("Native American" is the term used in the books (DH, page 178). The OED defines "Native American" to include all indigenous peoples of N. America and S. America.) Tag: sourceedit |
Tags: Visual edit apiedit |
||
(46 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
+ | {{Real world subject}} |
||
− | [[File:Kendra Dumbledore.png|thumb|150px|Kendra Dumbledore, whom Harry Potter felt looked Native American.]] |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | [[File:Native_American_Wizard2.jpg|thumb|A Native American wizard.]] |
||
⚫ | The |
||
+ | "'''Native American'''" was a term used to denote a member of any of the indigenous peoples of [[North America]], [[South America]], and the Caribbean.<ref>"[http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/native-american Native American]" from Oxford Dictionaries</ref> The term was most commonly applied to members of the indigenous peoples of North America. |
||
− | == |
+ | ==History== |
+ | ===Pre- and early colonial period=== |
||
− | *''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' {{Possible}} {{Photograph}} |
||
+ | The existence of [[North America]] was known to [[wizardkind|witches and wizards]] long before [[Europe]]an explorers came across the continent.<ref name="pottermore1">"[https://www.pottermore.com/collection-episodic/history-of-magic-in-north-america-en History of Magic in North America: Fourteenth Century – Seventeenth Century]" from [[Pottermore]]</ref> Methods of [[magic]]al travel such as [[broom]]s and [[Apparation]] allowed distant magical communities to maintain contact with each other from the [[Middle Ages]] onwards.<ref name="pottermore1" /> Thus, before European colonists settled in North America in the [[16th century]], the magical communities of [[Africa]] and Europe were in contact with the Native American magical community.<ref name="pottermore1" /> |
||
+ | Native American witches and wizards practiced [[wandless spell|wandless magic]].<ref name="pottermore1" /> They were especially skilled when it came to animal and plant magic, and their [[potion|potion-making]] knowledge was far more advanced than that of Europe.<ref name="pottermore1" /> Sometimes, Native American witches and wizards were accepted members of their respective tribes, even attaining positions of prominence and respect as [[medicine man|medicine men]] or skilled hunters.<ref name="pottermore1" /> However, others faced ostracisation within their tribes, typically under the belief they were possessed by evil spirits.<ref name="pottermore1" /> |
||
− | ==Notes and references== |
||
+ | |||
+ | The legend of the [[skin-walker]] – an evil witch or wizard capable of changing into an animal – arose from Native American [[Animagi]].<ref name="pottermore1" /> To prevent themselves from being outed, unscrupulous [[Muggle|No-Maj]] medicine men who were faking magical powers circulated malicious rumours about Animagi, and thus the false belief that people gained the ability to transform into an animal by sacrificing their own kin became widespread among Native Americans.<ref name="pottermore1" /> In reality, however, most Native American Animagi used their powers to avoid persecution or hunt for their tribe.<ref name="pottermore1" /> Real skin-walkers never existed, being nothing more than a story used to demonise wizards.<ref name="Twitter">[https://twitter.com/jk_rowling J.K. Rowling] on Twitter: [https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/707219455621857280 "In my wizarding world, there were no skin-walkers. The legend was created by No-Majes to demonise wizards."]</ref> |
||
+ | |||
⚫ | The magic of local Native American tribes played an important role in the construction of [[Ilvermorny]], the North American [[wizarding school|school of magic]].<ref name="IM">[https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/607458078427082752 "@loonyloolaluna However, indigenous magic was important in the founding of the school. If I say which tribes, location is revealed." by J.K. Rowling on Twitter]</ref> |
||
+ | ===20th century=== |
||
⚫ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==Gallery== |
||
+ | <gallery position="center"> |
||
+ | Kendra Dumbledore.png|[[Kendra Dumbledore]] |
||
+ | Native American Wizard.jpg |
||
+ | </gallery> |
||
+ | |||
+ | ==Behind the scenes== |
||
+ | *[[J. K. Rowling]] has drawn criticism for the way that she presented Native Americans, as well as select Native American traditions and beliefs, in the ''[[Magic in North America]]'' article series on [[Pottermore]].<ref name="reaction1">"[http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/mar/09/jk-rowling-under-fire-for-appropriating-navajo-tradition-history-of-magic-in-north-america-pottermore JK Rowling under fire for writing about 'Native American wizards']" from ''The Guardian''</ref> Her incorporation of [[skin-walker]]s and [[medicine man|medicine men]], real aspects of certain Native American cultures, into the fictional [[Harry Potter universe|''Harry Potter'' universe]] has lead to charges of cultural appropriation, and of treating genuine Native American traditions and beliefs as fantasy.<ref name="reaction1" /> Dr. Adrienne Keene, a [[wikipedia:Cherokee|Cherokee]] writer, told Rowling on Twitter: "You can’t just claim and take a living tradition of a marginalised people. That’s straight up colonialism/appropriation."<ref name="reaction1" /><ref name="keene1">[https://twitter.com/NativeApprops/status/707222859932946432 Tweet] by Dr. Adrienne Keene (@NativeApprops)</ref> In addition, Rowling has been accused of conflating the many distinct indigenous peoples of North America into a single, homogeneous culture.<ref name="reaction1" /> As Keene observed on her blog Native Appropriations: "One of the largest fights in the world of representations is to recognise Native peoples and communities and cultures are diverse, complex, and vastly different from one another."<ref name="reaction1" /><ref name="keene2">Adrienne Keene, "[http://nativeappropriations.com/2016/03/magic-in-north-america-part-1-ugh.html Magic in North America Part 1: Ugh.]," ''Native Appropriations''</ref> Rowling's portrayal has also been criticised for reinforcing stereotypes of Native Americans as primitive and in touch with nature.<ref>"[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/03/09/j-k-rowling-borrowed-a-navajo-legend-for-her-new-story-can-she-do-that/ J.K. Rowling borrowed a Navajo legend for her new story. Is that okay?]" from ''The Washington Post''</ref> Johnnie Jae, founder of the website A Tribe Called Geek, noted that "there is [a] problem when non-natives continue to use outdated & racist stereotypes as the basis for their native characters."<ref name="reaction1" /><ref name="jae">[https://twitter.com/johnniejae/status/707467027972276225 Tweet] by Johnnie Jae (@johnniejae)</ref> |
||
+ | |||
+ | == Appearances == |
||
+ | * {{DH}} {{Mention}} |
||
+ | * [[Pottermore]] |
||
+ | |||
+ | == References == |
||
{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
||
[[Category:Ethnic groups]] |
[[Category:Ethnic groups]] |
Revision as of 08:06, 13 March 2016
"Is this all real? Or has this been happening inside my head?"
The topic of this article is of a real-life subject that has been mentioned "in-universe" in a canon source. The Harry Potter Wiki is written from the perspective that all information presented in canon is true (e.g., Hogwarts really existed), and, as such, details contained in this article may differ from real world facts. |
"Native American" was a term used to denote a member of any of the indigenous peoples of North America, South America, and the Caribbean.[1] The term was most commonly applied to members of the indigenous peoples of North America.
History
Pre- and early colonial period
The existence of North America was known to witches and wizards long before European explorers came across the continent.[2] Methods of magical travel such as brooms and Apparation allowed distant magical communities to maintain contact with each other from the Middle Ages onwards.[2] Thus, before European colonists settled in North America in the 16th century, the magical communities of Africa and Europe were in contact with the Native American magical community.[2]
Native American witches and wizards practiced wandless magic.[2] They were especially skilled when it came to animal and plant magic, and their potion-making knowledge was far more advanced than that of Europe.[2] Sometimes, Native American witches and wizards were accepted members of their respective tribes, even attaining positions of prominence and respect as medicine men or skilled hunters.[2] However, others faced ostracisation within their tribes, typically under the belief they were possessed by evil spirits.[2]
The legend of the skin-walker – an evil witch or wizard capable of changing into an animal – arose from Native American Animagi.[2] To prevent themselves from being outed, unscrupulous No-Maj medicine men who were faking magical powers circulated malicious rumours about Animagi, and thus the false belief that people gained the ability to transform into an animal by sacrificing their own kin became widespread among Native Americans.[2] In reality, however, most Native American Animagi used their powers to avoid persecution or hunt for their tribe.[2] Real skin-walkers never existed, being nothing more than a story used to demonise wizards.[3]
The magic of local Native American tribes played an important role in the construction of Ilvermorny, the North American school of magic.[4]
20th century
Harry Potter, looking at a photo of the Dumbledore family in 1997, was reminded of Native Americans by Kendra Dumbledore because of her facial features.[5]
Gallery
Behind the scenes
- J. K. Rowling has drawn criticism for the way that she presented Native Americans, as well as select Native American traditions and beliefs, in the Magic in North America article series on Pottermore.[6] Her incorporation of skin-walkers and medicine men, real aspects of certain Native American cultures, into the fictional Harry Potter universe has lead to charges of cultural appropriation, and of treating genuine Native American traditions and beliefs as fantasy.[6] Dr. Adrienne Keene, a Cherokee writer, told Rowling on Twitter: "You can’t just claim and take a living tradition of a marginalised people. That’s straight up colonialism/appropriation."[6][7] In addition, Rowling has been accused of conflating the many distinct indigenous peoples of North America into a single, homogeneous culture.[6] As Keene observed on her blog Native Appropriations: "One of the largest fights in the world of representations is to recognise Native peoples and communities and cultures are diverse, complex, and vastly different from one another."[6][8] Rowling's portrayal has also been criticised for reinforcing stereotypes of Native Americans as primitive and in touch with nature.[9] Johnnie Jae, founder of the website A Tribe Called Geek, noted that "there is [a] problem when non-natives continue to use outdated & racist stereotypes as the basis for their native characters."[6][10]
Appearances
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)
- Pottermore
References
- ↑ "Native American" from Oxford Dictionaries
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "History of Magic in North America: Fourteenth Century – Seventeenth Century" from Pottermore
- ↑ J.K. Rowling on Twitter: "In my wizarding world, there were no skin-walkers. The legend was created by No-Majes to demonise wizards."
- ↑ "@loonyloolaluna However, indigenous magic was important in the founding of the school. If I say which tribes, location is revealed." by J.K. Rowling on Twitter
- ↑ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Chapter 11
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 "JK Rowling under fire for writing about 'Native American wizards'" from The Guardian
- ↑ Tweet by Dr. Adrienne Keene (@NativeApprops)
- ↑ Adrienne Keene, "Magic in North America Part 1: Ugh.," Native Appropriations
- ↑ "J.K. Rowling borrowed a Navajo legend for her new story. Is that okay?" from The Washington Post
- ↑ Tweet by Johnnie Jae (@johnniejae)