Native American Hair and its Cultural and Spiritual Importance

Professor of Ojibwe, and Native American author, trainer and speaker Dr. Anton Treuer discusses the spiritual importance to hair in Native culture and how others have used cutting hair as a weapon against Native people.
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#NativeHair #NativeAmerican #documentary

[jaegonzales]

I’m not native - but my daughter is, through her father. He’s not in her life so it’s my duty to learn about her culture, their traditions, & it’s importance so I can help her learn too. Her hair is right above her bum me she hates it and wants to chop it off, I’m definitely going to show her this video! Maybe it will help her understand the ❤ behind the choice to keep it long and healthy

[elr.]

Long hair is a cultural characteristic of many Native American Men. Many other men of other races have short hair or are bald, which is a part of their culture. There is nothing wrong with maintaining, wearing your long hair, its part of your culture.

[renee]

The definition of assault is any unwanted, unwarranted, unwelcome touching. Period. So yes, cutting someone’s hair without their permission is in fact assault. But given the fact that hair is sacred in the Native American community makes the action even more horrid and disrespectful.

[infinitecuriosity]

I agree cutting someone hair especially First Nations people, it should absolutely be considered assault.
That is horrifying, who does that person think they are, they need to be educated on racism, violence, hatred, it's unacceptable. Evolve.
BE VISABLE, share more, we will all support you together 🇨🇦✌🏻🙏🏻♥️✨🤗

[BajaBlastBoy]

For the last decade, as I endured and coped with many traumas, I cut and colored my hair frequently as it was my only healthy coping mechanism. now at 20, I live in a safe environment, and I can finally grow my hair out. It has taught me patience and as I learned about our ancestors’ hair being cut against their will it inspired me to choose to be visible and proudly Native. Our hair should never be cut and I refuse to bend to colonizers who invalidate my male two spirit identity because I have long hair. Long hair is part of my ancestry my cultures. My hair is sacred and so important to me. I’m glad I had access to education online and could learn about the importance of Natives’ hair.

[tarriegibson]

Thank you for confirming that I have a right to feel violated by someone cutting my child's hair. The government doesn't get this and never has. They acted like I had done something wrong and scolded me because I was crying when they took it upon themselves to cut off my daughters hair. You don't cut another person's child's hair without there permission,

[Sarika]

I love the way everyone in this video is proud of themselves. This can also teach people to be happy the way you are. 😊

[mropinionated]

In high school someone came up put me in a headlock and cut my hair off. Although I am not a native American it was still extremely traumatizing

[bigrichardrsuckerlolxdgetr]

I’m adopted and I didn’t find out about my heritage until I was 12 after I took a dna test to find out what I am on my fathers side. I always just assumed I was a tan white person since my biological mother is white. Im from the southern United States and the Dakota’s. It took a lot of arguing with my parents to let me grow my hair long as they didn’t see it as “professional” or they would say “you’re half white though you know” finally after I showed them videos on the importance of hair in native culture that they let me grow it out. It’s been a year and a half now and I don’t intend to cut it anytime soon

[mattmadge]

If you’ve got a Native man with Braids on the workforce that would be a vary powerful statement.

[mysticwitch]

I love the nativ Culture, it's so mystic, powerful and give me so many Hope for my Heart and Soul.
Many Greetings from Germany 🙏🇩🇪💕

[CochieMeat]

I am miniconjou (on my mothers side) but growing up my fathers side of the family would never let me grow out my hair because they didnt think it was as important to me and my culture as it is. It was a large part in why i felt disconnected from my lineage. I would see all of my cousins with their braids and long hair and wonder why i was the only one out of them who wasnt able to. It led to a snowball of cultural disconnections. But now as i am older and have had the ability to research im getting much more in touch with my heritage. Im incredibly thankful for the practices my family had instilled on my mothers side.

[lordvoldemort]

I appreciate this video I'm currently growing out my hair.

[frenchfry]

I love and respect all cultures, but I admit to always having an affinity for Natives. I strongly dislike ignorance especially willful ignorance. I wish more people took the time to truly learn other cultures and races, to fully understand and respect them, you can learn great things.

[johnnyh]

I’m Apache and grew up with a Mexican mom and a white dad so my life was never focused on my native side till now as I’m older and want to learn more about where I came from

[svetlanakaravaeva]

Oh, I understand it very well. It's a very important topic for all people in Russia, all 180 ethnical groups. In republics in Siberia and the Far East boys' and men's long hair is normal, but in the European part outside Moscow our society is conservative. The law is on childrens' side, but implicit bullying and shaming are common at school and further education college. This is why giong to the uni after school/college + growing out hair means the man has got long-awaited freedom.

[bryantnavajo]

It’s true, our hair is what we consider a staple part of ourselves. It means so much to me, I give praise to all the native men who can have long hair. I for one cannot it just bugs me so much but I know it also makes me feel very cut off to my culture no matter how much I learn and dig to be apart of it.

[jaimesaucedo]

In 60's my dad took me to get a hair because of the schools in Texas. At 60 now retired my hair is long. I point to the north here in border farm land Texas when I clean my hair brush and let the south wind Carrie it away offering it to usseen and the land praying to bless it people and land I am Spanish and two tribal native blood lines.

[jeanettepavlovic]

Love the knowledge you share in such a short video, and I absolutely appreciate it. 🙏🏼💫Thank you!

[katherenable]

I am a white skinned woman born in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (Edmonton) and have been living in Moh-kíns-tsis (Calgary) for almost 6 years. I have recently begun learning about indigenous culture in order to better understand the significance of the residential school system. I found the video of the Blackfoot child Rafe Vadnais reporting the violation of getting his braid chopped off at school. I absolutely agree that it was assault, and my heart broke for Rafe and his family and all indigenous people that suffered the same violation. I am ashamed of this part of my Canadian heritage. Residential schools were barely discussed when I was educated at the U of A to become an elementary school teacher. How helpful it would be for the next generation of learners, if indigenous studies were a major part of teacher training in Canada! I want to learn more about how we can all live together in harmony, and to do that I must learn more about your nation, your land. When we look at our peoples as equal siblings of mother earth, we are all brothers in the same family. All peoples are equal in the sacred circle as I have come to understand via indigenous educational teachings available online.White skinned people have violated against our indigenous sister, by taking her land and claiming it ours which is against the laws of nature. The land is not owned by anyone, we need to take care of it together. I am learning how to do better. I will make sure to pass on the Blackfoot teachings from elder Shantel Tallow to my own children.