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Indigenous Vignette #1
An American Indian male client enters a white psychotherapist’s office for the first time. The office is quite expensively decorated. On one wall are several dreamcatchers, on another wall is a colorful Navajo rug, and on the table facing the client’s chair is a large Hopi Kachina doll.
When the therapist sees the client silently taking in all Indian objects, she exclaims, “As you can see, I love to decorate with Native American art.” The client shifts uncomfortably in his chair and castes his eyes downward.
Commentary to Indigenous Vignette #1
It may be difficult for many to see what might be offensive to the Indian client. A white person appreciates and displays Native American art. What’s the problem?
One problem could be based on the fact that the white therapist is relating to the sacred Indian objects as decorative art. Some American Indians might see it like this: We’ve been dominated by the white man ever since he took over our land. And now he's taking from us again - acquiring our traditional spiritual objects, using them out of context and without awareness of their special meaning and power in our culture.
This isn’t to say that it’s always wrong to purchase American Indian objects or art. Some Indians depend on these purchases to support themselves. However once we have a fuller picture of how a Native American might view these purchases hopefully we can act with respect and sensitivity.
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