#indigemisia

When you hear the word, you might think of old nature hippies (usually one of the Five Civilised Tribes) wearing Plains tribe war bonnets, who shed a tear after saying words of wisdom and are so brave, and never want to give up. Like, ever. Even if they’re going to die.

Maybe stereotypical islanders who wear patterns akin to Tā moko alongside leaf skirts, speaking gibberish, practicing voodoo, being unruly and needing the good white people to return them back to the civilised society.

The reality is a lot more mundane.

I know the outskirts of Arabia like the back of my hand, but at first glance you can not tell if I am Bedouin. I herd camels, but most other Bedouins don’t.

In fact, many people have mistaken me for being a Korean or Japanese foreigner, and asked me about BTS or Korean pop songs in general, then get sad when they realise I know nothing about it.

Most Bedouins live in the cities, and if they have an animal, it’s usually a cat. The same goes for most other indigenous groups, who usually have a “civilised” life.

Ignoring all that, are there any uncivilised tribes, bands, qibylas, etc?

The ignorant and hateful are a dime a dozen there

This is transphobia, exorsexism, varsexism, queerphobia, indigemisia, and saneism.

(For those who don't know - Two-Spirit is an umbrella term for cultural identities within Indigenous North American tribes. It describes their non-Western identities with gender, sex, and attraction.)

I saw that there was a lack of language aside from "anti-indigeneity" when describing the colonial forces that impact Indigenous peoples all over the globe. Indigenous struggles are erased - and glossed over. Colonialism, the genocide of Native Americans and other Indigenous people around the globe along with forced assimilation, displacement, etc. is hardly talked about anymore. This is why I'm suggesting that we use "indigemisia" to call out anti-indigeneity.

Indigemisia defines hatred/bigotry towards Indigenous peoples. So what does Indigemisia include?

Colonialism and enforcing colonial norms. (I.E. Modern colonial gender roles/identities, colonial dietary norms, modern health & beauty standards, modern colonial sex categories, etc.)

Indigenous erasure. (Bloodquantum. Telling Indigenous peoples that we are "white." Erasure of racism that an Indigenous person might face regardless of skin tone. "The Bering Land Bridge Theory." Rhetoric that states Indigenous people are not truly Indigenous to our lands due to migration thousands of years ago. "Everyone is indigenous to earth" rhetoric. Americacentrism; dismissal of Indigenous peoples around the globe such as Indigenous Europeans, Indigenous Asians along with other Indigenous groups. "Aliens built the pyramids/ancient cities" conspiracy, etc.)

Colorism and featurism. (Disparaging the appearance of Indigenous people due to 'ethnic features' that some of us may have. Rhetoric that suggests brown and dark-skinned Indigenous people are "dirty" or lesser than. Excluding dark-skinned and mixed Black Indigenous people from indigenous spaces. (This is also antiblackness.) etc.)

Cultural appropriation. (Identifying with sacred identities and names coming from Indigenous groups that you do not belong to. Claiming to have "Spirit / Totem Animals." "Transnative / Transindigenous" along with "Exonative / Exoindigenous" or any similar identification. "Smudging..." You're literally just smoke cleansing. Buying white sage from colonial retailers. Wearing our traditional clothing as a costume. etc.)

Glorification of colonialism. (Practicing/Celebrating "Thanksgiving." This is a holiday built off of the genocide of Native Americans. Listen to Natives when we say that it is to be referred to as National Day of Mourning. Celebrating "Columbus Day." It's Indigenous Peoples day. Sentiments that thank colonialism for things such as food, clothing, housing, technology, modern invention, etc.)

This is not an exhaustive list, just some examples. There are many ways that indigemisia can present.

"🫩 This. Entire post. "I REALLY hope i was respectful with the imagery for my flag I made for white people to LARP as indigenous people!!!" You cannot talk like that white baby.

(I'm using a link bc being off anon w/ a screenshot is scary but I would prefer if you just screenshotted the post or something because I don't want OP to be harassed because they're a child. (An indigemisic and ableist child but a child nonetheless.))"

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This is indigemisia and cultural appropriation. Additionally this is panindigenism and generalization of Native cultures when a lot of our cultures vary significantly from each other.

Asabikeshiinyag, or dreamcatchers originate with Ojibwe peoples and are not representative of all Native American tribes. Some tribes may have engaged in trade and acquired asabikeshiinyag FROM Ojibwe peoples, but this is not representative of, nor used by all Natives.

It's so easy to find resources for white people — it's ridiculous that indigenous, closed practices are still being stolen from.

This is indigemisia and cultural appropration.

Just wanted to add, that the people who claim they're "smudging" are actually smoke cleansing and don't know what smudging is. Burn herbs if you want to, but you're not smudging.

For the whites who want to respectfully smoke cleanse, I suggest using rosemary or cedar. It smells nice. Do not use white sage, especially not from large retailers. Also, make sure to have a fire proof bowl to catch the ashes. Don't let that shit fall on your floor like in the movies. Please don't catch your houses on fire, lmao.

Indigefetishism - A form of anti-Indigenous discrimination that dehumanizes and treats Indigenous people as if we are merely objects of pleasure.

Whoreindigemisia - The intersection of puritanicalism with anti-Indigenous racism. Especially against Indigenous sex workers.

Indigenoirism - The intersection of antiblackness with anti-Indigenous racism. This could be used to describe racism towards Indigenous people who are mixed race Black individuals, or racism towards Black people as an Indigenous people and African Diaspora.