How to Explain Cultural Appropriation to Anyone Who Just Doesn’t Get It. “When using medicinal plants, it’s important that the plant is used sustainably. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that white sage has important medical benefits — it is used to cure colds and aid postpartum healing — and it’s a crucial part of the surrounding ecosystem. While that may be the case, white sage — the kind typically sold in those chic little bundles — is native to North America and therefore, to Native cultures. If the Sage is an endangered species STOP burning it and leave it for the Indians. Smudge and the Cultural Appropriation Issue. Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. But some brands continue to sell white sage, despite Native communities speaking out against it. “When using medicinal plants, it’s important that the plant is used sustainably. Use of white sage and the term smudging by Non-Natives is cultural appropriation. Palo Santo sticks have been getting more popular as an alternative to sage, but buying this Central and South American tree used by Amazonian tribes can also be harmful, in similar ways to sage. The past few years have certainly left many folks with the desire to rid their homes of negative energy. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. If the Sage is an endangered species STOP burning it and leave it for the Indians. 2021 Bustle Digital Group. This article examines how white youths culturally appropriate hip-hop by adhering to the demands of color-blind ideology. The practice has a long and rich history that extends way before white witchy practices brought it onto Instagram feeds near you. When the dominant culture in society takes aspects from another culture that’s experiencing oppression, that’s best understood as cultural appropriation. “It was illegal for Natives to practice their religion until 1978 in the U.S., and many were jailed and killed just for keeping our ways alive, including my great-great grandfather,” Ruth Hopkins, a Dakota/Lakota Sioux writer, tells Bustle. It should be noted, however, that clary sage, white sage and common sage are all different varieties of the sage plant. The use of white sage for ceremonial cleansing and ritual, also called smudging, is a Native American practice. If someone is harvesting white sage and doesn’t know to leave the root, they’re preventing more plants from growing. Sage Burning and Cultural Appropriation I’ve been reading a great deal about this topic and wanted to know your thoughts on whether burning white sage is a practice I should consider replacing with something else. White sage, the plant in question, grows in California. All rights reserved. That may include educating yourself and others about white sage, appropriation, and smoke cleansing; harvesting your own sage or other herbs sustainably; contacting brands to ask them to stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures; or using other plants entirely. Alternatives for Sage Smoke Cleansing. Today, Native people are still fighting to be able to perform these ceremonies in hospitals. But, Black people were ENSLAVED by American Indians. What has become more talked about however, is the ‘trendy’ aspect of buying the sacred White Sage (Salvia apiana) to ‘smudge’. A harsh truth is that cultural appropriation is currently still more an opinion than a verifiable fact, even if the harm caused by such is very real. Smudging is an important ceremonial purifying ritual in many North American Indigenous cultures. Palo Santo has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, because though the tree is not yet nearing extinction, its overharvesting can put it on that path. in order to “clear negative energy”) … For Hopkins, the appropriation of white sage is made worse because the plant is often not being harvested correctly. We Need to Talk About Appropriation in This Community. Furthermore, the appropriation of white sage for "smudging" and smoke cleansing has resulted in a depletion of wild white sage. ... As an Indigenous woman, it’s important for me to inform you that using the word ‘smudge’ contributes to cultural appropriation. When we pick sage, we always leave the root and say a prayer of thanks for our harvest. Meanwhile smudging with palo santo and white sage is a sacred ritual for many native North American tribes, who only pass down the practice to members of their community. White sage, the plant used in smudging practices, is being harvested on Native territory. thank you :-) The practice has a long and rich history that extends way before white witchy practices brought it onto Instagram feeds near you. Some cultures may have spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, but the act of smoke cleansing is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture, the way smudging is. According to Huff Post “Stores like Sephora and Anthropologie, however, are not alone in commodifying Indigenous spirituality. This form of cleansing can look a bit like smudging, but it’s just the simple act of burning herbs, wood, incense, or other safe-to-burn materials that possess unique cleansing properties. It's important, however, that in the process of cleansing, you're respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem. BLACK PEOPLE HAD NO POWER OVER INDIANS. Black people burning White Sage is "not nice" and "inconsiderate" but it's not Cultural Appropriation when Black people do it. Vanessa had been selling Palo Santo (and White Sage) online, just like me. This article was originally published on July 19, 2019. Instead, advocates say non-Native people can learn to cleanse their spaces in ways that are culturally and ecologically sensitive. If you’re not a member of an Indigenous community, purchasing white sage, Palo Santo, or other sacred herbs and quickly Googling “how to smudge” will not make you qualified to do so. But you might want to hold off on buying the next available thing. A closed practice means that only those from within the tradition or those invited by someone within the tradition should be practicing it. Indigeneity is having a "moment" in popular culture, one which has lasted decades. The demand has become so great that many Chumash people (of what is now Southern California) are concerned that the plant is being overharvested. Black people burning White Sage is "not nice" and "inconsiderate" but it's not Cultural Appropriation when Black people do it. ... And as far as burning White Sage, despite constant resistance from Indigenous people, sage sales continue in retail locations and online stores alike. We were alerted by Monserrat Matehuala and Bam Mendiola about our irresponsible appropriation and usage of White Sage, and we quickly removed the post from our social media accounts. This article was originally published on July 19, 2019. Smudging is an important ceremonial purifying ritual, illegal for Natives to practice their religion, white sage has important medical benefits, International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging, spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem, stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures. This year it was evident due to the social media reaction that people were expressing anger and concern over the increase in commercialization of white sage (Salvia apiana) and the cultural appropriation and offensive marketing that overlooks ethics and ecological, cultural awareness of a … If someone is harvesting white sage and doesn’t know to leave the root, they’re preventing more plants from growing. This act itself is NOT cultural appropriation. Palo Santo and Cultural Appropriation Grow Your Own Cleansing Herbs Since the time of the Incas, the fragrant palo santo tree has been harvested by shamans in Peru and Ecuador, who use its essential oils or smoke to cleanse away evil spirits before initiating ayahuasca rituals or to aid the dying on their journeys to the afterlife. Palo Santo sticks have been getting more popular as an alternative to sage, but buying this Central and South American tree used by Amazonian tribes can also be harmful, in similar ways to sage. In other words, it’s important to leave the root, because that’s how the plant grows back. The smoke is then waved over the area you want to cleanse. But if you tend to poke around smudging social media circles, you've probably heard people ask, "is sage burning cultural appropriation?" White sage grows in Southern California, where yoga, holistic health, and spirituality are booming, along with cultural appropriation of the origins of those practices. Palo Santo has been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, because though the tree is not yet nearing extinction, its overharvesting can put it on that path. If burning incense, herbs, or wood is part of your self-love practice, there are safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, including lavender, pine, and cloves. Smudging is an important ceremonial purifying ritual, illegal for Natives to practice their religion, white sage has important medical benefits, International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list, smoke cleansing offers an alternative to smudging, spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, safe-burning alternatives to sage for smoke cleansing, respecting Indigenous cultures and the ecosystem, stop selling white sage without giving due to Native cultures. Some cultures may have spiritual practices connected to smoke cleansing, but the act of smoke cleansing is not inherently spiritual or specific to a certain culture, the way smudging is. Smudging, or saging, has become a trendy wellness practice that … This is actually quite problematic and “smudging” is considered cultural appropriation by many. If you're not Indigenous and therefore hesitating to strike a match to cleanse the bad vibes out of your apartment, here's what you need to know about burning sage. Witches, Pagans, and Cultural Appropriation. White Sage and other smudge products (burning sweet grass, palo santo, etc. On top of wild sage being over-harvested, people have gone as far as illegally harvesting white sage from protected lands, such as reservations where indigenous people are growing it for their own practices and profits.