“In Germany and most of the world, the trauma North American Indigenous peoples experience is mostly believed to be from events in the past, focusing on direct methods and effects of invasion and colonization by Europeans. However, the cycle of genocide, of violence, erasure, and the silencing and „replacement“ of Native peoples never ended.
Despite tremendous efforts and greater availability of firsthand Indigenous sources of knowledge and history, the renovation and refurbishment of trauma continues in a variety of ways, from the persistence of Eurocentrism in curricula at all levels of education, to pop culture references and western societies, systems and structures as whole. Honest examination and humility is needed in examining the past and present history of Indigenous peoples, not only of North America and worldwide, but those of Europe and the unresolved trauma here, which connection is often overlooked or minimized.”
The event will have both English and German segments. Register asap as space is limited as Covid19 precautions will be taken regarding personal distancing, etc.
Please visit their event announcement page for all details and the schedule for the two days of inspiring, enlightening & solidarity supporting gathering.
My Title: “Allyship “Righting History – How Historical Amnesia and Omission Fuels the New Rise of Normalized -Isms”.
Description: “The minimization or exclusion of the contributions, achievements and presence of women, non-Europeans and non-heteronormative people in history is common and also needs correction, but those omissions are more obvious.
However, the Eurocentrism in Western education systems and media also has another name most don’t associate with it and few “white people” recognize as such: white supremacist ideology. What are some of its forms, methods and tactics, and what can we do to right the wrongs written into the history of western society contributing to the current rise of hate, intolerance and ignorance.”
16./17. November ab 10 Uhr
Nachbarschaftshaus Urbanstraße
Diese Veranstaltung wird in-Präsenz, sowie digital stattfinden. In deutscher und englischer Lautsprache, sowie deutscher Gebärdensprache mit Verdolmetschungen.
In Kooperation mit dem Nachbarschaftshaus Urbanstraße.
The Living Archives ist eine online Plattform zur Dokumentation, Archivierung und Weitergabe von Wissen aus und für BIPoC Communities. Es ist ein intersektionales, dekoloniales resistant-knowledge Projekt, durch und für BIPoC-Communities. Ziel ist es gebündelt (verlorene und/oder gelöschte) Inhalte und Wissen, das innerhalb von BIPoC Kontexten generiert wird/wurde, festzuhalten und für diese Communities wieder zugänglich zu machen.
An diesen zwei November Tagen wollen wir uns gemeinsame mit Fragen um die Herstellung und Sicherung von Wissen sowie dem bewegungspolitischem aktivistischem Erinnern widmen.
Mit Keynotes, Panels sowie Workshops werden wir uns gemeinsam mit dekolonialen Wissens(re)produktionen und Politiken des Erinnerns auseinandersetzen. Die Prozesse um Wissen über intersektionale Diskriminierung bzw. über Lebensrealitäten, welche von der Norm abweichen, das Erinnern aktivistischer Kämpfe, Personen oder Orte sind grundlegend von struktureller Auslöschung betroffen oder werden in ihrer Existenzberechtigung an den Ränder der Gesellschaft gedrängt. Wir werden uns deswegen gemeinsam in die Zwischenräume begeben. Zwischenräume, in welchen unsere Geschichten erhalten und weitergegeben werden so das wir uns nun mit unseren widerständigen Prozessen aus den gesellschaftlichen Nischen und digitalen Subräumen heraus ausdehnen können.
Programm:
16. November
10.00h Ankommen 10.30h Begrüßung 11.00h Keynote “Black Deaf History” von Vincent Hesse (DGS) 11.45h Mittag 12.45h Panelgespräch “Verwoben mit Verwobene Geschichten – erinnerungspolitischer Aktivismus in digitalen Plattformen” mit Iris Rajanayagam, Juliana Kolberg und Latifa Hahn (Deutsche Lautsprache) 14.00h Workshop Phase I Workshop 1: “EXPECT BIPOC_ism” mit Adetoun Küppers-Adebisi (Deutsche Lautsprache) Workshop 2: Allyship “Righting History – How Historical Amnesia and Omission Fuels the New Rise of Normalized -Isms” mit Red Haircrow (English spoken language) 16.00h Netzwerk Austausch und Ausklang
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17. November
10.00h Ankommen 10.30h Workshop Phase II (gleiche Gruppen und Workshops des ersten Tages) 12.30h Mittag 13.30h Panel “Deine, Meine, Unsere Erinnerungen” mit Nataly Jung-Hwa Han, Kenan Emini, Bahar Sanli und Juliana Kolberg (Deutsche Lautsprache) 15.00h Launch & Keynote “TRANCE” mit Sea Novaa (English spoken language) 16.00h Performance
Weitere Informationen über zu den Workshops und den Referent*innen. Der öffentliche Teil der Veranstaltung wird simultan in deutscher und englischer Lautsprache und deutscher Gebärdensprache verdolmetscht. Die Workshops werden unterschiedlich verdolmetscht, weitere Informationen findet ihr bei den jeweiligen Workshopsbeschreibungen.
Anmeldung: Die Teilnahme an der Veranstaltung ist nur mit vorheriger Anmeldung möglich. Manche Workshops sind als Safer Spaces konzipiert und nur für BIPoC zugänglich. Die Teilnehmer*innenzahl ist begrenzt. Menschen mit Diskriminierungserfahrungen werden in der Anmeldung bevorzugt.
Anmeldungen bitte bis Freitag, den 09.11.2022 an contact@xartsplitta.net.
Es wäre toll, wenn ihr bei eurer Anmeldung zu folgenden Punkten etwas schreiben würdet:
An welchem Workshop möchtest du teilnehmen?
Warum hast du dich für die Teilnahme an dem Workshop entschieden?
Auf welche Weise hast du dich bisher mit dem Thema beschäftigt?
Hast du Bedürfnisse oder brauchst du zur Teilnahme Unterstützung (z.b. Kinder Betreuung oder Sprachassistenz etc)?
From the Brandeis University webpage of German and European Studies. The entire recording of the event can also be viewed on their site by visiting this link.
In cooperation with the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Brandeis University
Monday, November 30, 2020 12-1:30 pm Eastern Time (US) / 6-7:30 pm German time Zoom Webinar
About the Event
Most Americans don’t know who Karl May is, and Germans no longer read his “American Indian” fiction that once inspired generations. Fewer still connect its legacy to persistent “acceptable” racism in all facets of German society, despite research clearly linking the stereotyping of “Others” to the rise of Eurocentrism, normalized intolerance and white supremacist ideology in Western society.
Current situations regarding racism and cultural appropriation may have sprung from May’s seeds, but the sproutlings were grafted onto pre-existing trees.
About the Film
“What does a world that respects Indigenous peoples look like, that’s working towards ending racism, colonialism, and other intersecting oppression on a global scale?” -Marcos, 2017
Forget Winnetou! is a documentary film project directed by Red Haircrow, on stereotypes of Native Americans in Germany, and how it is connected to wider issues of stereotyping, racial profiling and inequality towards all people of color throughout Europe and western society. We understand Winnetou, the fictional “Indian” character created by Karl May, who many Germans see as harmless and inspiring, can be a symbolic character/story reinforcing Native American stereotypes, and racism & colonialism in general.
While recognizing many Germans were first introduced to “natives” through May’s stories, developing a lifelong love of the characters, in combination with misinformation and Eurocentric or one-dimensional material in German society, a great imbalance has continued. A situation of “Loving in the wrong way”. For generations it has reinforced the attitude that Europeans can take whatever and whoever they want, even living peoples, and misinterpret and use them for self-gratification. We live in a world heavily damaged by those such practices and attitudes.
We are asking Germany and the world to understand the very real effects of dismissive attitudes towards stereotyping, especially their effect on the young, and the misuse of Native identity and cultures. We want to help support and expand intercultural connections and correct the imbalances through accurate knowledge, and letting Natives represent and present themselves. We want Natives in North America to know and understand the depth of fetishization and exotification that occurs, although not always intentional, results in further objectification, dehumanization and erasure at the heart of so many issues, from daily discrimination to repatriation denials.
Germany is a microcosm of serious issues in western society: of increasingly blatant racism, xenophobia, and intolerance strengthened by strategically omitted or white-washed history involving people of color. We’ll show this through the lives and stories of Native Americans in their own words and experiences. We feel our documentary can be a learning experience introducing or furthering the process of decolonization and intercultural respect by inspiring viewers to ask themselves and hopefully realize, how beliefs, attitudes and practices they believe harmless are part of systemic racism that continues to oppress and divide. (Source: Vtape)
After you RSVP for the event (see link at top of the page), you will receive access information for watching the film prior to the event.
About the Speaker
D.S Red Haircrow is a writer, educator, psychologist and filmmaker of Native American (Chiricahua-Apache / Cherokee) and African American descent. They hold a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and a Master’s in Native American Studies from the University of Montana Bozeman, and their work has been featured in journals, magazines, and exhibitions around the world. Their research interests include intergenerational historical trauma, autistic spectrum disorder, GLBTIIQ needs, and suicide prevention. Current projects include an educational RPG video game focusing on world Indigenous groups, continuation of research on stigma and prejudice related to mental disorders and conditions such as ASD, and the short documentary on these topics: ALMOST.
In der Debatte um die Legitimität von „Indianergeschichten“ geht es nicht um Verbote, sondern um Anstand. Ein Kommentar von Anna PannenDaniela Martens. Das ist leider alles hinter einer “Paywall”, aber der Artikel ist hier.
Wieder einmal trifft eine bestimmte Art von Journalist das Thema genau auf den Punkt.
Ich habe mich über die obszöne Entscheidung von #Ravensburger geäußert, trotz aller Aufklärung Bücher mit dezidierten (Rassissmus/Sexissum) Sprache über Native Americans zu produzieren.
Es geht nicht um die Verleugnung oder das Verbot der originalen #Winnetou-Bücher, die von vielen deutschen Medien und anderen verdreht oder schlichtweg gelogen wurden, es geht um das Fehlen jeglichen Anstands.
Es geht darum, die Mentalität und die Praktiken zu erkennen und dagegen zu protestieren, dass man seine eigenen Wünsche befriedigen will, egal wie und warum es anderen schadet, auch bekannt als Vergewaltigungskultur. UND es geht darum, einer anderen Generation dieselbe Mentalität und dasselbe Privileg beizubringen, die Grenzen anderer zu ignorieren und egozentrische, missbräuchliche Verhaltensweisen an den Tag zu legen.
Es geht darum, den Würgegriff ihrer gewaltsam erlangten Kontrolle über die Erzählungen, Geschichten, Kulturen und Körper anderer Menschen abzulehnen, indem sie strukturellen Rassismus, Sexismus, Patriarchat und weiße Vorherrschaftsideologie nutzen.
#NotANicheIssue, und nicht nur in Bezug auf #NativeAmericans, genau wie in #ForgetWinnetou #Documentary gesagt. #RepresentationMatters #IndigenousRightsAreHumanRights
Ein zum Nachdenken anregender Punkt, der für die (nicht über) #Winnetou Nicht-Debatte in Deutschland relevant ist. Dieselbe Mentalität & Demografie, die Wutanfälle bekommt, wenn egozentrische Rassismus-/Sexismuswünsche in Frage gestellt werden. Es ist schädlich & war schon immer ausgrenzend & minorisierend. Es ist gewalttätig. #ItsAllConnected
In a recent Twitter post an important point was made by Dr. Noa Ha, a participant from our documentary, “Forget Winnetou! Loving in the Wrong Way” and a “(Post)colonial urbanist. Des/integration, critical race, decolonial studies. @ art school Berlin-Weissensee and DeZIM.”
I responded on the thread “Another facet of whiteness and whiteness-centeredness, both of which have the same roots: Racism. They’re still ask the same questions about Winnetou that were answered years ago. As in Rostock Lichtenhagen, no real social changes have been made. People are deliberately holding on to, and even defending, behaviors and practices that cause enormous harm.
It’s all connected.
I have done a few interviews in the last days regarding the Ravensburger book controversy and the new Winnetou film, but I’ve declined most, especially those asking the same questions already answered last month, last year, two, five and ten years ago. But a certain Germany and Germans refuse to listen and willfully defend racism and racist practices, and the teaching of perpetuation of Eurocentrism and cultural appropriation to another generation as “part of German culture”. So, racism is your culture? German media has largely been inflating, misinforming and encouraging defensive of racism and outrage over consequences for the support of stereotypes and cultural appropriation.
Thus far, you can partially read the articles/interviews cited below online or in print, but these are in German. And inevitably, at least one source stated a complete falsehood about my documentary, “Forget Winnetou! Loving in the Wrong Way” at the beginning of my interview. And then, they wonder why we and I delete their requests because of such misuse and misrepresentation of ourselves and our work? Rather like what they do to Native Americans in these books and films. Yet another example of how affective even fictional caricatures and stereotypes are in influencing behaviors.
A couple of articles/interviews with me so far, and this list will be updated:
Und das Problem mit Ravensburger ist noch schlimmer, als wir dachten. Sie haben sich entschieden, in dem Winnetou-Kinderbuch die sexistische, rassistische Bezeichnung “squ*w” zu verwenden. Eine vulgäre europäische Bastardisierung eines indigenen Wortes für Frau, mit der sie junge Mädchen und Frauen als weibliche Genitalien bezeichneten. Etwas nur für den sexuellen Gebrauch.
Dies ist nicht nur eine vorsätzliche Verbreitung und Lehre rassistischer Praktiken, sondern auch eine vorsätzliche Verblödung der indigenen Gruppen, ihrer Kultur und Geschichte in der Vergangenheit und Gegenwart. Das ist eine absolut unverzeihliche Blamage, aber auch ein kristallklarer Beweis dafür, warum Vielfalt und Einbeziehung tatsächlich notwendig sind. Nicht nur ein Lippenbekenntnis. Diese hauptsächlich weiße, männliche CIS-Romanisierung von “Winnetou” ist obszön.
“Red Haircrow ist empört über das mangelnde Gehör für Perspektiven von Native Americans. Er hält das Vorgehen von Verlagen wie Ravensburger für kalkuliert.
Von Adrian Schulz, heute, 24 August 2022, 08:34 Uhr.
Red Haircrow, Sie kritisieren Winnetou-Bücher und -Filme seit Jahren. Noch immer erscheinen mit staatlichem Geld finanzierte Produktionen wie „Der junge Häuptling Winnetou“. Verlieren Sie langsam die Geduld?“
This is a post from 2017 or so from redhaircrow.com, but is more relevant than ever before (unfortunately). Despite all educational efforts by their more enlightened peers and us, Germans willfully persistent in fetishization, erasure/replacement and stereotyping behaviors. There’s a willful insistence in ignoring this is a component of racism, related to colonialism and Eurocentrism AND/OR also accompanied by refusal to acknowledge the connection of accepted Native American stereotypes and misuse of Native cultures and peoples to the hatred, intolerance, conflicts and wars escalating or being fomented around the world.
From childhood, this creates and nurtures the mindset and practice that certain peoples, groups or individuals rights to life, safety and self-representation can be ignored, dismissed or even mocked if they object. Adherence to white supremacy ideology and structural racism is what allows this demographic to widely continue, and even defend, such practices. Good to know, we and others of their peers will continue to promote respect for all peoples, whatever their ethnicity, sexuality, gender, etc. and not their “rape culture”. That is: ignoring when someone says, “No, don’t do this to me/us”, and they say, “Yes, we will because we want to. We don’t care if it harms you or We don’t believe it hurts you.” What a terrible thing to teach a child.
Shared: Because many “others” “foreigners” specific ethnicities, and in this case “Indianer” or Native American Indians are only presented in shows, as entertainment, as costumed figures who are there to entertain Germans in some way…stereotypes abound here, and are expected and even demanded. Often you see the same rapt look and desire: “Teach us! Show us! Make us laugh with wonder! Cry with excitement, shudder with amazement, dread, outrage (as to native treatment of the past)” but whatever it is, they want what they want.
For Native Americans they expect, with very clear stereotype guidelines, how you should look, speak, engage, too. If you don’t look, act or perform as they expect, they are disappointed, dejected and dissatisfied. You must meet their expectations or you are not “real”, you are not “authentic.” The children cry and wail while parents comfort or ignore them, but seldom is there any factual, contexual (age appropriate, of course) information provided. Even in textbooks or other educational materials, having learn this propensity from the US and Canada, most “information” is stereotypical in nature and content, and from non-native sources or Europeanized (a.k.a. colonized) mindsets tailored to keep non-natives comfortably within established, if fabricated, parameters.
And they are actively, dismissively resistant to calls for historical accuracy, cause and effect, contemporary realities or even simple truths, especially if conflicting with German or Euro-American perspective. I designate “Euro-American” primarily because just American suggests white American, whether its white Americans or Germans saying it. Here, if they know you are from America and you’re black, you’re just black, but they’ll also say black German, black American, and so on, but whites from the USA are just American. That should tell you something…if you’re honest.
In the intro image, a week long children’s workshop about Brazil is taking place in Berlin, which doubtless (unlike smaller towns) will have actual Brazilian people involved to “demonstrate” Brazilian “rituals”. The programme was created and written by the well meaning but Euro-heavy Labyrinth team, to provide free entertainment for children, particularly refugees. If they are so open-minded why are not minority educators on the team, as there are many well educated ethnic professionals across Berlin. Wouldn’t fit the paradigm?
There’s a strong component of “silencing” or speaking for POC, when white people take it upon themselves to speak and decide for others, in particular minorities, with little or no input from those minorities. It’s a form of patting themselves on the backs and receiving praise from European peers on how good and progressive they are, being the saviors for poor (predominantly POC), without understanding why this model is deeply problematic and smacks of what called “The White Savior” syndrome. Historical context, power dynamics, objectification and racist structures.
Mexican restaurants are supposed to have Mexican music playing, immediately recognizable “Mexican” music, and stereotypical Mexican persons speaking Spanish (a European language, while the country itself has over 60 indigenous languages being spoken, more than all of Europe!). Black Americans should be called “Bro!”, know hip-hop and rap music references and offered “fist bumps” so they can feel cool and hip when they are returned. Eastern Asians, be they Korean, Japanese or Chinese, should be agreeable at all times, rather shy and apologetic, naivé but intelligent. That’s allowed, it’s non-threatening.
Asians might be mentally allowed to be engineers, even doctors, while Mexicans should likely be working at restaurants, central or South Americans must always funny and cheerful, and Native Americans are dancers in western theme parks or visiting for a show. Even if you wear a business suit, if you’re African, you may be a drug dealer. Higher education? Why would minorities do that? It’s not like you’ll get anywhere in German society besides working strictly in a capacity where your ethnicity is why you are there in the first place.
Managers, police officers, working in social services or on company boards or even playing them on TV or in film? Highly unlikely. Comments like “but you’re (supply ethnicity)” abound, which is the incredulous sometimes confused equivalent of “No”, when they don’t want to actually say “no” because of what that would strongly indicate about their self, their company or society. If you give any criticism they will blow a “How dare you?!” gasket.
Above all, whatever you are as non-Germans, you should be ready and willing to supply whatever emotional boost they need, satisfy and answer their every query, while being careful to self-deprecatingly keep them in their comfort zone (no challenges or return questions!) while they lay layer after layer of stereotypes on you. Or alternatively (or strategically interspersed) they know all about you because they read it in a book or so-and-so has a ______friend, and they will argue until doomsday they are right because_________.
So their children learn objectification, stereotypes, and attitudes and behaviors that can lead to cultural appropriation and dehumanization, and which continue the cycle of imbalance of racism, power and perception. It all starts in childhood.
So why do minorities stay in Germany, with the widespread “them vs. others, normal vs. others” mentality? What is the appeal, the attraction, the thrill? For those I talked to, it isn’t because Europe or Europeans are so great. It is often more attributable to the communities of color that form in support and protection of each other, a response to being stereotyped, misrepresented and discriminated against so widely in society. In the case of Natives or other POC, you receive it in your “home” country, too, because white people there are immigrant/invaders living on stolen ground. Where can you ever be treated equally, respectfully, humanly?
From University Professors Press (univ_prof_press on Twitter), the poetry collection “addresses critical social justice issues of our time, including racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, homelessness, and more. Each topic is approached with sensitivity and insight, strength and compassion. Readers will be provoked to reflection, tears, and action. Rising Voices seeks to comfort, support, and empower those engaged in social justice work while inspiring others to join the movements. This volume includes poems by TS Hawkins, Frederick K. Foote, Jr., Red Haircrow, Aliya J’anai, J. Thomas Brown, Venita Thomas, Carol Barrett, Nathaniel Granger, Jr., Veronica Lac, Louis Hoffman, and more. “
My poems, “The Color of Your Skin” and “Threatened by Beads” are included. They were first published in the special issue on Standing Rock in 2016, in Red Ink International Journal, and then in 2018, translated to German and included in “Neue Rundschau’s ‘Geschichte schreiben’” (Writing History).
Please visit their website for full details, descriptions and quotations, as well as browse their other volumes featuring a range of psychology related topics.
Reviews are welcome on platforms such as Amazon & Goodreads, and wherever it may be shared.
During this time of heightened interest and yelling about challenges to #Indianer costumes and Cultural Appropriation of #NativeAmericans in #Germany. Here are a few links to my past articles, interviews and/or commentary on these and related topics. INSTAGRAM post.
Photos are ones I took from the print version article I received from stern for my contribution to the article, “Im Wilden Osten” (2015). Original photos by Jen Osborne.
Germany is a microcosm of serious issues in western society: of increasingly blatant racism, xenophobia, and intolerance strengthened by strategically omitted or white-washed history involving people of color. We’ll show this through the lives and stories of Native Americans in their own words and experiences. We feel our documentary can be a learning experience introducing or furthering the process of decolonization and intercultural respect by inspiring viewers to ask themselves and hopefully realize, how beliefs, attitudes and practices they believe harmless are part of systemic racism that continues to oppress and divide. (Source: 
During this time of heightened interest and yelling about challenges to 
Forget Winnetou! Loving in the Wrong Way 
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