Thread by @quisbytulip, The issues with Piper McLean, put politely, I think!! Rick, if you [...]

The issues with Piper McLean, put politely, I think!! Rick, if you see this, I’m merely pointing out some slip-ups I saw as someone who is half native (but very european looking, I know).

I want to note that I’m Catawba, not Cherokee. I can’t speak for Cherokee darlings!!

First and foremost, as a kid, I liked Piper! I felt pretty seen. I too am a girl who’s half native on her dad’s side, who felt a bit...disconnected from her family’s heritage for years. Though of course, I was eleven at the time. I’d just barely begun to understand what that

heritage meant. Thus, I looked over a great deal of issues I see more clearly today with a broader education and deeper understanding of both my culture, and the cultures of different tribes. So let’s begin with the latest controversy!

1. The feathers. As I stated previously,

I’m Catawba, not Cherokee. The explanation Rick released was not mine to accept or deny. That being said, even if I were intending to be rebellious or “headstrong”, I would never wear anything that held importance in my tribe. I’m not well-versed in the meaning behind the

feathers and their significance to Cherokee culture, but I realize they are extremely important. Piper shouldn’t and would not wear anything so valued because “to hades with it she wants to express her herritage that way.”

2. Her last name. Ah...Rick, truly, this made me a bit

sick when I reread it just last year. I didn’t know as a kid, of course, or I didn’t make the connection—but I want an explanation for this one. I beg you. I haven’t seen many people discuss it, and I realize that perhaps that’s because it’s not a very large deal, but let’s talk

about what the name “McLean” might remind some natives of. It’s not a common native name, nor Cherokee name (please correct me if I’m mistaken!). You know what it is? It’s the surname of a non-native, white man who famously appropriated and disrespected native culture in the

1990s. Apache McLean, as he renamed himself (to sound more “Indian”), wore sacred native dress near daily, even in his classroom. This man lived nearby my state and preformed sacred dances he’d no right to touch at Teton National Park. He was a disgusting man with a perverted

obsession over my and many others’ culture. He is offensive, and the worst bit is that so many people, still today, believed him a staple of native individuals. Indigenous people are not represented by him. Given Rick Riordan’s age, and the national attention Apache received

in the past, I don’t find it unlikely that Rick was one of the many non-natives to associate the name “McLean” with native people.
If Apache was indirect inspiration for the name, he most certainly made a mistake. If he wasn’t...what was it? Is it coincidence? I just want an

explanation, because the man and his name make my stomach turn.

3. Ah, this one is very petty...Rick stated in his explanation that growing up in Texas, he heard most of the Cherokee. I’m sorry, but growing up in Texas has nothing to do with it. Every non-native jumps to

Cherokee when discussing native people. There’s nothing wrong with representing Cherokee people, of course, it’s just common. Cherokee culture is presented across the internet in thousands of articles, so I understand choosing this tribe in terms of easy access

to information (my tribe, for example, requires a lot more effort to learn specifics about). However, if you chose the most commonly thought of tribe for reason of access to information—why, oh why, did you completely disregard the importance of earning one’s feathers?

If you were going to disregard certain aspects of the culture, why not chose a tribe with less information to begin with? It just feels icky. Chose the tribe with the most information, the one non-natives constantly claim to belong to, and then disrespect it? I feel a

bit bad for my Cherokee darlings, honestly. Constant misrepresentation and mindless claims. It would be...exhausting. Piper was Rick’s chance to either represent a lesser known tribe or correctly represent the Cherokee.
And he did neither, in my opinion. Though again, I

yield the second position to my Cherokee lovelies. It’s not my place to say if he did well representing your culture.

4. Piper and Jason’s romance. I wouldn’t be picky about this if Piper’s entire character throughout hoo wasn’t essentially just being in love with Jason.

The indigenous woman falling for the white savior is an old trope. It’s not inherently problematic, but Piper’s thoughts seem to be a constant stream of praise for this boy and it’s almost...obsessive. I can’t fully explain, but it felt very icky to me. Like the romanticization

of John Smith and Pocahontas.

5. Being half white on her mother’s side. As a younger kid, I mistook this for somewhat relatable. Many students in school, and even teachers (all non-native), used to deny me my herritage or say other offensive things. Some

worse than others, some just rude or ignorant. But, to be frank, I’ve never heard a specific “half-blood” comment. I’m sure others might have...I just don’t understand why it was such a highlighted issue for Piper, in particular.

Especially since gods aren’t meant to have DNA, so how is it she’s half white in the first place? I understand the disconnect from her culture, since she’s native due to her father. But her mom simply can’t be white? At least according to established cannon by Rick, himself?

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That’s all, I suppose? I realize he likely did none of this with any ill intent, but much of it does make me feel a bit gross in the chest. I was isolated from my dad’s culture for years due to my grandmother’s shame (she’s southern, plenty of interalized racism). When I

first read about Piper, I got excited. I thought that she might be the representative of something different—a girl who loves her culture and embraces it.
Maybe that’s what Rick tried to do, but he fell flat... I’m not attacking, of course...but he slipped up. I want

him to see that.
I still adore Piper, I still adore the books!! That’s why I criticize them. You can’t enjoy something without actively recognizing its faults, I think.

Anyone who read the whole thread: thank you!! Very kind!! I know I tend to ramble! Have a lovely day

Some links!!

Feathers:
- http://indians.org/articles/feathers.html
- https://oureverydaylife.com/what-feathers-mean-to-the-cherokee-12083043.html
Apache McLean:
- https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1990/2/9/18845666/teacher-fascinated-with-indians-brings-hobby-into-life-and-class
A similar post on tumblr:
- https://olympianpantsuit.tumblr.com/post/116240762382/my-lovehate-relationship-with-piper-mclean/amp

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