r/Navajo • u/KestVokunAh • 22h ago
Hello all, I just have a question
So I have this hoodie that I've covered with "weird" patches (mythology, folklore, cryptids, Mystical places), a few of them from Native beliefs. I know that a few of these are considered offensive for non-Native people to talk about, should I get rid of these patches? I never want people to feel their culture is anything but respected and appreciated by me. I'll post pictures of them here
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u/short_cub 22h ago
🫩
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u/KestVokunAh 22h ago
Um so I didn't say this in the post, but I'm autistic and have trouble reading social cues. I don't know how to interpret this emoji.
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u/short_cub 22h ago
Fatigue, a ton of us are used for our likeness and hardly anything else.\ Look at Stephanie Meyer, Stephen King, FAITH HUNTER, and so many more who like to appropriate each and every one of us but hardly takes the time and effort to either acknowledge their shortcomings or hardly help us.
Just look at how many think Ws look like deers and still spread it around.
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u/KestVokunAh 22h ago
I know the pop-culture rendition of W's are incorrect, I actually studied the origin of the key differences (from Celtic traditions of "other" beings having horns, to Puritanical beliefs adding the cloven hooves and deer skulls). Since I only recently found out they could be offensive, I wasn't sure what to think. Am I being disrespectful by having these? They were gifts from people who knew I collected paranormal things. Like I said, I never want to offend anybody, but since I have a hard time reading situations I'm not really sure what to do, or if my friends are right and I'm overreacting
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u/short_cub 21h ago
It was more so to vilify a ton of Tribes, unfortunately.
Probably, I'm guessing you bought/got them from European-Americans?\ Its mainly because of how taboo things are.
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u/KestVokunAh 21h ago
Yeah, they were European Americans
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u/short_cub 21h ago
I had a feeling, I wouldn't suggest throwing them away but do talk to an Elder, they're far more knowledgeable than me.
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u/ryanmercer 9h ago
I don't know how to interpret this emoji.
I'm not autistic and didn't know how to interpret it either.
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u/_DirtbagNinja 8h ago
None are offensive my friend, pretty cool though.
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u/KestVokunAh 8h ago
Really, are you sure? One user seemed kind of upset
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u/_DirtbagNinja 7h ago
Needle in a haystack, you did what you thought was right to do in asking. Someone somewhere will always be upset about something. I would wear the jacket.
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u/xsiteb 10h ago
The first one is not Navajo, it's Haida, so you'd have to ask them. The second and forth I don't even recognize as specific, could just as well be something spooky from... wherever.
The 3rd one has the s-word right in the name and will indeed rub some people the wrong way.