It
is difficult to just make a quick response to this controversy. It is
a VERY complicated, and multi-faceted issue. One that deserves some
thought and contemplation because there are so many things to be
considered. Again, my reason for choosing to "Suspend" the
Native-influenced acts indefinitely are because I want to take ample
time to RESPOND. Also, I realize now this is long overdue. Sure, I
have had a handful of people in the past (both native and non-native)
who have expressed concern or offense at my acts or photos. To which,
like Montana Picard, I have done my best to maintain thoughtful and
respectful conversations with. But at the end of the day, everyone
has their own opinions and interpretations of art. Many of those who
express "offense" are not familiar with burlesque and
misunderstand the whole point. Considering this, I have come to
realize that some of my audience, while supportive fans, don't always
get my message either. This is not entirely their fault.
As a performance artist, I show up and visually PRESENT something. A concept, an emotion. The danger is that my performance art IS absolutely controversial, and as a visual performance artist, I am not given a VOICE to EXPLAIN those concepts, to help the audience interpret those emotions. I have posted and reposted my Artist Statement so many times over the years, but you can't explain it to EVERY single audience. And what about those who simply find me online, see me in a photo, or stumble upon a youtube video? It is one of those things that I usually just leave for THEM to figure out. This is where the problem, I believe, has begun with the group of Haters.
As a performance artist, I show up and visually PRESENT something. A concept, an emotion. The danger is that my performance art IS absolutely controversial, and as a visual performance artist, I am not given a VOICE to EXPLAIN those concepts, to help the audience interpret those emotions. I have posted and reposted my Artist Statement so many times over the years, but you can't explain it to EVERY single audience. And what about those who simply find me online, see me in a photo, or stumble upon a youtube video? It is one of those things that I usually just leave for THEM to figure out. This is where the problem, I believe, has begun with the group of Haters.
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| Photo by Risen Phoenix Photo 2010 |
First
and foremost, I am a burlesque dancer, which is a type of theatrical
sexual comedy. Burlesque turns social norms head over heels.
Burlesque is a style of live entertainment that encompasses pastiche,
parody, and wit. It is a celebration of sexuality, SENSUALITY, and
the human form in a way that is not demeaning or shameful, but
supportive and empowering.
Most of the Haters have never even SEEN a burlesque show, so they have NO CONTEXT! They honestly think I am a stripper, or am just doing some weird "performance," and am getting naked just to sexualize Native culture. It makes a hell of a difference if you see a BURLESQUE performance AT A BURLESQUE SHOW! As in, being physically present for live performance art. To see each woman get onstage and present her concept, some seducing the audience slowly and intentionally, some making the crowd roar in laughter at her cleverness and humor. Some performers are totally goofy and outrageous, some are more serious and sexy. Most of the time, the burlesque performer ends the act wearing nothing but pasties (nipple tassels) and a G-string or merkin, which gives the audience the aesthetic pleasure of viewing the body, while maintaining a degree of modesty for the dancer. She is not naked, just nearly naked. There is an uninhibited, silly, celebratory atmosphere, and as an audience member, you begin to feel that it is OKAY to celebrate the beauty of the body, through respectful appreciation and encouragement.
Most of the Haters have never even SEEN a burlesque show, so they have NO CONTEXT! They honestly think I am a stripper, or am just doing some weird "performance," and am getting naked just to sexualize Native culture. It makes a hell of a difference if you see a BURLESQUE performance AT A BURLESQUE SHOW! As in, being physically present for live performance art. To see each woman get onstage and present her concept, some seducing the audience slowly and intentionally, some making the crowd roar in laughter at her cleverness and humor. Some performers are totally goofy and outrageous, some are more serious and sexy. Most of the time, the burlesque performer ends the act wearing nothing but pasties (nipple tassels) and a G-string or merkin, which gives the audience the aesthetic pleasure of viewing the body, while maintaining a degree of modesty for the dancer. She is not naked, just nearly naked. There is an uninhibited, silly, celebratory atmosphere, and as an audience member, you begin to feel that it is OKAY to celebrate the beauty of the body, through respectful appreciation and encouragement.
 |
| Performing in Kansas City 2008 |
In
the burlesque world, it is very common for performers to use their
heritage or cultural background, because we satirize social and
political issues. Never is the burlesque performer taken literally.
Never is it intended to mock other cultures in a negative way,
especially when it is your OWN culture! As a burlesque performance
artist, my whole PURPOSE is to exaggerate the stereotype!
Through humor, my non-native audiences are able to work through their
white guilt and see the stereotypes and racism of the past for
exactly what it is: ridiculous! Never do I take myself seriously, it
is supposed to be a parody. NOT a parody of Native-American culture.
I'm not making fun of the Indians. I'm making fun of "white
man's" fucked up IMPRESSION and wrongful perceptions of the
Indians. And being that I am not full Native, that I am a "paleface,"
it is even more effective. I know I have pale skin! I'm half Irish.
But this, I think, makes my art more effective. (There will be an explanation in a future blog post!)
 |
| Performing "Bunny Hunt" at the First Anual Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival |
I
have chosen to SUSPEND the Native burlesque acts. I am not
"retiring." And I am certainly not changing my name. Why
would I abandon the last 7 years of hard work and creative energy? My
plan is to transform all this into something healing and educational.
I always had intention with my performance art, to provoke a
conversation. I definitely got a response! Now it's time to, as a
community, engage in those difficult conversations. I have been
surprised at the overflow of EMOTIONS expressed about all of this,
from both sides. Those that are offended and outraged, hurt and
confused, supportive and concerned. Amidst this crazy witch hunt,
it's encouraging to see solidarity and positive energy from other
voices in the Native community who understand and appreciate my
performance art. It has been very interesting to observe the kinds of
conversations that have evolved as an effect of the protest and
hateful propaganda. I am not happy with the hate speech and slander
and intentionally racists remarks, on both sides. I do not appreciate it and refuse to be threatened and bullied. Violence and threatening
words are never a viable solution and give zero credibility to your
cause. My hope is to find a peaceful solution that works for everyone. Entertainment AND education.
The
point is that, through my very controversial (and apparently
sometimes misunderstood) performance art, we are ABLE, as a
community, to have these kinds of difficult conversations. I refer to
the "Haters" as that because that is what they are, HATERS.
They are not respectfully attempting to engage in meaningful or
educational conversations. They don't want a conversation, they want
to argue and shame. They are spreading malicious rude words across
the internet, full of HATRED, for themselves and others. This is not
a productive way of dealing with anything. Also, they are constantly
threatening, using rude and derogatory (and often "racist")
words to bully others into their way of thinking. As a performance
artist, I never push my opinions in people's faces. Rather, I gently
nudge them the direction I want them to go, allowing them to have
their OWN thought processes. To contemplate such painful and taboo
things like racism and sexuality and stereotypes. To come to their
OWN conclusions. No one wants to be told what to do or how to think.
But if we can humbly ENGAGE, respectfully consider, LISTEN and
respond WITHOUT HATE, maybe, just MAYBE we can learn something.
Together. As one people. I am not entirely Native, and I am not
entirely white. I never claim to speak for either side. But I WILL
use my art as I see it appropriate to ENGAGE BOTH SIDES in these
types of conversations.
This is something also totally overlooked. The Indians who are offended do not understand what its like to grow up in OKLAHOMA, knowing you are Native, and looking white. Being surrounded by cultural appropriation every day, being inundated with stereotypical images of the fantasized "Indian." I am not from Minnesota. I did not grow up on a reservation. I was, at best, an "Urban Native." I was raised by my Irish mother and grew up going to a Christian church. But as a child, I could see the racism and the stereotypes. They were everywhere, and I was both fascinated and concerned. I didn't grow up directly in the native community, and yet, I was surrounded by the culture. I spent so much of my youth researching my heritage, studying as if my life depended on it because I loved it. And thankfully, because I was in Oklahoma, received extensive education on American Indian history. My heros were Sequoyah and Chief Joseph. I ate frybread every chance I got. In middle school, I spent every weekend I could at Gilcrease Museum, soaking up every bit of historical information and staring at the beloved artifacts of the people I knew I belonged to. In high school, I graduated from an Arts and Sciences school, where I learned basket-weaving and beadwork. My mother worked at the largest western-wear retail store in the midwest, and while she sold cowboy boots and belt buckles, I would spend hours in the Native section. At that time I think Oklahoma was heavily steeped in "Indian" culture, both the authentic and the appropriated. It was the land of the cowboys and Indians... Just a few months ago, I returned to Oklahoma after being away for many years. I was horrified and shocked to see that, while there was still tons of Native images everywhere, it had definitely changed. It was no longer the land of the cowboys and Indians, just the cowboys. I went to visit the western-wear store my mother used to work at, and to my dismay, there is no longer a Native section. No handmade jewelry, no leather, no rainmakers, no Native-made ANYTHING. This I found to be so disturbing. At a time in our history when everyone is so worried about being politically correct, and natives are so quick to take offense at cultural appropriation, what is the end result? If you remove every "offensive" image, if you erase all the stereotypes, what is left? A world where, the Indian is indeed, invisible.
I will never lose my Native pride! It's my heritage too, and it's a part of me even if they don't think I'm Native enough. I was raised with an awareness of my heritage, and at a young age I remember having a deep sense of pride in that. Yes, I am Cherokee. No, I don't have my tribal card. Not all of us are privileged enough to get that. You can thank the US Government's complicated and misrepresented documentation and complicated requirements for my ancestors to be included on the rolls. You can blame the genocide that took place, leaving those that survived to continue life in the land that I was raised on. There seems to be a derogatory attitude expressed by Natives from Minnesota towards Cherokees. I find this really sad. There are so many of us who are Cherokee by ancestry but who are not considered members of the Cherokee Nation. But growing up in Oklahoma, I was taught to never, ever lose my Native pride!
That being said, it must also be made clear that while my stage name is "Tomahawk Tassels," I actually use the name Tomahawk every day in normal life. This is my name, and the only name I have used or responded to for many, many years. The name which keeps getting thrown around by dissenters and critics was my legal name at birth, NOT a name I have used or responded to in over 12 years! THAT name is a name I despise, will NOT respond to, and have chosen to remove from my life since high school. It is not the real me and I find it disrespectful to insist on calling me by a name I do not use. I AM Tomahawk. If you don't like that, call me Tommie.
Let it be known I don't claim or intend to represent all Native American women, or be the spokeswoman for them. I represent ME. And as an artist, it must be acknowledged that our art is a direct result and expression of where we came from. I came from Oklahoma, and as a Native and Irish kid it is now so obvious that I was a child of a very complex situation. When you are attracted to your heritage, but only able to consume it. When you look around you for a connection to a past you can almost remember, but are told you're not Native enough, while at the same time, never feeling like you really belong in the "white" community either. It is not a new problem. I am incredibly inspired by the controversial artists who dare to explore these complicated problems, the pain of "the half-breed." And as a sexually realized woman, I stand onstage representing MYSELF. It is about empowerment, pride, and humor. The first step to combatting rape culture, regardless of race or ethnicity, is to take ownership of one's own sexuality.
There are many conversations to be had. Many topics to explore. I will be posting as often as possible, and will do my best to cover as many topics and perspectives as I'm able to handle.
This is something also totally overlooked. The Indians who are offended do not understand what its like to grow up in OKLAHOMA, knowing you are Native, and looking white. Being surrounded by cultural appropriation every day, being inundated with stereotypical images of the fantasized "Indian." I am not from Minnesota. I did not grow up on a reservation. I was, at best, an "Urban Native." I was raised by my Irish mother and grew up going to a Christian church. But as a child, I could see the racism and the stereotypes. They were everywhere, and I was both fascinated and concerned. I didn't grow up directly in the native community, and yet, I was surrounded by the culture. I spent so much of my youth researching my heritage, studying as if my life depended on it because I loved it. And thankfully, because I was in Oklahoma, received extensive education on American Indian history. My heros were Sequoyah and Chief Joseph. I ate frybread every chance I got. In middle school, I spent every weekend I could at Gilcrease Museum, soaking up every bit of historical information and staring at the beloved artifacts of the people I knew I belonged to. In high school, I graduated from an Arts and Sciences school, where I learned basket-weaving and beadwork. My mother worked at the largest western-wear retail store in the midwest, and while she sold cowboy boots and belt buckles, I would spend hours in the Native section. At that time I think Oklahoma was heavily steeped in "Indian" culture, both the authentic and the appropriated. It was the land of the cowboys and Indians... Just a few months ago, I returned to Oklahoma after being away for many years. I was horrified and shocked to see that, while there was still tons of Native images everywhere, it had definitely changed. It was no longer the land of the cowboys and Indians, just the cowboys. I went to visit the western-wear store my mother used to work at, and to my dismay, there is no longer a Native section. No handmade jewelry, no leather, no rainmakers, no Native-made ANYTHING. This I found to be so disturbing. At a time in our history when everyone is so worried about being politically correct, and natives are so quick to take offense at cultural appropriation, what is the end result? If you remove every "offensive" image, if you erase all the stereotypes, what is left? A world where, the Indian is indeed, invisible.
I will never lose my Native pride! It's my heritage too, and it's a part of me even if they don't think I'm Native enough. I was raised with an awareness of my heritage, and at a young age I remember having a deep sense of pride in that. Yes, I am Cherokee. No, I don't have my tribal card. Not all of us are privileged enough to get that. You can thank the US Government's complicated and misrepresented documentation and complicated requirements for my ancestors to be included on the rolls. You can blame the genocide that took place, leaving those that survived to continue life in the land that I was raised on. There seems to be a derogatory attitude expressed by Natives from Minnesota towards Cherokees. I find this really sad. There are so many of us who are Cherokee by ancestry but who are not considered members of the Cherokee Nation. But growing up in Oklahoma, I was taught to never, ever lose my Native pride!
That being said, it must also be made clear that while my stage name is "Tomahawk Tassels," I actually use the name Tomahawk every day in normal life. This is my name, and the only name I have used or responded to for many, many years. The name which keeps getting thrown around by dissenters and critics was my legal name at birth, NOT a name I have used or responded to in over 12 years! THAT name is a name I despise, will NOT respond to, and have chosen to remove from my life since high school. It is not the real me and I find it disrespectful to insist on calling me by a name I do not use. I AM Tomahawk. If you don't like that, call me Tommie.
 |
| Risen Phoenix Photo |
Let it be known I don't claim or intend to represent all Native American women, or be the spokeswoman for them. I represent ME. And as an artist, it must be acknowledged that our art is a direct result and expression of where we came from. I came from Oklahoma, and as a Native and Irish kid it is now so obvious that I was a child of a very complex situation. When you are attracted to your heritage, but only able to consume it. When you look around you for a connection to a past you can almost remember, but are told you're not Native enough, while at the same time, never feeling like you really belong in the "white" community either. It is not a new problem. I am incredibly inspired by the controversial artists who dare to explore these complicated problems, the pain of "the half-breed." And as a sexually realized woman, I stand onstage representing MYSELF. It is about empowerment, pride, and humor. The first step to combatting rape culture, regardless of race or ethnicity, is to take ownership of one's own sexuality.
There are many conversations to be had. Many topics to explore. I will be posting as often as possible, and will do my best to cover as many topics and perspectives as I'm able to handle.
