Erasure works in many ways. One of the counterintuitive ones is appropriation. “But how could using a culture be erasure?”

Let me explain. Popcorn is a distinctly Native food. Yet, it’s not considered that, is it? If everyone takes, and we don’t have representation, we get lost.

“everyone’s native to somewhere” ...sure, whatever. But in general society calls us that. It’s a practical thing. If you take that, you’re essentially de-categorizing us.

Many Natives want to be called by our nation. But America barely recognizes “Natives” let alone 560+ tribes

People are going to see Native representation, they’re going to want to erase and de-categorize. This will be the instinct because that’s what everyone is used to. Anti-Native bias is ingrained, and honestly, most won’t see it.