Sandi L. Boucher (Red Thunderbolt, Loon clan, Seine River First Nation) narrates a personal anecdote about receiving a dollar‑store dream catcher — an inauthentic, mass‑made object — and uses it to teach about cultural appropriation. She frames the sender (an elderly supporter) as well‑intentioned, arguing we should prioritize educating people over “crucifying” them for ignorance; once informed, responsibility shifts to the recipient. She closes by asking not to receive more inauthentic dream catchers and encouraging purchasing authentic Anishinaabe work.
Chapters
Foreign. Hi everybody. My name is Sandy Boucher. I'm Red Thunderbolt, woman of the Loon clan, a proud member of Seine River First Nation in Northern Ontario. And I'm here today with this week's Tuesday teaching. And this week we're talking about Teachings foundation in an inappropriate gift. If you can see the dream catcher on the wall behind me, it is a perfect example of cultural appropriation. It's a dollar store dream catcher. It's probably made overseas. There is nothing authentic about that dream catcher. Nothing, nothing Anishinaabe in any way. So you might be asking why in the world would I have it on my wall and featured in my videos? Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about today because I keep this dream catcher close and I have ever since I received it because I just think there's such a valuable teaching wrapped up in the gift. Now you can imagine I was working away in my office one day, the mail came in. I opened it and there was this dream catcher. And I had no idea where it come from or why I had this. And then I looked at who sent it to me. The reality is it was sent to me by an elderly woman who definitely, you know, living on her pension money is tight. I had met her once in person, very briefly. She's the mother of a friend of mine. She had gone off home and since then had followed my career and been a huge supporter and fan. She saw the dreamcatcher, no doubt in a dollar store and thought of me. So she took some of that very limited funds, limited dollars that she had purchased it, went through all the trouble of packaging it and sending it to me because she thought I would love it. Now I'm not going to correct her. She's actually passed on now. And when I see that dream catcher, I don't see insult, I don't see cultural appropriation, even though it absolutely is. What I see is the love of a woman trying to support me who didn't understand why I wouldn't love it. If there's one teaching that I hang on to, one mindset that I hang on to as I go about my cross cultural work, it's that I can't crucify someone for saying things that they don't understand or for not knowing things. But I have the chance to educate them and once they have more knowledge, well then, now the responsibility shifts to them. We all live in a country with a government that was incredibly good at keeping, keeping information from us all. Many people had no idea about the residential schools and they don't understand why some things are an issue now. Some know how to go online and research that and some don't. Especially our elderly. I would rather look at the intent of her gift. She wasn't trying to offend anyone. She definitely didn't realize that she shouldn't be spending hard earned money on things like this. She just wanted to support me and my work. So that reminds me that often people love even if they don't understand all the nuances. She wasn't a bad person. Her family aren't bad people. And maybe, just maybe, we could all use a little more education. So there you have it. The teachings in an inappropriate gift. Please don't send me any more dream catchers unless they're made from authentic Anishinaabe crafters. But you could look at them and and remind yourself why this isn't appropriate. And maybe keep your money in your wallet until you find something that is truly worth purchasing. Until next week my friends. I love you. Talk to you soon. Bye bye.
