I have not taken away anything. If something is stolen, it means that the person from whom it was taken, doesn't have it anymore. That's not the case here, the music is still where it belongs. If the people still use the music and words with respect and in traditional ways, then nothing is lost. Music itself, and rythm, are universal languages understood by everyone.
I hear it often said that non-Natives should learn more about Natives so they can understand better. But that knowledge is repeatedly denied to us. Many therefore, seek knowledge from unscrupulous fakes and frauds. It's kind of a catch-22 situation.
In my view, knowledge is like a candle. You light it.... then use that flame to light another and another and so on. The flame from that first candle is never diminished, however the more candles that are lit the brighter the light becomes. If you don't light more candles the flame will eventually go out.
Now, I'm not saying that ALL Native American knowledge be shared. There are some things that should remain within it's own culture and context. And the same can be said about many other cultures and beliefs. But it is also sadly true that, whenever an elder dies, we loose a library.
It is also known that in "pre-Columbian" times the cultures and beliefs of many Native Nations melded, grew, evolved, changed. In post-Columbian times Catholicism and other forms of Christianity were introduced and many Nations ebraced those beliefs, changing even more of the "traditions".
I guess I just wonder sometimes, why it is okay for Native peoples to accept, embrace and use (and change & mis-use) so-called European Christianity, but it not okay for non-Native people to want to learn from Native cultures.
Now, going back to the tapes.... would it be better for non-Natives to listen to contemporary NA artists and their music? Much of that embraces the romantized notions of NA's that you so want to dispel.
And then, there is the ubiquitous "Amazing Grace" that almost every NA artist seems to feel obligated to translate into their own language and put on at least one album. Some go so far as to claim that it has "become the Cherokee National Anthem" (Appropriation?)
Personally I feel that Native people can sing any so-called non-Native song they wish, they can repeat the words of the "Apostles Creed" or the "Wiccan Rede". Matters not to me. I'm not the judge of whether or not they are being used respecfully. That lies in the heart of the user.
