from creation, but rather necessary to facilitate it. the cremation of the dead, for instance, is seen as purification, not destruction: burning away the physical form so the soul is unencumbered, set free to continue the reincarnation cycle.

this influence can be seen in the firebending masters episode, which discusses the idea of fire being vital to life. the sun warriors safeguarding the original fire and demanding that zuko and aang bring fire to the dragons as a sacrifice could also reference the ritual of Agnihotra - the ritual of keeping a fire at the home hearth and making offerings to it. the purpose of this ritual differs depending on which text you refer to, but it is generally believed to purify the person and atmosphere in which it is performed, similar to how zuko and aang must make offerings to ran and shaw and survive their fire before being deemed worthy and pure.

Agnihotra is said to serve as a symbolic reminder of the vitality and importance of fire as the driving force of life, a lesson that zuko and aang also internalize from their encounter with the dragons.

Bumi

bumi's name is taken from the sanskrit word "bhumi", which means "earth". it's also the name of the hindu goddess of the earth, bumi or bhudevi.

one of the things the original animation didn't do and which i really enjoyed about the live action was that they made bumi indian and added desi inspiration to omashu. it makes perfect sense for a king whose name is as hindu-inspired as they come.

NWT Royal Palace

chief arnook's palace in the northern water tribe takes inspiration from the gopurams of hindu temples, massive pyramidal structures that served as entrance towers to the temple.

gopurams were built tall enough to be seen for miles around, beacons to signal tired or weary travellers who wished for a place to rest that a temple was nearby. it's a nice touch that the chief's palace is located in front of the spirit oasis, a similarly symbolic entryway to a sanctuary housing otherworldly deities.

Betrothal Necklaces

to preface: i doubt this was an intentional reference, and this great post talks about other cultures that could have inspired the water tribe betrothal necklaces. given the desi influence in the nwt architecture however, i figured it was worth mentioning.

the idea of betrothal necklaces being given to women by their male partners is similar to the thaali, a necklace given to hindu wives by their husbands. during hindu weddings, grooms tie the thaali around their brides' necks to symbolize their marriage. once given, wives are expected to wear their thaali till the day they die, as doing so is believed to bring good luck, health and prosperity to their husbands.

Chi-Blocking

though chi-blocking takes primary inspiration from the art of Dim Mak, it is also influenced by the south indian martial arts forms of adimurai and kalaripayattu, both of which include techniques of striking vital points in the body to disable or kill an opponent.

kalaripayattu also shares parallels with firebending, being a very physically demanding, aggressive martial art that emphasises the importance of discipline and mental fortitude. control of the mind is essential to control of the body, a philosophy similar to that espoused by iroh across the show.

Wan Shi Tong's Library

the library draws inspiration partly from the taj mahal, the famous mausoleum constructed by shah jahan during the mughal empire as a monument to his beloved wife, mumtaz mahal.

i'll end this post here since it's getting too long as it is, and the following section will be even longer. for while atla treated the concepts in this post with respect, the same unfortunately cannot be said for its depiction of guru pathik and combustion man - both of which we'll be discussing next.

[atlaculture]

Cultural Architecture: NWT Totem Poles - The Specifics Pt. 2

Among most of the totem poles we see throughout the Northern Water Tribe (NWT), four representations appear consistently throughout. For this post, I will be covering the final two.

Koi Fish

The third totem is clearly a koi fish with long whiskers and a marking on its forehead. In other words, it's a reference to the physical forms of the moon and ocean spirit. I can't help but wonder if Aang's realization of Tui and La's true forms was unconsciously informed by the all the koi head totems omnipresent throughout the NWT.

Culturally, koi fish are yet another example of the Chinese influence in the NWT. In Chinese culture, koi represent fame, family harmony and wealth. There's also a famous Chinese folktale about koi fish and other carp:

Along the Yellow River, there is a legendary waterfall that cascades from a magical mountain top known as Longmen (登龍門), meaning the Dragon's Gate. If a carp can swim upstream against the currents and hop over the waterfall into Longmen, the fish will transform into a dragon.

Thus, koi fish can also represent determination, courage, and perseverance. The connection between koi and dragons also strengthens the fan theory that the dragons Ran and Shaw might be the Fire Nation's equivalent to Tui and La. Perhaps the dragons are the spirit of Sun and Fire respectively?

Wolf

The totem beneath the koi depicts a wolf. The wolf head totem also bares a striking resemblance to the headdress that Sokka wears in "Day of the Black Sun" (Season 3, Episode 11). Wolves are prominent figures in the mythologies of many Indigenous American cultures, particularly those whose societies were oriented around hunting.

Within different Inuit groups, wolves are called amarok (multiple groups), amagok (Inuvialuit), and amaguk (Inupiat). These names refer both to normal wolves and to the gigantic, supernatural wolf of Inuit religion. There are two Amarok-focused tales that I'd like to detail in this post:

A persecuted and physically stunted boy seeks to increase his strength. When he calls out to the lord of strength, Amarok appears and wrestles him to the ground with its tail. This causes a number of small bones to fall from the boy's body. The Amarok tells the boy that the bones had prevented his growth; he instructs the boy to return daily in order to develop his strength. After several days of wrestling with the Amarok, the boy is strong enough to overcome three large bears, thus gaining him the esteem of his village.

The land was once full of caribou; the people lived well and were happy. But the hunters only killed those caribou that were big and strong. Soon all that was left were the weak and the sick. The people began to starve. And so they called upon Amorak, the spirit of the wolf, to winnow out the weak and the sick, so that the herd would once again be strong. The people realized that the caribou and the wolf were one, for although the caribou feeds the wolf, it is the wolf that keeps the caribou strong.

From these two stories, we get quite a nuanced conception of what the wolf represents in Inuit culture. While wolves represent strength in many cultures, these tales really emphasize the wolf as a creature that strengthens those around it. Through this worldview, we understand strength not as an innate or individualistic quality, but one that's nurtured through mentorship and interdependence.

This makes Sokka's adoption of wolf imagery during "Day of Black Sun" all the more appropriate. Sokka is certainly not the most powerful character in the show, but his role as the leader strengthens the group as a whole.

[fairuzfan]

The US tried to rid themselves of natives, but they are still here.

The UK tried to destroy Iran but the Iranians are still plenty.

The Turkish refuse to recognise the Armenian genocide and they tried to eradicate Armenian people, but Armenians still exist today.

The US tried to destroy Iraq, but the Iraqis are still plenty.

The UK were colonisers of South Africa, but we are still present.

The US supported South African apartheid, but we South Africans are still plenty.

The US is supporting Palestinian apartheid, but you shall be plenty.

And just as we are still thriving, Palestinians will still thrive. You will survive this. Remember that they CANNOT erase you. Whenever you get anxious about the news remember that your people will not be erased.

It is tough not being Western, yes. But this isn’t our first rodeo with these people. Don’t lose faith just because Genocide Joe has entered the mix. You’re gonna make it, I don’t know how I know, but my faith in y’all is unwavering.

In the midst of y’all’s curses, count your blessings. You’ve survived for more than 70 years, isn’t that crazy? Like they’ve tried this shit before with y’all, annexing y’all’s territory and killing y’all, but y’all are still here. Think about that. Y’all’s spirit literally refuses to die. Don’t let it die now.

Y’all are gonna survive this, and one day, hopefully soon, y’all’s peoples will be free. From the river to the sea.

Thank you so much!!!!!! And I hope for the everlasting liberation of Indigenous Populations throughout history!!!!!!!!!!!!

[alpaca-clouds]

Understanding Princess Mononoke

People on twitter have asked me to write this up, after speaking just a bit about it on the bird plattform.

So, recently I rewatched Princess Mononoke and talked about it with a friend, who is Japanese with a degree in Japanese history. And I think some of it was rather interesting.

Some of you might already know this. But others might not. So just endulge me for a moment.

Let me start with Ashitaka. The movie does mention that he is Emishi - but many people are not aware, what this means.

See, Japan had quite a lot of indigenous cultures (I will talk more about those tomorrow). Most might know the Ainu, as they are still around today. Fewer might know about the Ryukyuan people of Okinawa, who are also still around. But there are several indigenous people, who have once lived in Japan, but whose culture hence had become instinct. The Emishi are one of them. They lived in Northern Honshu and their culture disappeared around the 10th century.

The movie, of course, takes place in the late 14th century, which is why the monk notes, that he knows what Ashitaka is, but will keep it secret. The idea is that Ashtakas little village had stayed secret to avoid being destroyed. As such Ashitaka has a different relation to the nature and the nature spirits than the other characters of the movie, who are to engrossed in the mainly Buddhist culture.

Another thing that has to be addressed is Iron Town and Lady Eboshi's people. According to the official Japanese material to the movie, Lady Eboshi once was a prostitute herself, who happened to get power by getting taken to China. Which is why she is in possession of the Chinese gun technology. She then decided to use that to allow herself power - but not entirely out of selfish reasons. Because she, of course, takes in untouchables. Japan, to this day, has an untouchable caste. Which are people who work certain "dirty" jobs or sicknesses. Most of the women in Iron Town are prostitutes who Eboshi had bought free from their brothels. And she wants to have a town where those people can live good lives.

Because of this she has to hope for the support of the Emperor, as the Samurai lords in the surrounding areas do not want her there.

Which brings me to the finale and killing the god. Here is a thing that you have to understand of Japanese history. The original indigenous people of Japan believed in nature spirits, that at times were actually gods. Especially mountain gods. As Buddhism spread (again, something I will talk about more tomorrow) the upper class went out to kill the gods.

Old Japanese history will talk about people killing gods in the same way, as we talk about St. Patrick and the snakes of Ireland. As if it has really happened.

And that is something that Eboshi tries to do. It is killing the old god, but more than that: killing the old culture.

One of the central conflicts the movie shows is, that the nature spirits are loosing their self-awareness. That they revert to normal animals. Because the indigenous culture that revered the nature spirits is fading away.

Which then is, why Ashitaka, who comes from one of those indigenous cultures, is the main character of the movie. Because he still has this connection to the nature spirit, that the other people have lost.

Yes, the movie is very solarpunk in hindsight. But it also understands what it means to loose connection to nature.

And I find that really beautiful.

[whencyclopedia]

The Bear Man

The Bear Man is a Pawnee legend exemplifying the Native American understanding of the natural world and serving as an origin tale for the Bear Dance, which was performed to awaken the bears in spring from their winter hibernation and also to celebrate the season of choosing a mate. The Bear Dance is still performed by the Pawnee today.

The bear holds special significance for the Pawnee, as well as other Native American nations including the Ute, as a powerful animal and one of the Nahu'rac – the creatures who serve Ti-ra'wa ("Father Above"), as messengers and mediators – and who are considered brothers by various indigenous peoples. According to scholar Bobby Lake-Thom:

The Bear is always a good sign and a special power. He represents wisdom, insight, introspection, protection, and healing. If you see a Bear while hiking in the woods or along the river, then you know that a very sacred place is nearby. (78)

In The Bear Man, a father, concerned for his son, makes friends with a bear cub in hopes that the Nahu'rac will remember his kindness and look after his boy. Later in life, the Nahu'rac bears remember this kindness and repay it by bringing the boy back to life after he is killed in battle and teaching him their spiritual "medicine" (powers). The story shares similarities with other famous Pawnee tales including A Story of Faith and The Boy Who Was Sacrificed, which also feature the supernatural entities of the Nahu'rac.

The Bear Dance

In Native American belief, generally speaking, there is no spiritual difference between a human being, a plant, a tree, an animal, or a rock, as all things are imbued by the Creator with the same resonant energy. Humans are in no way superior to the natural world but are expected to act as stewards and care for their environment as they would for their own family and community. The Bear Dance grew out of this understanding as the dancers, as they perform wearing the bear hides which have been gifted to them by their bear relatives, become those bears and offer to others bear wisdom, healing, and power. Scholar Larry J. Zimmerman writes:

For Native North Americans, the boundaries between the world of the spirits and the world of living people were not clearly defined: a third "in-between" world of transition separated them. Every entity to some degree inhabited all three of these worlds. If a human carried out the appropriate rituals, he or she could be transformed into a being from one of the other two worlds.

Such transformations often duplicated events of the "beginning time" when the world came to be as it is through the agency of culture heroes and tricksters. On ceremonial occasions, an individual might assume the appearance of such a figure and be thought, literally, to become that being. When a holy man put on a yellow bear hide, for his audience he actually was the bear. (126)

The Bear Dance was (and is) always performed in the spring, waking the bears from their hibernation, and signaling the time for young men and women to choose mates. Among the Ute and Pawnee, the traditional roles of festivals are reversed at this time as men, instead of women, prepare the area for the dance, and women, instead of men, initiate the dance to find a suitable mate. The Bear Dance may last ten days to two weeks and honor the spirit of the bears as much as that of the community and the natural world at large.

Continue reading...

[hagoftheholler]

Since somebody decided to come into my ask box whining that I'm using a "much more important issue as leverage to demand people care about other bullshit", allow me to give y'all some educational content regarding Indigenous women/two-spirited folk, the history of taking their children away and forced sterilization of Indigenous women/two-spirited folk.

Residential schools were set up by both the Canadian and American governments, and administered by churches. They were used to take Indigenous children from their families to be raised by white Christians as a means to "kill the Indian and save the man". In other words: they wanted Indigenous children dead or abiding by white, Christian standards. If these children did anything "too native", they were punished harshly. They weren't even allowed to speak their native languages without being punished.

The parents of these children had no choice but to give up their children, because they could face prison time or death if they resisted. Many Indigenous children never made it back home, or died trying to find their way back home. The last residential school closed in 1996. Just to give ya an idea on exactly how long ago that is: it is the same year Pokemon debuted.

The Canadian residential school sites are being searched for unmarked graves of Indigenous children, and thousands of these deceased children have been found. Here is a link to a 45 minute long documentary in which a woman talks with her auntie about her experiences living at a residential school.

That wasn't enough, though, because Indigenous women/two-spirited folk were forcibly sterilized for decades without prior knowledge or consent. The reasoning behind these forced sterilizations were based around eugenics and racism. This continued the genocide that has been going on for centuries.

Moving on to what is happening today, the ICWA or Indian Child Welfare Act was established to protect Indigenous children from being displaced from their tribes. It helps ensure that if Indigenous children cannot stay with their parents or extended family, they will be placed in a qualified home and stay connected to their tribe. ICWA is now being targeted by the government, because they think they should have more say in what happens to Indigenous children. This is just continuing the cultural genocide of Indigenous people. Here is a petition for protecting the ICWA. Here is a linktree that has various links on the ICWA and what is currently happening.

Yes, this situation is just as important as roe v wade. I stand by my statement that if you were outraged by the overturning of roe v wade, then you should be equally as outraged by this. Because while Indigenous and other POC were telling us that the overturning of roe v wade was very possible and that we needed to pay attention, many (white) people were twiddling their thumbs thinking "oh, they're overreacting, roe v wade has been established for so long, they would never overturn it". Well, it happened, and now the government is going after Indigenous children for the some of the same reasons they went after roe v wade.

[mp3-max]

Rez Dogs Analysis

I want to do a scene analysis of this episode because it was absolutely beautiful!!

BIG TW FOR SPOILERS

In this scene we see Fixico worried about Chebon, trying to apologize (in his own way) by telling him that their family is there to support him. wich is what he really needs and even admits to Mable earlier by saying that Fixico doesn't acknowledge that he doesn't have parents, and how much different their lives are because of it...

but Notice the LIGHTING!!

it's so very colorful and almost Halo like, Chebon even mentions it "Don't you look at me with your holier than thou aura" while getting mad and telling him to fuck off

Then we have the star people secen, on the car ride back home from the river Irene and Bucky are going on about how the relationship between Elders and Kids is severed by the school system.

Immediately the lighting in this scene is very different, devoid of color and almost soulless.

Mind you this is just my theory and observations as a veiwer!!

I believe the alien claiming to be Chebon's "ancestor" dosent appear because of the drugs but in fact a direct consequence of having a broken relationship with family. Throughout the episode we see him denying support whether directly (like with Fixico) or indirectly (with the school coach). It's obvious he doesn't want help but the people around him can tell he desperately needs it and want to be there for him as a community

I don't believe it is entirely his fault although he does deny help, to me he has a reason to! he feels ostracized by his community, being picked on by his friends, and (assumingly) growing up in boarding schools he didn't get those same family relationships as his friends, besides Fixico who he's currently mad at.

The star person that shows up to me is a metaphor for losing your way. Based on the first couple of episodes of the season this visit has effected him into late adulthood, believing in the star people and seeking them out. Chebon/Max is simply a lost soul, failed by the system, and it makes sense he found Bear when he did; Bear was also lost not just physically but spiritually, wanting to leave the reservation and shooing off his spirit guide. He returns to the reservation after the Deer Lady finds him, but not before she kills the Boarding school director/principal.

are we seeing the common theme this season? schooling and taking Indigenous peoples out of their community, and how traumatic this can be on Indigenous peoples. all I can hope is that Bear and the rest of the rez dogs can break this generational trauma.

If you read all this you're a champ um but ya that is my analysis. feel free to correct me if I'm in the wrong in any way, or add on and let me know what you think of this ep and show my dms are open!

also can you tell im OBSSESED W THIS SEASON

[natlacentral]

For ‘Avatar’s’ Dallas Liu and Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Zuko and Iroh’s relationship ‘was the most important thing’

One of the most emotional callbacks in Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” is in the music.

The fourth episode of the series, “Into the Dark,” features a flashback to a funeral. As young Prince Zuko offers his condolences to his Uncle Iroh on the death of his son Lu Ten, the score transitions into an orchestral version of the familiar melody, “Leaves From the Vine.” The song, first heard in the animated “Avatar” series, has long been associated with the Fire Nation general’s grief.

“That wrecked me,” said Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who portrays Iroh in the new live-action adaptation, now streaming.

“I only just heard the [new] song in December,” added Dallas Liu, who plays Zuko. “I started imagining our scene and [it] killed me.”

The live-action “Avatar” co-stars were in high spirits as they discussed the show and their characters’ relationship over coffee at a West Hollywood hotel earlier this month. (This reporter borrowed a page from Iroh’s book on the joys of spending time with fascinating strangers and opted for tea.) 

Both actors say they are big fans of the animated series, which originally aired from 2005 to 2008 on Nickelodeon. More than once they mentioned the high bar set by the original show and the responsibility they felt to honor its spirit (a previous attempt was not well received), especially because everybody else on set loved the show, too.

“Not even just me and Paul,” Liu said. “Our cast members, our writers, even our transportation and craft [services] team.”

“Avatar” is set in a world inspired by Asian and Indigenous cultures, where certain people have the power to manipulate elements through a martial arts-infused ability known as bending. The original series was the rare children’s cartoon that touched on weighty topics such as war, genocide and imperialism within a fantasy coming-of-age story of a young hero destined to save the world.

“Zuko is a character that I’ve always loved since my childhood,” said Liu of the exiled Fire Nation prince. He is desperately searching for the Avatar — a special bender reincarnated into every generation tasked with maintaining harmony in the world — in order to win his father’s approval and a way back home.

Accompanying Zuko on his mission is Iroh, a renowned general and former heir to the crown who’d spent years at the front lines of the Fire Nation’s ongoing war to conquer the other nations.

Iroh “seems very jovial, but you know there is way more to him than that,” Lee said. “He carries a profound sense of sadness and loss.”

Working within a franchise with a passionate fanbase is nothing new for Lee, who has appeared as New Republic pilot Captain Carson Tevain several recent “Star Wars” series including “Ahsoka” and “The Mandalorian.” But getting cast as Iroh has offered the “Kim’s Convenience” actor a chance to take on the challenge of portraying a character that is already well-loved.

For Lee, Zuko and Iroh’s relationship “was the most important thing to get right.”

“It’s such a backbone to [Zuko’s] story arc,” Lee said. “To his pursuit and where he starts and where he ends.”

Because while “Avatar” is a story that follows Aang (Gordon Cormier), the world’s last airbender, as he figures out how to embrace his destiny and become the hero he is meant to be, it’s also a story about the teens in Aang’s orbit carving out their own paths.

Knowing this, Liu appreciated that their “Avatar” explores Zuko and Iroh’s past a earlier than it was revealed in the animated show. While there are some hints, it’s not until the second season that the animation digs into the Fire Nation royal family’s (dysfunctional) backstory. And some flashback scenes, like Lu Ten’s funeral, are original to the adaptation.

“I was excited because there was no expectation for it already,” Liu said. “I think there are scenes and dialogue [from the animated show] that people are going to look for with a certain level of expectation. But for everything that is new for Zuko on our show, it allowed me to be an artist and be creative.”

These moments were blank canvases Liu relished. He explained that to prepare for the younger version of Zuko in these flashbacks, he took hints from what he learned from his time on “PEN15” watching creators Maya Erskine and Anna Conkle portray middle-school versions of themselves.

“I think I got to tap into that younger side of my own self because I do see similarities between myself and Zuko,” said Liu. “Especially 14-year-old Zuko because there’s no ounce of evil in him.”

Iroh is despondent at Lu Ten’s funeral, as a procession of guests stop by to express their sympathies for the death of his only child. When it’s his turn, Zuko only offers the sentiments that are expected of him at first. But then he shares more heartfelt words as he tries to console his uncle. It’s one of the show’s earliest looks at Zuko’s humanity and capacity for love.

“Dallas does some really, really beautiful work at that funeral scene,” Lee said. “That speech that he delivers is just so heartbreakingly beautiful and comforting. He does all the heavy lifting. I just needed to react to what he was giving me.”

Not for the first time, Liu is quick to respond to the compliment by expressing his own appreciation for everything he learned from Paul during their time together on set. 

“Especially that scene, and in a lot of our other emotional scenes, I can’t stress how much I actually relied on Paul,” Liu said. “He was always there every day to support me with honestly all of our scenes.”

Equally charming was when Liu tried to credit Iroh’s influence as the reason why Zuko is able to open up, for one brief moment, with Aang during another episode. Lee is quick to point out that Zuko’s compassion was something already within him from when he was younger, as seen in the flashback scenes. 

Lee is aware that “Avatar” fans have wondered whether he would sing “Leaves From the Vine” on the series. It was first featured in Season 2 of the animated “Avatar” in an episode that shows Iroh singing the song through tears after he sets up a small memorial for Lu Ten on his birthday. (That segment was dedicated to Mako, Iroh’s original voice actor, who had died before the episode aired.)

“I didn’t want to spoil anything … but I knew that one scene was coming up,” Lee said. It’s one of the reveals that leads to “everybody look[ing] at Zuko differently. I love that. This adaptation, it really is about subtext, past experiences, traumas, success, failures, all of that stuff.”

Both Liu and Lee hope that their Zuko and Iroh will get to continue on their journey.

“What I love about their relationship is, Iroh is there to give advice, but he never tells [Zuko] what to do,” Lee said. Zuko’s “got to find his own way, and he supports him. … I really do wish [we get] to do more [seasons], because I want to see that relationship flourish even more.”

[milkboydotnet]

Friends of the Filipino People in Struggle (FFPS) extends its highest salute to the 10 revolutionaries who were martyred in a sustained military operation by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on the island of Panay over the past two weeks. We are deeply saddened to learn about the reports that among the martyred was Concha Araneta, a 73-year-old NDF representative in Panay and NDF peace consultant.

The island of Panay has faced escalating militarization, particularly following Duterte’s Executive Order No. 70, which established the NTF-ELCAC and implemented the “whole-of-nation-approach”, and Memorandum Order No. 32, which increased military deployment in the region. This trend of militarization and the accompanying violence against the masses have continued under the current US-Marcos regime.

The recent International People’s Tribunal (IPT) specifically denounced the Tumandok Massacre in 2020 in Panay as a war crime committed by US imperialism and its local allies, where nine Indigenous Tumandok leaders were extrajudicially killed by AFP forces. Rural communities in Panay, especially the Tumandok, have suffered continuous fascist attacks, including hamletting by the AFP. The AFP’s intensive military operations over the past two weeks have brought further extreme violence and violations of international humanitarian law. Reports by Human Rights organizations indicate that there were attacks on peasants’ livelihoods, withholding of the remains by the AFP and that at least six of the martyred revolutionaries bore injuries which suggest the possibility of torture, cruel treatment, and summary execution.

The AFP’s counterinsurgency operations, falsely dubbed ‘counter-terrorism’, are in fact a terror campaign against the Filipino people who are struggling for liberation from foreign domination, landlord exploitation and a corrupt fascist state. The revolution remains as valid as ever, since these basic problems to Philippine society remain present. 

Why else would thousands of Filipinos answer the call to go to the countryside and serve the masses in an armed revolution, if not because they clearly see the oppressive and exploitative nature of foreign domination and local reaction? The semi-colonial and semi-feudal system holds no viable future for the majority of the Filipino people. Even though the US-Marcos regime likes to pretend and propagate that the Filipino people in struggle are either foolish or brainwashed, those who join the armed struggle are among the bravest, sharpest, and willing to sacrifice their lives in order to serve the people. And their deaths weigh heavier than all the mountains in Panay, as they gave their lives for the liberation of the Filipino people and of all oppressed.

Those of us who met ka Concha when she was overseas to participate in the peace negotiations as NDF consultant, remember her as warm, dedicated and with good humour. She gave her whole life to the revolution, and to all of us from FFPS, she is a shining example of the resilience, compassion and revolutionary spirit of the Filipino people in their struggle for national and social liberation.

As US imperialism and its allies escalate violence, especially against those engaged in national liberation struggles, it is of the utmost urgency for all of us to strengthen our solidarity with oppressed peoples. We know that the Philippine ruling classes and their US imperialist overlords will not relinquish their wealth and power voluntarily. They willingly wage war not only on the Filipino people who resist their rule but on all basic classes of Philippine society. But the Filipino people demonstrate that revolution is the only solution. Sacrifice is an inevitable part of this struggle, and to honor those who have given their lives, we must intensify our own efforts.

For us, the best way to honor the martyrs is to strengthen our commitment, our revolutionary optimism and our all-rounded solidarity to the Philippine revolution. Let us ensure that for every martyr, a hundred solidarity activists take up the work of supporting the Filipino people and their just revolution. As we approach our Global Day of Action on August 26, which would have been ka Concha’s 74th birthday, let us pay tribute to the martyrs of the Philippine revolution with our most extensive global effort, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to support the Philippine revolution. The Filipino people’s revolution still grows stronger and we continue to support it until liberation!

Let us be brave like Ka Concha and all other martyrs, and all the fighting Filipino masses and stir up and spread the flames of solidarity with the Philippine revolution all around the world!