Reader submission: Misappropriation of Native American Heritage in SL

Dear Dana,
I am participating in a project in Second Life called Native Lands, which is part of the USC Network Culture Project: SL and the Public Good Challenge. http://networkculture.usc.edu/ Native Lands is a place in SL to create and communicate authentic Native American culture.
A problem we face is inappropriate use of Native heritage in Second Life. The creation and communication of inauthentic, false and fraudulent "Native" culture here, and the volume, both in the sense of amount and sound level, of the false heritage that is being generated here drives out the authentic Native Americans.
At first I assumed most of the misappropriation was innocent. I still believe many non-Natives who try to create or interpret or claim Native heritage in some way are simply misguided.
But there are many others who deliberately misguide, mislead and defraud as a political statement.
In SL, this type of fraud takes three forms:

• Americans who may or may not have Native ancestry, but who are not eligible to be enrolled in a federally or state recognized tribe, and get belligerent about it.
• Inappropriate use of Native imagery in role play - Goreans are in this category.
• People who know they have no Native ancestry, but believe Native culture should be in the public domain for anyone to use or create at will.

Role players and ordinary wannabes are unfortunate but familiar background noise in Indian Country. However, the last category of frauds, the people with no Native ancestry who are using Native culture to advance their political agendas, are a serious problem that we need to address straight away.
Our Native American national symbols must be removed from their property.
Native Americans are dead serious about our National sovereignty. Every Native person has a gaping raw wound covered by that flag. You will certainly get a reaction if you touch it.
When I saw my flag along with a dozen others flying over one of those frauds' collection of fake Indian junk, it literally made me sick to my stomach.
I have no idea why these people are not satisfied with their own ethnicity and nationality. It is very strange. I have called on friends here in Second Life who have professional insights into how to approach the problem.
My two principle contacts in SL are Schmilsson Nilsson of the Understanding Islam project, and a French anthropologist named Sky Light. The worst offenders seem to be French, many of whom speak very little or no English.
I am preparing a complaint of violation of community standards to submit to Linden Labs about one extremely offensive display by a person who goes by the name of W**** S***, who runs an entertainment venue on the N********* sim. I am also looking into legal recourse against a person calling herself q******* H****, who is selling items labelled as Indian made in violation of US federal law.
I dont know how far I will get, but at least I can draw attention to how this has progressed from extremely bad taste to causing real harm to Native Americans in Second Life.
Thanks for your time,
Nany Kayo

Sloop - “YOU WOULD CRY TOO IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU”

I love it when my friends in SL invite me to private parties. And I love to throw parties myself. As I have said before in this columns, I really believe the bone marrow of this virtual game resides in relationships. Otherwise it’s just an empty shell where we become cartoon characters with very week storylines. So… a month ago, when I got a very special invitation to a very special party… I made sure to stick a post-it on my screen. I wasn’t going to miss that, no matter what.
I got home from work ten minutes before the SL party time. I hadn’t had lunch and it was late in the RL afternoon, so I made myself a ham sandwich with a lot of mayonnaise, poured a large iced Coke, kicked off my shoes, put on my glasses, and sat in from of my Mac. As I turned it on, I pulled the post-it off, and… OMG! There was another one underneath reminding me of a RL wedding, that same day… two hours later!!!
I had completely forgotten about that. And believe me… I HAD TO BE THERE. But I had to be in the SL party too, both because I cared a lot for the ones who were hosting the party… and because, even if it’s true, RL always reeks of excuse.Not to mention that I could never have excused myself from the RL wedding blaming SL. A lot of people would have been ready to have me committed.
So, before I started breathing in a paper bag… I tried to pull myself together. I browsed through my virtual wardrobe and choose an outfit I had worn to a party a few days before. It looked nice. Pity RL wasn’t going to be so easy.I TP to the party, shouted “HELLO EVERYONE”, typed greetings, a lot of “:)))))))))))))))s”, hit a dance ball, run to the bathroom and turned on the shower while I managed to put on a few rollers on my head.
I run back to the den, looked at the local chat log, typed a few “HAHAHAHAs” and some more :))))). Run to the RL wardrobe and pulled out a few dresses. In RL, they never fit properly, and they are always wrinkled.I ran back to the den. I looked at the log again… Someone, apparently, had made a joke. “LOL” I typed, and run off to the shower. If someone had timed me, I’d probably belong in the Guinness record book.
Came back to the screen. There were a few IMs, the “for your eyes only” kind of messages, so much difficult to ignore.
A third one from the hostess…. Which got yet another “WOW, lovely party, and some more :)))))))” and then I wrote another quick “WOOT” for the local chat and rushed off to fetch the ironing board and the iron. (I had to stay close to the screen, just in case.)
I had to find a free socket under the desk, which it wasn’t easy because I have two computers side by side and all kinds of accessories. (BTW: have you ever counted the wires and plugs that multiply themselves around and under your desk?).
Then I glimpsed at the screen, and saw that the hostess had decided to give a speech in voice. So I run off to get the dress, the make up, the nail polish and the tweezers. And a mirror that I managed to duck tape to the other computer. I put on the earphones struggling with the rollers just in time to hear all the things the hostess and other guests had to say. But I also switched on my voice. And I forgot.
“AUCH, DAMN IT” I said. (I was plucking a few stray hairs from my eyebrows.) I also said a few four letter words out loud, because I hadn’t checked on the iron and It was smoking hot. I heard people laugh and I realized they were able to hear… so I wrote a few “OMG SORRY” and some more “:)))” and took a bite of my sandwich, because I was really starving and dinner at weddings are always delayed.
Of course, the inevitable happened. I dropped mayonnaise between the “W”, the “E”, the “A” and the “S”. “WSAWWWSSWSEESWAASWQWDESWW”, I wrote, trying to clean the mess. People thought it was a new , rather complicated acronym. They asked. No, I said. “HEH”. The cat walked all over the keyboard. (Which it also often happens).
Another “ROLF’ (What the heck was I “rolf'ing” about???”), and I got up, keeping an eye on the screen, and managed to iron some large wrinkles off the dress.
Then I realized I had to wear sandals, so I had to paint my toe nails first. I placed one foot on top of the desk , then the other, somehow I got the toe nails to look red, not without kicking the Coke glass to the floor, where it broke, and I stepped on a glass splinter while jumping on my other foot.
“WOOT” “LOL” “YES I’M HERE”, “SORRY, PHONE”, I rushed to get a Band-Aid, and then started with my fingernails… The “Shift” key is now red forever.
People at the SL party seemed to be having a great time.While the polish dried, I put some make up on. So I had to take off my glasses and didn’t get so see the IMs very well. And yes… I got the windows mixed… but that’s another story.
“WOOOOO”. I got my dress on. “LOL”, one sandal. “ROFL”, the other. “GREAT PARTY”, “I HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME”, “IT WAS SO NICE TO SEE YOU ALL”.
I brushed my hair, wrote a few more “:))))”, “THANKS”, “HUGS”, “SORRY, BUT I REALLY HAVE TO GO”, “CYA SOON”, and logged off.
When I got to the wedding, I realized I had left the iron on. Too bad I couldn’t click on it and “take”. Besides I hated the dress. Too bad I couldn’t “replace outfit”. And I hated that boring wedding. Too bad I couldn’t log off. Or just vanish and say I crashed.
Bottom line?
I love both worlds. But I hate it when they collide.
LOL
:))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Covadonga Writer.

Breezes Thoughts

Arian oh how he wants to enter the city oh my beautiful Samarkand Lo do you all really think it is arian who wants to shop, to indulge in the fairest trades ever to be encountered? Nay, but Shafi has to convince herself it is her steed tempting her to spend golden coins.
Her Saadi is in his room diligently slaving away writing the most romantic poems of this fair city.
Lady Bree must stay silent out of the way lest she disturb the great Poet of Samarkand. Disturb the Saadi? ooooh how can she think of such.
Here we see the Khan of the Mongols, How brave the shafi is?
Hmmm that may be doubtful, but the Khan is too busy to notice she is a foolish adventerous soul. ahh he will find out shafi can be quite cunning in her mind if she sets out in the right direction.
Well I must admit I do tend to turn in circles keeping the Kingdom in suspense.
Saadi's Lady, the Shafi of Samarkand was showing her great Khagan her Arian steed, He sits in watch oer city domain, ever vigilent as across in the desert ,the Khan of the Mongols beats the drums.
Oh whatever could be in store for Samarkand?
Whatever it is you can be sure this lady will be here watching o'er the lands.
Bree

Bree goes shoeless for 6 months!

A proud moment waiting to walk the team lap with the Relay Raiders and cheer on those walking by.

Relay raiders hit the 10 million Lindens raised and poor Breezes pledged to go shoeless for 6 months if the total was raised! Now as we all know Bree loves shoes and has so many pairs she could wear 2 pairs a day for a whole year so this is a big sacrifice for her to make, so when you see Bree out and about shoeless be proud of her for doing her bit for RFL in SL.

The closing fireworks were amazing.

SLoop - “DR. PIXELL and MR. HYDE”

One night in late September 1885, Robert Louis Stevenson had a nightmare.
He had been dreaming about what was going to become one of literatures greatest classics: “ The Strange Case of Doctor Jeckyll and Mr Hyde”.
The author had long been interested in the duality of human nature. So has been philosophy and science. But if you think this is a story of an extreme case of split personality… well it is not.
Dr Jeckyll is not crazy. He “forces” Mr Hyde to show up, as an experiment. He digs into the depths of his unconscious mind -with the help of a secret formula-, and enables the primitive being we must have been before civilization gave birth to mankind, to take over.
The beast that is unable to tell right from wrong, that is unable to choose. That is unable to take control of it’s own life.
It’s a magnificent metaphor about us, human beings.
This came to my mind because I realized SL has it’s share of Mr Hydes.
Last week, my avi was relaxing peacefully at home, having a glass of Cabernet my friend Savannah made for me, while sending invitations for a party I was having a few days later. And then… WHAM!. SHE stormed in. “Ms Hyde”. Dressed in a way that shouted “I am a BAAAD girl”, she just lay on the couch and looked like she was going to stay there for good.“OK-I thought-. Here comes another grieffer”. (They haven’t been around much, since I moved to my new house. But it’s always just a matter of time.)
-Hello, I said.
-How come you are not freaking’ out? - she asked.
-Well… It takes a lot more than an avi trying to look mean, to freak me out. As a matter of fact… pixels can’t freak me out.
-People freak out and eject me all the time when I do this. I love to barge in. And be nasty.
-Why? –I asked.
-It’s the only thing that makes sense in this stupid game she said.
- Then… why are you in this stupid game?
-Because I like to piss people off, hahahahaha.
-OK. If that works for you… But it doesn’t work for me. I much rather chat.
-About what?
-Anything.
I am not one who brags, but it takes more than a sociopathic avi to play me like a fiddle, which is what she thought she could easily do. And, to her confusion, we ended up having some kind of a civilized chat.
She said I was the first person that had talked to her and shown some interest. She ended up offering friendship. I accepted. The “Ms Jeckyll” in her had won the first round.
So… I invited her to my party. I knew it was a risk, but I had nothing to lose. And she showed up. It took me about 10 seconds to realize “Ms Hyde” was in control again, determined to ruin the party and embarrass me in front of my friends. She started saying nasty things using a language I cannot reproduce here. She also pulled a few pranks in very poor taste. I clicked on her avi and had my finger on the mouse button… I just wanted one more reason to click “eject” and send her off to farthest end of the Grid. “Come on… make my day”… I thought to myself. But then I realized that no one had paid any attention to her. No one laughed. No one answered. My guests were probably asking themselves what was she doing there. She noticed it too. And before I ejected her, she teleported her sorry avi out of there. “Ms Hyde” hates to be ignored. She gets her kicks out being a nuisance. And she probably doesn’t even dare to do that in RL.
I really felt sorry for her. Maybe that’s the thing with griefers. They are too cowardly to be rebels in RL. So they bring out their Dr. Jeckyll in SL.
But in the story… when Dr Jeckyll realizes he cannot control Mr Hyde anymore…he kills himself. It would be a relief, if griefers decided to delete their avis, just so that Mr Hyde won't win.

Covadonga Writer

A Gesture too far?

I was invited to a club , I had seen it once before and had a great time.
This time it was much smaller crowd and I kinda thought was nice and quiet, quiet yes I would say so. I looked around and saw an old acquaintance, wahzoo, bree's eyes were surprised. Not only did I meet this persoon as a lady furry, and then meet her in her original form, but this time she was a man, kinda familar looking, but I had never really seen this avatar before. You know how lots avatars have kinda similar looks? but goes to show, you just really never know who you might be talking too.
Oh, boy, this was only the beginning of the evening.
I was chatting away sending my silly gesture chats out. All of a sudden I receive a new gesture in the dropdown box. Yay, I said to this person, I love new gestures.
whoa Nellie! I was typing away as I activated this 'Crunkin' it is called. I am sorry I thanked the person I can tell you.
At first I thought "oh well", then I saw people asking Bree 'what have you done to yourself?' Please see the picture and do your tittering.
Brees eyes got big and wondering, looked around and saw the peron who gave it to me was also like this.
okay fine, I can do this.
But many many minutes later was still this way.
I tried deleting the gesture, no way did it go off me.
I even went to inventoryand put my shape back on. No change.
Mercy says Bree. I have a nice place to go in a bit to talk to a shop owner. Now there is no way in this SL world that I would venture out looking like this.
Mind you I have been a monster, a mermaid, a Faerie, a chocolate wolf, which was rather fun times, a lizard, a toadette, a silver fox and numerous stages of dress (cough cough) even went to space to dance in a spacesuit, road a motorcycle. BUT this was a bit much.
'Now calm down' (this is what Saadi always says to me. But alas he was not there (indeed) if he had of been he would have fallen in the sea dying of laughter at my dilemma.- rotter!
Now what the heck is my point? mmm I dasn't know. No I did not spell that wrong is exactly what I meant to say hahah oh bree shush.
Yep Saadi says that to me too. I zip lips for just a bit, not too long as I tend to rust.
I called upon my adopted sissy (who is a Mentor) she actually came to see this mess I was in.
Now she said I looked fine.
Oh really!!! well the fella and I did not look okay to me.
I tried stop animations, no that did not work either. So she said Relog, Of course, is this not the answer for all SL woes? Did I think of that? No did not! I tend to get flustered and forget my brain.
Well you gotta have one to forget it (so I have been told by a rl person) who shall remain nameless, But a couple of you know who I mean.
Yay, behold I reappeared bald, but a normal sl entry.
Oh yes before all this started, Saadi was attempting to rebuild on his land, when suddendly he was called to help another, Poor Saadi was stuck in sky, I was barely able to fly or walk, SL was having a time with us all. addicted as we are to SL we keep coming back for more and usually it is well worth the effort. Hey all, just get out there and enjoy and experience what you love and don't forget second Life has something for everyone, you just get out there and find it.
claps hands.
Bye for now.
Breezes

Breezes interviews Kouse about her delightful designs

One day I was wandering and looking for something new to buy (I just can't help shopping) When i happened across this delight. The creator of these wondrous designs was there so I took the chance to talk to her and find out her inspiration:
Breezes Babii: Kouse I am pleased to have become acquainted with the fine gowns you design, Will you tell us how you got started in SecondLife?
Kouse Singh: I saw a piece about it on the news actually, on CBC, looked fun so figured I'd give it a try.
Breezes Babii: Do you find the Designing and your shop fulfilling?
Kouse Singh: Oh yes, it's a great outlet for me creatively.
BB: Well I thoroughly enjoy the compliments I receive from your gowns. Did you build your own shop?
KS: I built the shop on SeaBreeze Oasis. Two of my best friends, Serenity Sieyes and Malakh Giles, collaboratively built the location on Avilion Vale.
BB: That is such an accomplishment. Tell me how do you come upon the ideas for your designs?
KS: Well sometimes, I look at paintings and photos of historical gowns and base my designs off those. However most of the time I just create them freeform from my imagination.
BB: Imagination is truly a gift and we all benefit from your lovely work. The group you have created and giving us a buy 1 get one free is remarkable. Do you travel and seek the materials for your gowns?
KS: Oh no, as a Mage I conjure them up *giggle
BB: In RL do you design? I wonder when did you begin to know you wanted to be a Designer?
KS: Yes, I make a fair amount of my own clothing when it comes to dresses, items like shirts, pants et cetera i just buy though.
BB: How long have you been a designer Kouse?
KS: Oh ever since I could hold a pencil I've been sketching, most often ball gowns, Disney movies affected my sketches for a long time, In SL, since about July of last year, and in RL, been making dresses off and on for about 6 years.
BB: I imagine your dream of dancing and prancing around in these works of yours. Is there anything you can recommend for a new designer to begin an experience in designing.
KS: I'd say to anyone who wants to design, make sure you put your heart into it. It's more important that what you do is to the best of your ability, and that it have soul, then to just be another item of clothing to be cranked out and thrust into the marketplace.
BB: You certainly have done that very thing. Such lovely ladies I see flock to this store and we love you. Thank you so much for the opportunity to talk with you.
Kouse has a wide range of gowns for the aPetite figure that is delightful she has lovely shoes and hair also I invite you all to come and drape yourself in luxury.

By Breezes Babii

SLoop - THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FIVE AND ONE NIGHTS

So…I’ve made it!!!

July 7th, 2007, I followed a crazy impulse and logged in to Second Life. I have already told you this: many times I wanted to log off for good.

But SL, like Scheherazade from One Thousand and one Nights, kept me from taking that decision. Every night, when I logged in swearing it was the last… SL kept involving me into this world, telling me yet another story… and I knew I had to come back for more. I just needed to know how those stories ended, but before I knew it, I was lured into the next one.

The origins of The One Thousand and One tales is remote and mysterious. It’s a multitude of stories, passed on by tradition, both oral and written. From ancient Persia, India and Arabia, but also from older cultures that date back to the Xth Century. In the XIXth Century, it became part of the Western culture as well. Translated thousands of times, along with the Bible, it’s one of the books that has been more widely known in history than anything else.

Perhaps the older form of relationship developed by mankind, once they had to join in groups to protect each other, was to sit around the fire in the safety of a cave, and tell simple stories about how they hunted, about what they discovered, about how they were dealing with enemy tribes, about how they were dealing with the world.

And that is very much how a sensible person feels when first strolling around Orientation Island Public. It’s a new unknown world, we have to learn to deal with. To survive.
Those stories were making those human beings more human.
Those stories are the origin of civilization.
I believe stories are what remind us of our humanity.

And that’s what I feel we are doing here. We are here to find our friends, our partners, our groups, and gather around a virtual fire and make a story together.
The stronger the story, the stronger the magic. And, as all good stories do, it makes us more conscious, enriches our language, it allows us to live adventures that for many reasons we can’t afford in RL. It brings joy. It makes us be better persons.


So, all the times I felt like the barbarian King Sahrigar and wanted to delete my virtual existence, SL, like Scheherazade, told me yet another story. Helped me become as human as a virtual self, as I am human in the real world.

I hope I can make it through the next 365 nights. And I hope all the people I have grown to love will still be here. We all know Scheherazade kept her head on in the end.

Well its news to me:

I came Across this and although there is some strong language it is just absolutely brilliant, both informative and amusing for all not just the newbies its aimed at. Please go ahead and click PLAY and see if this looks familiar to anyone :)

Have fun!

Breezes Thoughts

BoBots at Zhao are going to be invaded.
You betcha. Naughty creatures asking for TP to our terrific shops. Saying they can't get there on a LM - I swear.
Several tried to help this person well we did not realize was a BoBot at first, Light bulbs started popping when we realized there was no real person in Search. So StormCloud and Breezes put on our kicky boots and decide to walk all over this Bobot.
I have found a few shops in my travels and discovered that they ask you to prove you are a real person.
This is terrific and if you can't they poof you real fast.
We must protect our Second Life Designers and ourselves from these fiends.
I must comment on this Group Chat, Loyal supporters of Group do not mind a bit of chat when something goes wrong.
I belong to a few outstanding shops. Calla being one and Tigerlily has done an excellent thing to provide chat that will not annoy some.
She is discontinuing her group and going to the subscribomatic way and if you have chats in mind, this is a great way to meet up and chatter away.
Bree thinks this will be a way to improve our Second Life.
Tell us what you all think won't you?



Bree
I am always searching for something.

AT YOUR FEET

“Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot Will ne’er wear out the everlasting flint.”(1)
In ancient Greece, feet were associated with love and desire. Evidence of that abounds in literature and art. And the foot, left it’s erotic imprint to our days.
Look at a person’s shoes, and at a person’s feet. They will tell you a lot about how that person feels and acts about eroticism, desire, and love.
I’m not talking about feet fetishism. I’m talking about body language.
The feet of Aphrodite give rise to new grass when she first steps on land, accompanied by Eros.“And the prettiest foot! Oh, if a man could but fasten his eyes to her feet, as they steal in and out, and play at bo-beep under her petticoats!”(2)
So… what’s the deal with feet in SL?
I have seen things in this virtual world that go beyond my wildest imagination. Prim wizards make unbelievable shapes come to life. And they keep getting better. So I asked myself: how come our avatar’s feet look like they have been crushed by a Caterpillar? Why are the toes glued together and look like teeth? Why can our avatars have quite interesting hands…that hold things and wear rings… but our feet only look well with shoes on? And sometimes… not even that.
Is it such an impossible enterprise? Maybe it is… I don’t know. But I have the feeling that the subject has been neglected.
Forgive me for being suspicious… but is our collective mind repressing unwanted contents and pushing them into the unconscious? That happens in RL too. And feet are so far away from our heads that they seem perfect to be considered symbolical dumpsters.
As I started to ask and snoop around in search for answers, I came across the existence of JB Gazov, a Japanese shoe designer that should be considered the Manolo Blahnik of Second Life.
Not so much for the shoe designs, but for the fact that he managed to make our toes look so pretty when we wear them. And they have toe rings if you want to, and different nail polish colors. Cyber Gods bless him.
But there’s a flip side: you have to wear the shoes.If you go around with bare feet, they will still look like tortured appendixes of the rest of our carefully groomed avis.
And he is not making shoes for guys. It’s understandable. He would have to make sandals, greek style.You must agree: avi’s feet are such a turn off.
As a matter of fact… I hardly take my shoes off. Even when I’m swimming. Or even when… you know… (Thank God my bf finds pumps to be quite sexy).
I want my avatar to have pretty feet. I want luscious red nail polish for my toe nails, without shoes.
It’s a pity, in a world where everybody can dance like Fred Astaire, to have such silly crooked feet.
It’s a dare. Will someone join JB Gazov in his search for a solution? Will anyone meet the challenge?
I know he keeps trying. And at least, with shoes on, my toes look lovely.
“But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread them softly because you tread on my dreams.” (3)
We need nice feet for that. Nice, soft, bare feet for that.

Covadonga Writer

(1) William Shakespeare. (Romeo and Juliet)
(2) William Congreve. (Love for Love)
(3) William Butler Yeats (A Quote)