She:kon,
Presented for your perusal. This is an example of how, increasingly, our people are losing touch with the traditional principles and values that make our diverse nations unique and distinct. Is assimilation working? Please note that, to date, I've received no word from the CNAF.
April 12, 1996
John Kim Bell
Via fax
Founder and Chair
National Aboriginal Achievement Awards
c/o Canadian Native Arts Foundation
77 Mowat Avenue, suite 508
Toronto, Ontario
M6K 3E3
She:kon,
I hope this finds you in good mind, body and spirit. This morning's Ottawa Citizen ran an article, in its Entertainment section, on your upcoming awards telecast. Accompanying the article is a photograph of Tina Keeper and Tom Jackson, this year's hosts, holding Rotinonsionni (Iroquois) medicine masks. These masks are often referred to as false-face masks. I've also been advised that the CBC has been running similar television ads and that, at one point, Mr. Jackson covers his face with the mask he is holding.
As a Kanienkehaka artist, you must surely be aware of the deep spiritual significance, and great power, of these sacred medicine masks to our people. You must also be aware that there is only one truly respectful use for these masks -- that being for the medicinal ceremonies -- as described in our Creation Stories. The power of these masks are not to be trifled with. There are many of our people who use them disrespectfully and the consequences of such misuse will be theirs to bear.
In its Spring 1995 issue (Vol. #1), the Akwesasne Notes published the Rotinonsionni (Iroquois Confederacy) policy statement concerning the appropriate, and inappropriate, use of these sacred masks. I am including the text of that policy with this letter. I urge you, your hosts, and any personnel who may be involved in this ad campaign, to read it carefully.
I am supportive of our people achieving success in their chosen careers and such achievements should be acknowledged and celebrated. I'm not certain, however, that the format you've chosen best reflects the traditional principles and values of our diverse indigenous cultures. Surely you will agree that your organization should not conduct itself in a manner that trivializes and exploits our spirituality. Cultural appropriation is a serious issue that our peoples have been trying to correct for generations and your use of our masks is inappropriate.
I am willing to give Ms. Keeper and Mr. Jackson the benefit of the doubt in this matter. They are not of our culture and perhaps they participated in this publicity stunt without knowing the full extent of its sacrilegious nature. As role models, I hope they will be more careful in the future.
I feel a public apology, during your telecast this Sunday, is in order.
I also suggest the N.A.A.A. adopt a rigid policy to ensure that respect for peoples' cultures be given the highest priority. All indigenous nations have sacred societies and objects that must be respected. I encourage your organization, in preparing its future awards programs, to conduct detailed research in order to avoid this sort of thing from happening again.
Nia:wen
Kanatiio
Cc: Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs
Grand Council of the Rotinonsionni
Akwesasne Notes
Aboriginal Voices
The Ottawa Citizen
Attachment
Medicine Societies
Within the Haudenosaunee there are various medicine societies that have the sacred duty to maintain the use and strength of special medicines, both for individual and community welfare. A medicine society is comprised of Haudenosaunee who have partaken of the medicine and are thereby bound to the protection and perpetuation of tile special medicines. Such medicines are essential to the spiritual and emotional well-being of the Haudenosaunee communities. The medicine societies are a united group of individuals who must uphold and preserve the rituals that guard and protect the people, and the future generations.
Among these medicine societies are those that utilize the wooden masks and corn husk masks, which represent the shared power of the original medicine beings. Although there are variations of their images, all the masks have power and an intended purpose that is solely for the members of the respective medicine societies. Interference with the sacred duties of the societies and/or their masks is a violation of the freedom of the Haudenosaunee and does great harm to the welfare of the Haudenosaunee communities.
Status of Masks
All wooden and corn husk masks of the Haudenosaunee are sacred, regardless of size or age. By their very nature, masks are empowered the moment they are made. The image of the mask is sacred and is only to be used for its intended purpose. Masks do not have to he put through any ceremony or have tobacco attached to them in order to become useful or powerful. Masks should not be made unless they are to he used by members of the medicine society, according to established tradition.
Sales of Masks
No masks can be made for commercial purposes. Individuals who make masks for sale or sell masks to non-Indians violate the intended use of the masks, and such individuals must cease these activities as they do great harm to the Haudenosaunee. The commercialization of medicine masks is an exploitation of Haudenosaunee culture.
Authority over Medicine Masks
Each Haudenosaunee reservation has a medicine mask society that has authority over the use of masks for individual and community needs. Each society is charged with the protection of their sacred masks and the assurance of their proper use. The Grand Council of Chiefs has authority over all medicine societies and shall appoint individual leaders or medicine societies as necessary. However, no individual can speak or make decisions for medicine societies or the displacement of medicine masks. No institution has the authority over medicine masks, as they are the sole responsibility of the medicine societies and the Grand Council of Chiefs.
Exhibition of Medicine Masks
The public exhibition of all medicine masks is forbidden. Medicine masks are not intended for everyone to see and such exhibition does not recognize the sacred duties and special functions of the masks.
The exhibition of masks by museums does not serve to enlighten the public regarding the culture of the Haudenosaunee as such an exhibition violates the intended purpose of the mask and contributes to the desecration of the sacred image. In addition, information regarding medicine societies is not meant for general distribution. The non-Indian public does not have the right to examine, interpret, or present the beliefs, functions, and duties of the secret medicine societies of the Haudenosaunee. The sovereign responsibility of the Haudenosaunee over their spiritual duties must be respected by the removal of all medicine masks from exhibition and from access to non-Indians.
Reproductions, castings, photographs, or illustrations of medicine masks should not he used in exhibitions, as the image of the medicine masks should not be used in these fashions. To subject tile image of the medicine masks to ridicule or misrepresentation is a violation of the sacred functions of the masks.
The Council of Chiefs find that there is no proper way to explain, interpret, or present the significance of the medicine masks and therefore, ask that no attempt be made by museums to do so other than to explain the wishes of the Haudenosaunee in this matter.
Return of Medicine Masks
All Haudenosaunee medicine masks currently possessed by non-Indians, including Museums, Art Galleries, Historical Societies, Universities, Commercial Enterprises, Foreign Governments, and Individuals should be returned to the Grand Council of Chiefs of the Haudenosaunee, who will ensure their proper use and protection for the future generations.
There is no legal, moral, or ethical way in which a medicine mask can be obtained or possessed by a non-Indian individual or institution, as in order for a medicine mask to be removed from the society it would require the sanction of the Grand Council of Chiefs. This sanction has never been given. We ask all people to cooperate in the restoration of masks and other sacred objects to the proper caretakers among the Haudenosaunee. It is only through these actions that the traditional culture will remain strong and peace will be restored to our communities.
Dawnaytoh,
Chief Leon Shenandoah, Tadadaho
Grand Council of the Haudenosaunee
-- Reprinted with permission
April 18, 1996
The Editor
The Globe and Mail
She:kon (Greetings),
This is in reference to an article which appeared in your April 17, 1996 issue, under the headline, "Awards show draws complaints." It is disappointing to see that John Kim Bell continues to justify his use of our sacred masks in this year's National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.
I wrote to Mr. Bell, on Friday April 12, 1996, to raise my concerns over this matter. I included a copy of the Haudenosaunee policy statement on False Face Masks. Surely he's seen it by now. The policy clearly states that, "All wooden and corn husk masks of the Haudenosaunee are sacred, regardless of size or age [and they] should not be made unless they are to be used by members of the medicine society, according to established tradition."
Mr. Bell is right when he says our people should not be selling or making replicas. But he shouldn't be condoning their inappropriate use either. He said, "[i]t was not our intent to offend anyone." CBC spokesperson Tom Curzon also said, "there was certainly no intent to be disrespectful and we don't define them as religious masks."
Well, the official custodians of our medicine societies have defined the appropriate, and inappropriate, use of these masks. I support anyone's efforts to counter negative media coverage, which tends to be stereotypical, superficial and often disrespectful, in its portrayal of indigenous peoples.
But, in this case, both organizations have succeeded in being disrespectful and offensive. The Canadian Native Arts Foundation has insulted the Haudenosaunee. If those accepting the responsibilities and privileges of being Aboriginal role models don't show proper respect to our cultures and identities, how can they expect others to do so?
The CBC has done a disservice to its viewers, and it has failed in its public education mandate. Rather than defend their actions, both organizations should apologize and ensure this does not happen again.
Nia:wen
Kanatiio (Allen Gabriel)
Return to:The People's Paths