The Cultural Importance Of Native Hair
- Posted on 25 December, 2019
- Braids Hairstyles
- By Anonymous
Professor of Ojibwe, and Native American author, trainer and speaker Dr. Anton Treuer discusses the spiritual importance to hair in Native culture and how others have used cutting hair as a weapon against Native people.
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In different ways and with different descriptions, a lot of native people will talk about hair as a source of spiritual strength. It'S something that is an intimate part of being, but also with hair. It'S a way of saying I am proud of and connected to and recognizable to my ancestors, and so it's just an identity affirmation for some tribes, there's even a taboo about having someone who is not family, braid, your hair or things like that Leonard booze was one Of our elders, formal acts he just passed away recently. He said when they were kids. If someone had a haircut like, I had a braid chopped off they'd take the braid and they'd run it across a hot rock, and it was like cauterizing a wound. He said so, your medicine wouldn't leak out hair is also something that speaks to identity. So if I have a short haircut, I could easily pass as Hispanic Filipino - maybe Arab Greek, but with braids. It'S pretty obvious that I'm a native man and it's also something that many native people wear as a way to counteract their experience with invisibility. It says here's Who I am you can imagine, then the experience for people who had either spiritual or cultural beliefs about the importance of hair or saw it as an important marker of identity. Then you know the experience going to residential boarding school and having your braids chopped off on the first day or schools, as there are still like public schools that require boys to have a haircut above the collar. I think when people are running into resistance about keeping their hair long or run into shaming, it's usually at the implicit level. There are cases where there's just over teasing or have even been cases this year in Minnesota, where somebody used haircutting as a punishment. Like a teacher did that that has happened, but I would say those are the exceptions rather than the rule are the most common practice. If somebody cut my hair or my kids hair, I would consider that assault so that shouldn't definitely not be happening, but even outside of that, the system we have is not working for our indigenous learners nearly as well as it is working for everyone else. So this is an area where we need to pay special attention. I think it's important to begin by education, providing multiple perspectives, and if you got like a native man with some braids on the work force, that will be a very powerful statement. It makes such a difference what we put up for art, what kind of books we pick all that stuff makes it makes a big difference. So I think it should all be carefully considered. There'S a lot at stake. You
Comments
Makeover Time: I love the way everyone in this video is proud of themselves. This can also teach people to be happy the way you are.
Renee: The definition of assault is any unwanted, unwarranted, unwelcome touching. Period. So yes, cutting someone’s hair without their permission is in fact assault. But given the fact that hair is sacred in the Native American community makes the action even more horrid and disrespectful.
Epinephrine Medicine: For the last decade, as I endured and coped with many traumas, I cut and colored my hair frequently as it was my only healthy coping mechanism. now at 20, I live in a safe environment, and I can finally grow my hair out. It has taught me patience and as I learned about our ancestors’ hair being cut against their will it inspired me to choose to be visible and proudly Native. Our hair should never be cut and I refuse to bend to colonizers who invalidate my male two spirit identity because I have long hair. Long hair is part of my ancestry my cultures. My hair is sacred and so important to me. I’m glad I had access to education online and could learn about the importance of Natives’ hair.
El R.: Long hair is a cultural characteristic of many Native American Men. Many other men of other races have short hair or are bald, which is a part of their culture. There is nothing wrong with maintaining, wearing your long hair, its part of your culture.
Infinite curiosity: I agree cutting someone hair especially First Nations people, it should absolutely be considered assault. That is horrifying, who does that person think they are, they need to be educated on racism, violence, hatred, it's unacceptable. Evolve. BE VISABLE, share more, we will all support you together ✌♥️✨
CoochieMeat: I am miniconjou (on my mothers side) but growing up my fathers side of the family would never let me grow out my hair because they didnt think it was as important to me and my culture as it is. It was a large part in why i felt disconnected from my lineage. I would see all of my cousins with their braids and long hair and wonder why i was the only one out of them who wasnt able to. It led to a snowball of cultural disconnections. But now as i am older and have had the ability to research im getting much more in touch with my heritage. Im incredibly thankful for the practices my family had instilled on my mothers side.
Frenchfry 43: I love and respect all cultures, but I admit to always having an affinity for Natives. I strongly dislike ignorance especially willful ignorance. I wish more people took the time to truly learn other cultures and races, to fully understand and respect them, you can learn great things.
bigrichardrsuckerlolXD getrektscrubredditkarma: I’m adopted and I didn’t find out about my heritage until I was 12 after I took a dna test to find out what I am on my fathers side. I always just assumed I was a tan white person since my biological mother is white. Im from the southern United States and the Dakota’s. It took a lot of arguing with my parents to let me grow my hair long as they didn’t see it as “professional” or they would say “you’re half white though you know” finally after I showed them videos on the importance of hair in native culture that they let me grow it out. It’s been a year and a half now and I don’t intend to cut it anytime soon
Bryant Navajo: It’s true, our hair is what we consider a staple part of ourselves. It means so much to me, I give praise to all the native men who can have long hair. I for one cannot it just bugs me so much but I know it also makes me feel very cut off to my culture no matter how much I learn and dig to be apart of it.
Jessica Webb: My roots are Choctaw my father is Russian thats where the blonde comes from but my grandmother raised me with our Choctaw traditions and am so very grateful for that her hair was black and past her bottom in a braid at 89 yrs of age and she taught me to never cut my hair
DOTMH Dotmh: I wish you could help the young native boy I found on YouTube who had his long hair cut. It doesn't seem that the people understand the importance of his hair to him . To see him cry and know that he was tortured at school by boys trying to Shame him it broke my heart. Someone needs to help his family. They seem to be alone in this plight.
Matt Madge: If you’ve got a Native man with Braids on the workforce that would be a vary powerful statement.
Mr Opinionated: In high school someone came up put me in a headlock and cut my hair off. Although I am not a native American it was still extremely traumatizing
MysticWitch: I love the nativ Culture, it's so mystic, powerful and give me so many Hope for my Heart and Soul. Many Greetings from Germany
Angela Rakestraw: My father had hair almost as long as mine. Except for one or two times, he never let anyone other than me and my sister touch it. He was proud about his hair :). Sadly, though, he did have it cut just before he died. I remember him telling my sister to cut it, and I remember me protesting about it. Six days after my sister snipped his hair off, he died. I still have his hair. Ironically, even though he was proud about his hair and very rarely cut it, he was kinda negative about how long mine was (he was always telling me that I needed to cut it and I'd always come back saying no as it was my strength and that it'd aid my ancestors in recognizing me). Please let that man rest in eternal peace, and please let the ancestors know who he is.
impunitythebagpuss: Right now there is growing awareness of the horrors of residential schools and the tragic deaths of so many indigenous children here in Canada. Our greatest shame.
Kathleen Tyson: I’m an 8th Cherokee ,many years ago I went to my first Pow Wow ,it was one of the most incredible experiences I ever had ,I remember one man who was dressed all in white his head dress was magnificent and his hair was well last his waist,this video was very informative thank you.
Panthera Leo Romanus: My hair is really long to my waist and like hell I will ever cut it or to be told to cut my hair. Some years ago I was told by an employer to cut my hair. I replied, when you have all your thousands of female employees cut their hair short, I will cut mine also, as it is sexual discrimination and it is a violation of my religious belief system. They quickly ceased their stupid comments. It is my right as a human being to have long hair if I wish. It harms no other person by me having long hair therefore what is the problem. I will never tell another person what to wear or how they should wear their hair. Therefore, I expect the same legal rights given to me also. Having really long hair as a male person is no ones business. My long hair is part of who I am and it is part of my spiritual being.
Meredith Benjamin: My family love and respect Native American people. Thank you for sharing with us about your culture. I hope you have a book we can get to show the grandchildren.
Svetlana Karavaeva: Oh, I understand it very well. It's a very important topic for all people in Russia, all 180 ethnical groups. In republics in Siberia and the Far East boys' and men's long hair is normal, but in the European part outside Moscow our society is conservative. The law is on childrens' side, but implicit bullying and shaming are common at school and further education college. This is why giong to the uni after school/college + growing out hair means the man has got long-awaited freedom.
Katheren Varga: I am a white skinned woman born in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton) and have been living in Moh-kíns-tsis (Calgary) for almost 6 years. I have recently begun learning about indigenous culture in order to better understand the significance of the residential school system. I found the video of the Blackfoot child Rafe Vadnais reporting the violation of getting his braid chopped off at school. I absolutely agree that it was assault, and my heart broke for Rafe and his family and all indigenous people that suffered the same violation. I am ashamed of this part of my Canadian heritage. Residential schools were barely discussed when I was educated at the U of A to become an elementary school teacher. How helpful it would be for the next generation of learners, if indigenous studies were a major part of teacher training in Canada! I want to learn more about how we can all live together in harmony, and to do that I must learn more about your nation, your land. When we look at our peoples as equal siblings of mother earth, we are all brothers in the same family. All peoples are equal in the sacred circle as I have come to understand via indigenous educational teachings available online.White skinned people have violated against our indigenous sister, by taking her land and claiming it ours which is against the laws of nature. The land is not owned by anyone, we need to take care of it together. I am learning how to do better. I will make sure to pass on the Blackfoot teachings from elder Shantel Tallow to my own children.
Michael Bremseth: I used to work with a guy who kept flipping my hair. After telling him several times not to do that, he kept on. Finally I said to him that flicking my hair is the same thing as groping my crotch. He finally stopped.
darthplagueis#2598: long hair is not only part of their culture. with long hair you will be able to feel peoples precense and have better hearing.
Stephanie Young: My daughter is Lakota. Someone cut her hair because it was tangled and she didnt know how to deal with it
Lord Voldemort: I appreciate this video I'm currently growing out my hair.
Jaime Saucedo: In 60's my dad took me to get a hair because of the schools in Texas. At 60 now retired my hair is long. I point to the north here in border farm land Texas when I clean my hair brush and let the south wind Carrie it away offering it to usseen and the land praying to bless it people and land I am Spanish and two tribal native blood lines.
Ella Standstall: When I was young in foster care they cut my hair when I slept and put my braids in the garbage ..I was 11 my care giver said to social worker she was fed up of fixing it for me
Henz Carl Tupas 328 Henz Carl Tupas 328: In Filipino culture, hair isn't just hair, it's a link to any challenges either it's heavy, severe and light
Anna: When I see a native man with braids I respect him. It’s very rare I see it though.
James Green: I am a native american male who is cree. I have long hair. The only person besides me i let touch my hair is my mother.
kara felfel: Pure , decent people
Angela Molnar/Pemberton: I wonder if I am related to Leonard moose. My fathers last name was moose. I don’t know either sides of my “families”.I am older now but I would still love to get to know “my family”. I haven’t known any of them since the age of 5 when I was taken away from them all. I was from white earth reservation in Minnesota.
Devanshu Gaur: I am totally agree with Him.
Alessandra Fontani: Now I can understand why I do NOT like people touching my hair
Maria Membreno: Yes l agree hair is like tge roots of the tree l believe no one should cut or touch our hair and should respect people's cultures....
KFD Produkter: As a Scandinavian. As the Viking we where and yes they aren't that good as Hollywood is showing them to be. But as all the wikings was expert sailors, we gathered culture from every nation and made something out own from it. To me hair at least is not something you keep for one set of people. That to me is something you share.
Mary Edwards: I even though I'm white from my Irish German brightest side what I love the most about my Native American side is my hair. Everyone loves how soft it is and I love the fact I don't have to shave my legs lol
Wain: I AM PROID OF MY HERITAGE INDEGENOUS CHEROKEE NATIVE AMERICAN. AS I AM OF MIXED RACE, I'M STUDYING MORE & LEARNING MY NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE.
Mimi Simone: I Love seeing men with long hair♡♡ It's so beautiful
Laci: I am a victim of abuse. And beyond the punching and binding...............when he cut my hair - that was it. I was done. Like there's no going back now.............he pulled up my bangs/hair and cut it right at the root. There's no going back after that. I hardened my heart and thankfully moved on. Hell hath no fury as a woman scored with cut hair. (he eventually killed himself by hanging) Haven't cut my hair since.
Lucas The native ninja: Thank you Dr..
TF: No culture should be discriminated against how they look dress or pray
234nerak: Hispanic people have indigenous blood as well
white rabbit 1968: I wish I HAD hair to grow out!!
Debbie Richards: Let's face it, it's magnificent and makes the wearer have superior looks. The short cut just looks odd. My sister & brother look is Native American like Dad. But, I don't, I look like my mom.
Lauren Laxamana: Awesome
who dat?: his mom is ojibwe and he has a jewish father from austria
Sandra Fisher: Leave hair alone, it's personal - sacred.
Brown Shugga82: I consider it as discrimination and assault its wrong for u to b treat like dirt like your opinion does not count bug the kore we publish on this assault the more people can see that it's wrong to cut and abuse ur hair. Can I ask is it all hair over the body that u can't cut or is it just head hair ?
Cindy Selby: I love long hair on men ❤❤❤❤❤
JenniferLouie: with a braid i can get a free pass and look more native than having a hair cut lol
Leatta Slone: Long hair on men is beautiful! To me-it makes them more attractive.
Queen_Bea_Films: Now, I'm mad that Jacob Black cut his hair in "New Moon."
John Reid: hair is a passage way to the ether.
Daphne Rodriguez: POWERFUL ❤️ FAMILY DAPHNE COTTON ALWAYS AWESOME BEAUTIFUL ✨ HAIR,
Bryan Perez: What’s wrong having a haircut?
marguel: @1:13 I don’t understand, latino are also native americans (?) :/
runingblackbear: You have no clue on native ways why we have long hair
She Hears: Native Indians get lighter and whiter
thumper styles yes I'm a girl: You are all the above. But nati e American. Indian. Man
Paul Hetherington: NACHz-- milk honey- also, french-- answered us, in here? You never, answered- yet! YETI
Paul Hetherington: You damned- isn't you?
Georgia todd: Do anyone have 5 dollars