What should I do about cultural appropriation in the Y-Princess program?
July 26, 2015 11:05 AM Subscribe
How can one dad help reduce the amount of cultural appropriation in his and his daughter’s Y-Princess “tribe”?
For about a year, my 8 year old daughter and I have participated with our local YMCA’s “Y-Princesses” program (formerly called “Indian Princesses”). In a nutshell, it's a low-key time for dads and daughters to hangout while camping, with just enough organization that a guy like me who wouldn’t go camping otherwise, goes camping.
But sprinkled throughout this program are appropriations from Native American culture. From saying “how how” to having nature-based names (I'm “Distracted Squirrel”) to grown-up Causasian men wearing full headdresses.
I like everything about this program except for these unnecessary appropriations. I’m prepared to leave the program over this, but would like to see if I can affect enough change from within so I don’t have to.
What approaches might work to educate my fellow “braves” about this? What are some good resources on cultural appropriation, specifically Native American cultural appropriation, that I might share?
For about a year, my 8 year old daughter and I have participated with our local YMCA’s “Y-Princesses” program (formerly called “Indian Princesses”). In a nutshell, it's a low-key time for dads and daughters to hangout while camping, with just enough organization that a guy like me who wouldn’t go camping otherwise, goes camping.
But sprinkled throughout this program are appropriations from Native American culture. From saying “how how” to having nature-based names (I'm “Distracted Squirrel”) to grown-up Causasian men wearing full headdresses.
I like everything about this program except for these unnecessary appropriations. I’m prepared to leave the program over this, but would like to see if I can affect enough change from within so I don’t have to.
What approaches might work to educate my fellow “braves” about this? What are some good resources on cultural appropriation, specifically Native American cultural appropriation, that I might share?
Best answer: Thirty years ago (man I'm old!), several of the dads in my "tribe" decided they didn't like it, so they just became a "renegade tribe" (as they jokingly called it) and ran their own group of about a dozen girls and dads, invited new dads/daughters as older ones aged out, and hosted it at each dad's house in turn. The host provided snacks and a craft activity for the girls, and there was a LOT MORE BEER than at the Y. They ditched the headdresses (they did still have beaded necklaces for the daughters to wear at meetings, but they were just necklaces, not "wampum" or whatever they called them at the Y). There was some circle singing and memorizing of a set of virtues/rules/something, but it was more "generic scouts" in nature and less fake-Indian. We did still have nature names, IIRC.
But yeah, that's how the dads in our group got around it, by becoming an independent group with more beer and less cultural appropriation. Other dads might be interested in daddy/daughter bonding featuring more beer and less culturally awkward wearing of headdresses!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:24 AM on July 26, 2015 [18 favorites]
But yeah, that's how the dads in our group got around it, by becoming an independent group with more beer and less cultural appropriation. Other dads might be interested in daddy/daughter bonding featuring more beer and less culturally awkward wearing of headdresses!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:24 AM on July 26, 2015 [18 favorites]
From the comments section of the Native Appropriations piece, a commenter named Debbie Reese says, "The national offices put an end to this years ago. They asked local offices to end it, too, but did not demand it. Surely your local office knows all this. They chose to ignore the national policy."
It might be worth it to explore this with the YMCA head offices--clearly they know it's a problem and have addressed it at the national level; it's their responsibility to take care of it if local chapters are not following policy.
I live in a place where there is a lot of education around the treatment and rights of native people, and this would never fly here now, though as a child of the 1980s I remember stuff like this. I think the education piece has made a huge difference. It's slow but it does bring change. Thank you for being an aware parent willing to speak up.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:34 AM on July 26, 2015 [23 favorites]
It might be worth it to explore this with the YMCA head offices--clearly they know it's a problem and have addressed it at the national level; it's their responsibility to take care of it if local chapters are not following policy.
I live in a place where there is a lot of education around the treatment and rights of native people, and this would never fly here now, though as a child of the 1980s I remember stuff like this. I think the education piece has made a huge difference. It's slow but it does bring change. Thank you for being an aware parent willing to speak up.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 11:34 AM on July 26, 2015 [23 favorites]
I'd approach the education director (or whatever) of the Y, maybe in person, and say this:
"Sarah, Maddie and I LOVE Y-Princesses. I'm so glad that this program exists. I get to spend time with Maddie. 3 MORE NICE THINGS ABOUT PROGRAM. But to be honest, I'm concerned about the Native American themes in the program. I understand that there are certainly benefits to learning about Native culture, but I fear that the way that it is currently done may be sending the wrong messages to the kids. Do you think that we can work together to find some more appropriate ways to bring in aspects of Native culture? For example, I know that the LOCAL TRIBE has an outreach coordinator NAME that will work with groups on this sort of thing."
posted by k8t at 12:24 PM on July 26, 2015 [16 favorites]
"Sarah, Maddie and I LOVE Y-Princesses. I'm so glad that this program exists. I get to spend time with Maddie. 3 MORE NICE THINGS ABOUT PROGRAM. But to be honest, I'm concerned about the Native American themes in the program. I understand that there are certainly benefits to learning about Native culture, but I fear that the way that it is currently done may be sending the wrong messages to the kids. Do you think that we can work together to find some more appropriate ways to bring in aspects of Native culture? For example, I know that the LOCAL TRIBE has an outreach coordinator NAME that will work with groups on this sort of thing."
posted by k8t at 12:24 PM on July 26, 2015 [16 favorites]
Yeah, this is beyond the pale. It's something to take up with the ED of your local Y. Please act. Call up and make an appointment, or write an email. This shit needs to end.
It's a nice idea to go at it mildly and think about bringing in local tribal representatives, but that makes little sense when the focus of the program isn't really about learning about tribal culture, but about dad-kid bonding and outdoor adventure. Better to simply step away from quasi-Native representations.
posted by Miko at 9:59 PM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's a nice idea to go at it mildly and think about bringing in local tribal representatives, but that makes little sense when the focus of the program isn't really about learning about tribal culture, but about dad-kid bonding and outdoor adventure. Better to simply step away from quasi-Native representations.
posted by Miko at 9:59 PM on July 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by cushie at 11:07 AM on July 26, 2015 [6 favorites]