PSA:

radicalgendercoalition:

shittycryptids:

crookedrhymes:

being half native, i am beyond tired of this reoccurring theme. for all of you cryptid fans, the wendigo, thunderbirds, skinwalkers, etc. are NOT cryptids. they are a part of indigenous culture and are spirits/entities, and not anything like mothman. they are religious and cultural folklore, despite the fact that cryptozoologists try to classify them as cryptids. 

also, do not associate any non-indigenous oc’s with ANY spirits from native culture and folklore, as it is very insensitive (i.e. kylo ren wendigo, named “rendigo”) to the culture and considered white-washing. our culture, practices, and religion has already been stretched far and thin over the years. be respectful please.

Hey guys, I know you aren’t used to seeing posts like this from us, but just a reminder to be respectful about what gets called a cryptid! We don’t accept any submissions with skinwalkers, wendigos, or thunderbirds. If anyone sees any cryptids on this page that make them uncomfortable or that they feel are appropriating any particular cultural folklore for a joke, let me know and I will delete the post and make sure that I correct the issue going forward. Thanks!!

I want to add this Twitter thread for supplemental reading on why calling indigenous religions and elements of them “myths and legends” is inappropriate as well, since it seems sort of relevant

Excerpt:

“

I often get asked by teachers to provide lists of “myths and legends” of Indigenous peoples to incorporate into lessons and units. This always makes me wince.

Usually this is a unit with “myths and legends” from around the world, and teachers want to include something local. That’s good, I like the desire there. But there’s a real problem with labeling our specific stories as “myths and legends”.

Myths and legends aren’t real. But more than this, what is “myth” or “legend” and what is respected as “true”?

In Alberta we have a publicly funded Catholic school system. Do you think they teach the Catholic religion as “myths and legends”?

And even in the Public school system, which was once Protestant but is now supposedly secular…do you think that teachers have a “myths and legends” unit that includes the birth of Jesus? Or is it more likely we’re going to see stories about Greek gods and such?

It’s not at all the case that I want Indigenous creation stories, or our sacred stories, to be treated like religious texts.

I truly believe that organized religion, particularly Christianity (which is a de facto state religion in Canada and the U.S., let’s be honest here) is incommensurable with Indigenous spirituality.

Also, these words I’m using in English, “sacred”, “spiritual”, “myth”, “religion”… none of these words properly express the Cree concepts I’m thinking of. So much misunderstanding happens because folks try to interpret what they know nothing about (our spiritual beliefs)…

through the lens of European understandings of spirit/sacred/religion/etc. Anyway.

I don’t want schools acting like Indigenous folks want our beliefs to be treated like Christian beliefs.

But I do need educators to think about how they are framing our stories, how they are delegitimized as real knowledge from the get-go by labeling them myths and legends. So much about these stories is completely missed when they are presented as a fun fantasy yarn.“

– âpihtawikosisân / Chelsea Vowel

(Métis lawyer, author, activist from manitow-sâkahikan or “Lac Ste. Anne” in Alberta)

She continues on in the thread to explain further, including suggestions and points of growth. I highly recommend reading the rest of the thread for those who haven’t already. It’s only been up 6 days and I’ve recommended reading it to folks in several conversations since.

Link to full thread formatted conveniently

Link to first tweet of thread