Theme
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But of course there are always the rules......
this journal 
oints:
Today I have decided to rule in a personal conflict.
As you all know, for years I have been immersing myself in various cultures and communities that are outside my own. One of which is the First Nations communities here in Canada. For years, I have been using my art to teach and inspire a change of ignorance in the non-community members, to get to know the First Nation cultures more intimately.
Over the years, I have extended as much knowledge as I have, resources and information to those willing to learn. On this account, I will not stop, as I feel that it is my duty and privilege to continue to inspire non-community members to learn and immerse themselves in community culture. In this, my commitment remains full.
What I have decided, however, is that the enormous and often appalling behavior and that most exercise in way of the art, and other cultural concepts, is an indication to a bigger mass that doesn't care about any of the smaller ingredients that go into making up the recipe of the presentation, execution, and preservation of the culture. It is clear to me when an individual e-mails me asking for "Totemic art" that they have neither valued myself as the artist, or the culture for it's teachings.
When someone blatantly uses a term that is not applicable, and downright wrong [and misplaced], or a concept that is not even reflected in the culture, to hire me to create a work of art in light of the cultural style, I can only determine two things;
1) They didn't care about myself, as the artist, enough to read through my descriptions and teachings to acquire the information I have BLATNETLY repeated OVER and OVER.
2) Don't care about the culture enough to educate themselves on how NOT to OFFEND the peoples and their concepts.
While enjoying art for the sake of art is totally acceptable, and understandable, I just find I cannot go on any longer helping to perpetuate the ignorance which I was so hoping to help dissipate through my art. It is because of this I have decided to cease accepting commission for the NWP [North West Pacific] style of art.
I cannot go on listening to people self validate why they entitle themselves of cultural appropriated images, simply under the guises of living within a region, or feeling a "spiritual connection" to it.
I can no longer accept that non-community members want to tell First Nations that they are "honoring them" by taking something that doesn't belong to them, and using it for their benefit [as if honestly they are honoring First Nations by walking around with a Bear Tattoo? Really?].
I can no longer accept people taking the images produced, and selling it in their tattoo parlors millions of miles away overseas, because they know they can make a buck of "Tribal Savage tattoos".
I refuse to help people take the cultural style and warp it to accommodate bad designs, bad concepts, and self validation in the name of someone else's culture.
I have reached a breaking point.
I will be producing NWP art when contracted to, or when approached by community members, or when I obtain the permissions I need to in order to do so. So don't worry, those will not be disappearing. What WILL come to an end is me taking commission on the style by private individuals.
I have thought about this long and hard, realizing that as far as "publicity" goes, this falls under "bad" or "suicide". This is an ethical debate that I have had with members within and without the community, hearing all sides and point of views, and just not willing to hear more. The way this makes me FEEL is gross. It make same feel as a hypocrite to walk into a Teaching Circle, with an Elder who trusts me to convey cultural teachings, knowing that in my personal time I am trying to accommodate concepts that are sometimes directly opposing cultural rule, and perpetuating taboo. I cringe when I receive and e-mail wanting a commission for the style now... unlike when I started with the hopes of some kind of educational grain at the core. Unfortunately, when I found the lack of car, and the simple dismissive attitude even AFTER I corrected individuals [e-mail one, correct erroneous use of the term "totem"... e-mail two, still using the term "totem"... e-mail three, still using "totem" and now ignored explanation that it's not called "Haida style"] totally off putting, and a general indication to how people feel.
And when I mean general, I mean about 75% of all e-mails... not two or three. It's just too much for me to handle.
I thank everyone who has supported me through this decision, and apologies to those who wanted one of the commissions, and did not have the opportunity hire me to do so.
Cheers,
~Bernice
With Thanks
I deeply deeply appreciate all the good words you have given me about my work! I thank each and every one of you for them, and cannot be humbled enough- however due to my limited availability, I might not be able to respond to all the comment left for me. Due to my other jobs and obligations, I have limited time to access my on-line galleries.
If I don't comment back on your comment, please do not take it personally- I am simply pressed for time and cannot respond to every comment received.
I still thank everyone for their awesome words and thoughts! You guys mean a lot to me, and certainly lift my spirits and inspire me to go on!
Commission are CLOSED!
Thanks to all those who contacted me!
If you have paid for a commissions, or are in dialogue about quotes and/or payment, you are stll on the list for your commission.
Anyone interested for a commission, please contact me for availability.
Craft Account
Don't forget to visit my Craft account:
for a variety of crafts and woodworking I do!
Other Galleries around the Web
And as always, if you want to see more, know more, and just be in on what's going on try my LiveJournal account or my blog.
I also have a FurAfitnity account
PrintsTo buy prints off me is simple- just note me or e-mail me with the names of the prints (the deviation title), and as soon as I get your payment, I send out the prints!
Remember, there is no shipping charges on prints! So you can order how many of them you want, and not worry about the cost of sending them to you!
Contact me!To contact me about commissions, prints, or questions of any sort- just send me a note on DA or e-mail me at tarkheki@yahoo.ca.
***I AM AN AVID SCRAP USER!***
Please check that gallery too for great laughs and fun!
GO SEE MY SISTER!
People who know their ham:
People who do North West Pacific Coast Native art:
People who do amazing sculpture/suits/crafts:
Clubs I'm in:
But anywayss! I came across your craft page through ~garnetbear and then came here. I agree with you 100% with this. But I really appreciate your artworks of the NWP style VERY much. <3 and I am personally stoked to see more from you personally
Your artwork and craftwork is gorgeous. Don't ever stop it. You follow your convictions, and I'm so sorry that you've been driven to make them in the first place. I've enjoyed watching your work up until now and I'm not about to stop. Take care and keep creating!
What you site is a common problem, one that I tend to remind those who misuse cultural concepts for personal gain: They are making it difficult for the ones willing to invest the lengthy time and effort to learn the concept from their fundamentals up. This can be applied to ANYTHING from feigning disabilities, to learning about cultures. Those handful who are really integrated and/or suffering the plights are belittled at the hands of the masses who want to validate their existence by utilizing these concepts for their personal goals.
I thank you so much for your support, and thank you for your words of encouragement!!!
I am curious if you have hit many barriers in learning more about these cultures. I had a co-worker for a brief period of time who was a young lady from one of the Salish groups here on the coast. I learned from her that there are many aspects of their culture that cannot be shared with people who are not Salish and I began to wonder if other cultures like the Haida, Nuu-Chah-Nulth, Kwakwaka'wakw or Nuxalk (I appologise if any of these are spelled incorrectly, I always have trouble with them I admit) have similar aspects to their cultures. I know that there are many pieces of intangible culture that belong to specific families or clans but beyond that I don't know how much may or may not be shared with those who are outside their culture and I wonder if you might know a bit more about it. I am no looking to pick your brain, just for more information. I only really know people who are of the Salish culture and don't have anyone I can approach who are from others so I just don't know as much as I'd like.
I admit that I have thought that I might like a tattoo done in form-line though I know each culture has their own...style I guess is the best word. (sorry I'm trying hard not to come across as one of those ignorant folks.
Anyway...I didn't mean to go on at such great length. I hope you will continue to share your NWP art and try to educate people. We need more people willing to do that I think. I want to eventually do my masters degree in NWP art...or even better if I could do interdisciplinary degree mixing art and anthropology since with First Nations art especially they go hand in hand. One has to understand the culture to truly understand the art...they are not mutually exclusive the way other forms of art can be. I think once before I talked about interviewing you in relation to your NWP art. It's still something I think about. Anyway...sorry for the ramble. Take care.
To answer your question: yes. There will ALWAYS be barriers, as each person- regardless of ethnicity, race, and gender- has their own disposition and perspective on reality. I’ve ventured into reserves that are over-welcoming, and was even told to stay away from specific ones as they would be less than welcoming to outsiders. Even within a community, you will always have a variety of opinions, and come into contact with both willing, and unwilling participants.
Traditionally speaking, there are quite the few concepts and contents that are simply not for outsiders. A local Haudenosaunee told me that they have specific Socials that aim to bring in non-comuntiy members, but then there are Ceremony that are for Haudenosaunee alone. As you can see, it’s a wide-spread concept, as the locals of both East and West coast have them [think of also foreign countries and ethnicities- they have specific ethnic events that cannot be attended by non-locals as well].
Every culture has their own boundaries, and are practiced with rigidity. Are there those that get beyond it? Yes. Are many left behind? Yes. It’s hard to make a generalized statement, as many who have broken these boundaries have done thing to earn their place and recognition within the community. To surmise that there is a specific way of doing it- or a chronological of events- is a blatant falsehood of anyone that deems that they know of it.
Yes, every band and Nations DOES have their own distinct style within the Formline style. Something lost to many of the Bands as they try to mimic the Haida style of art [simply because it is favored in the eyes of tourists and the international stage]. However, there are distinctions that I have always celebrated!
One of the things I remind people looking for Tattoos in this style is that it’s not about “not being First Nation” it is about understanding the representation and the meaning, and the rules of Taboo behind it. Simply put- don’t trespass the rules, and don’t appropriate something that isn’t your own. That doesn’t mean one cannot get a tattoo in that style- they just have to work with someone who DOES understand the culture and its rules, and find the compromise to what they are looking for. If you have the blessing of a Coast Salish woman, maybe she can point you in the right direction of a Salish artist that could help you with that tattoo.
I’m willing to help answer ANY and ALL your questions to the best of my ability! All you need to do is drop me a line [note, e-mail, etc] and I’ll answer to the best of my ability. As I said before to many others- even if I myself am anaware of the answer, I will find out for you, and we BOTH can learn something new!