No, we're not arguing semantics. I'm telling you that Native people told everyone to stop using the term because it's racist and you're saying that you're allowed to use it because "history." That's racism. It's shitty of you and I'm sick of this strawman bullshit.

I'm going to say this very slowly.

You do not seem to under stand that you as a modern pagan are not suffering in the manner that Native Peoples are. Your feelings do NOT matter on this subject. I don't give a flying hoot what you believe because a marginalized group has made their needs an opinions known so just because cultures that have by and…

I'm dismissing all of your comments. You're being intentionally bigoted. I came from cultures who had totemic traditions, but I do not belong to them any longer, despite my own religious exploration. I cannot say that someone drinking Guinness is cultural appropriation because Irish people are not being…

I pointed you to several resources where Native Peoples said that the use of the term "spirit animal" is cultural appropriation, so by your logic, it is. It doesn't matter what your opinion is on the subject because it is not your culture being appropriated. I know several pagans who DO think it's cultural…

I assume since you said you studied SW NA groups you know the Navajo Four Worlds story? One of my personal favorites.

Learning is good! Look at all of us, learning together!

Honestly? Now you're just soapboxing. Americans are conditioned to speak about spirit animals based on Simpsons and Family Guy episodes and other TV references to Native traditions involving peyote and spirit quests.

You're allowed to be wrong.

No, I specifically was including non-Native groups in my post above. I think that most people think of Native American traditions, but there is room to say that pagan groups are also marginialized...which is why I said "the only groups that still practice power animal rituals and religious beliefs are all…

Learning is good!

Unless sullied by beer. Or...other things. Naughty things.

It's ally really interchangeable in some ways. Some academic use "totem" or "totemic" or "shamanic" to refer to the same ideas, as well.

See, you and your mustache are just too cool to know about all of the shitty things people do/say to each other, that's all! I'm here to expose you to the icky underbelly, when need be. This way your mustache can stay clean.

It's one of those weird things that entered the lexicon academically in the '80s but got real popular around the same time hipsters started wearing headdresses.

I pointed out in another post that "power animal" is a concept that was relatively widespread over Eurasia and the Americas but most people, when referencing "spirit animals" are speaking specifically about the tradition of going on a spirit quest or journey in order to find their spirit animal, not about larger…

They were all at Miami University (in Ohio). Because of the relationship to the tribe, the school attracted some great professors and really powerful speakers. I'd suggest reaching out to the anthropology and history departments because I don't see any familiar names but they might be able to point you in some…

My focus of study was European history and Native American Studies so I honestly can't tell you how far reaching it might be, sadly. But it's worth a Google or two, for sure!

I was very lucky to have some very patient Native American Studies professors. Very lucky. They respected me a lot and made sure I understood the whys and not just the don'ts.

I've never heard of Eomkin and can't find anything about it...but it strikes me that it may be related to otherkin, which has it's own set of issues (much of them external to the community).