2024-02-10 - Dear White Men, From An Indigenous Woman by Pulxaneeks =================================================================== Today i listened to an interview with Pulxaneeks on The Mythic Masculine podcast [1]. Several times i wished the interviewer would stop talking and give Pulxaneeks more time. I found her easy to listen to, and insightful in her analysis of history and present day experiences. Pulxaneeks basically found herself having the same conversations over and over again with sympathetic white people. She kept wishing she could get them all in the same room together so she would only have to say it once, or better yet, get these people to talk with each other. This turned out to be a calling. Below are notes that i took while listening to this episode. Decolonization = Returning to being human again. Returning to your own humanity and being connected to your purpose, the earth, and other humans. White men's role in decolonization is unpacking your own whiteness and coming to terms with not being prioritized, not being the most important person in the room when you walk in, and stop playing God. She would like to see white men having conversations with each other about it. As she has reconnected more with her indigenous roots, she has become vigilant about her own safety. For some white men she has to pretend to be white for THEIR convenience. They are not okay with her being too indigenous. The "whiter" they are, the more "not okay" they are with her being openly indigenous. One thing that makes white men uncomfortable is that she "makes them feel things" just by being who she is. It challenges them to look at their own whiteness because of how she presents in contrast. Their bubble is burst by her simply being who she is. The question she poses to white men is: What are you here to give? That is right use of privilege. You are an uninvited guest on indigenous land, so what is it that makes your presence here worthy? Looking at whiteness in general is the essential step toward right relation. The more that you can do that inner work on your own time, the better. Otherwise, you will have harmful impact from your unconscious relationship with your own whiteness. Feel the things on your own time, with your own people first. THEN show up in a more clear, grounded, and productive way. Learn what triggers you. How you behave when you are triggered. How you get through it. Basic self-awareness. Show up in action. Know your place. Tune into the feelings of indigenous people and people of color around you. Identify who the matriarch is. Be clear what it is that you are offering and communicate that to the right people. [1] Dear White Men, From An Indigenous Woman tags: native-american,notes,podcast Tags ==== native-american notes podcast