Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth
In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.
'Indians' of Old Europe?
An Open Letter
Dear Andras Corban-Arthen,
I'm looking forward to hearing your presentations at Paganicon 2023 this year; I've long been an admirer of your work.
Really, though? “Indians”?
European paganism never died out completely – to this day, ethnic survivals of traditional pagan practices can still be found in remote areas of Eastern and Western Europe. Andras has spent over 40 years seeking out such surviving traditions, and in this workshop he will discuss the nature and scope of some of those practices, how they managed to survive, and the striking similarities they share with indigenous spiritualities from other parts of the world. The presentation will also include slides of people and places, as well as a short video.
I get it, I get it. As “Indians” are to the Americas, so “pagans” are to Europe. Indigenous Americans, Indigenous Europeans. For all its inherent limitations, it's a useful analogy.
Still, “Indians”?
Well, I don't know about the Berkshire highlands of western Massachusetts, but around here in the Paleozoic Plateau's upper Mississippi Valley—historic Dakota country—there are still lots of Indigenous/First Nations people, our elders in the Land. These folks are our friends, our neighbors, and our kin, and I think you should know that at least some of them—for reasons that should be pretty obvious—find the term “Indian” more than a little objectionable.
I've heard talk of boycott. Myself, I plan to be there to hear what you have to say. But I thought you should know that your choice of title has caused at least some unhappiness hereabouts.
From everything that I've heard about you, I'm certain that you intended no offense. Still, you might want to consider what a fitting response might be.
As I'm sure that I don't need to tell you, in Indigenous traditions pretty much everywhere—in the Americas as well as Europe, Africa, and Asia—respecting friends, kindred, and potential allies is generally accounted wise (not to mention virtuous) behavior.
Language matters. Please consider a re-title.
Yours most sincerely,
Steven W. Posch
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