Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation is when somebody adopts aspects of a culture that’s not their own. This is only a very basic definition. A more in-depth understanding of cultural appropriation refers to a particular power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group. This can include the use of customs, spiritual practices, clothing and art styles, ideas, etc.

Cultural appropriation is not the same thing as cultural exchange, which is when people share mutually with each other, with permission, respect and support for one another. Cultural exchange lacks that systemic and institutionalized power dynamic. It is very difficult at this time for people of the dominant white culture to have a truly mutually supportive exchange with groups that our culture is still actively oppressing, but it can occur. Usually this looks like years of living and assimilating to another culture with their admission, initiation and acceptance. 

While racial and cultural identity can be incredibly complex, Golden Web asks that all students do not bring to class Native American drums, clothing, or other items ritually significant to Indigenous Peoples or people from cultures European empires have historically oppressed, unless students are from those heritages and cultures. All students are welcomed and encouraged to bring tools, drums or other items from their ancestors, or spirit folx, if that feels right to them, but again, because racial identity can be incredibly complex, Golden Web teachers will not act as gatekeepers to determine your ancestry. This is between you and your ancestors. 

If a student identifies as white and has or is believed to have a distant genetic connection to Indigenous Peoples practices or tools, we kindly ask that students conduct comprehensive personal research on this topic and hear what Indigenous Peoples have to say. Although appropriation from any culture is disrespectful, for those of us who are white, the use of Native American spiritual traditions and objects are particularly hurtful because of our history of genocide, appropriation, forced assimilation in the past and continuing today. It is still not safe for tribal peoples to practice their religion openly, in many places. And because of the practice of forced enslavement of Black people the same is true for African spirituality and the spirituality of Africans that took root here in the Americas.

Our school aims to be a community that supports and values BIPOC and their cultures in right relationship. We welcome those with any ancestry of any continent to become members of the school community. We acknowledge that the foundations of the school are based in the traditions of indigenous peoples of Europe and more modern witchcraft practices. We encourage those with European heritage to engage in deep exploration and what often becomes a process of recovering spiritual practices and traditions from their own lineages, which were also actively disrupted by colonialism within Europe.