be still my heart, man... whoever you are, this is so considerate of you and you have no idea what it means to me. mucho mucho MUCHO amor! xoxoxo
The skill pinkflipphonez shows in their art is both intimidating and inspiring. I can never get enough of it.
♥♡∞:。.。 Positivity for @pinkflipphonez 。・::・゚★,。・:*:・゚☆
“I never minded the cold, braginsky. it snows in arizona too, y’know.”
Hi,
I'm not indigenous so you can dismiss this as being overstepping if you want and you'd have every right to as a native person. I was thinking of maybe sending this on anon but anon messages are far easier to be construed as bad faith (I want to stress I'm not sending you this ask to dunk on you or ague with you or something) and also I think it's best to be honest so I'm doing this off anon.
I'll admit I was personally kind of uncomfortable at your Koryak Russia headcanon when I saw it, particularly because of the history regarding the Russian colonisation of Siberia, and especially because you chose the Koryaks in particular. However I am not indigenous so of course my opinion is definitely not one which should be amplified. I just want to give some context on Siberia/the Koryaks which might help explain further why the Koryak anon was upset.
Unlike the USA, Russia was an already established country when it undertook its colonisation of the far East. The indigenous Siberians were never originally "Russian" and had very little to no contact with Russians before the Russians invaded, and, again, Russia was an already established country at that point. The formation of Russia as a nation had nothing to do with engaging with Siberian indigenous, however Russia as we know it today with its huge landmass is a result of the later Russian colonisation of Siberia (Tsardom of Russia established 1547, Russia began its invasion of Siberia in 1580).
I didn't want to say anything because well I'm not a Koryak nor am I am indigenous Siberian nor am I indigenous at all however seeing as a Koryak spoke out, I just wanted to give a little more context of Russia's treatment of Siberian indigenous and Koryaks in particular. Again, I'm not sending this ask to shout at you, I just wanted to give further context.
Russia, as the previous Koryak anon pointed out, has been disproportionately mobilising indigenous Siberians, hence why the "Free Buryatia Foundation" was founded in an attempt to combat this, I've made some posts on this myself, including the recent Russian crack down on Siberian activists in which they've sentenced the leader of Free Buryatia to 7 years in prison.
Indigenous Siberian soldiers in Ukraine have also been frequently scapegoated for Russian war crimes committed in Ukraine, including by the Pope himself,
"The cruelest are perhaps those who are of Russia but are not of the Russian tradition, such as the Chechens, the Buryats and so on,” he said."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/11/29/europe/pope-francis-chechens-buryats-intl/index.html
Not only do indigenous Siberians face Russification, grapple with the Kremlins mistreatment of them and suffer from disproportionate mobilisation, but they are also being scapegoated for the brunt of Russian war crimes in Ukraine
https://www.media-diversity.org/the-savage-warriors-of-siberia-how-an-ethnic-minority-in-russia-came-to-be-unfairly-blamed-for-the-worst-war-crimes-in-ukraine/
To give some further context on Russia's treatment of the Koryaks in particular, not the full history but:
In the 1930s Koryak children were sent to boarding schools, where they were expected to adopt new ideas, including anti-religious views and criticisms towards their own traditions. This led to the loss of their natural way of life and traditions, with many Koryak settlements forcibly disbanded. In 1954, the teaching of the Koryak language was banned - this lasted for 2 decades. Affluent herders and shamans were executed during Stalins reign.
I can only find one source which says this so take it with a grain of salt , but nuclear testing. Apparently nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s caused severe problems for the Koryaks. Radioactive contamination harmed their immune system. Reindeer-herders' bones contain significantly more lead and caesium, resulting in a surge in diseases. Again, I could only find 1 source for this which is why I said "apparently" however regardless of if this factoid in particular is true or false doesn't necessarily take away from Russia's overall mistreatment of them.
On the Koryak infant mortality rate: "Infant mortality is also very high..The highest rates recorded in official statistics are among the Koryak, at 52.6 per 1000" (Peoples of the Arctic: Characteristics of Human Populations Relevant to Pollution Issues)
The average Koryak lifespan at one point was less than 50 years and iirc it's still quite low.
When it comes to their fishing:
"In September 2014, the parliamentary assembly of Kamchatka Krai introduced a bill aimed at reconsidering the management of those territories that have been traditionally used by indigenous peoples. The bill set out a proposal to considerably reduce their area and to prevent indigenous peoples from cultivating the land in the south of the Kamchatka Krai region – a move that deprives many of the ability to maintain traditional livelihoods such as fishing."
https://minorityrights.org/minorities/koryaks/
I'm not trying to point a finger at you because I'm sure you did not have any bad intentions with your post especially because you yourself are native and I'm not so I would be seriously overstepping, and of course it's always amazing to see more indigenous rep and I myself have my own Siberian ocs, but I just wanted to try and give some further context as to why perhaps the Koryak anon was upset at your depiction, however again I'm not indigenous so my opinion on the matter holds a hell of a lot of less weight. You don't have to feel obligated to post this, I know it's a heavy subject, and again I'm not indigenous/native so you could just dismiss this all if you wish. I hope this didn't come across as me overstepping
I truly appreciate your taking the time to message me. I do not mind, as anyone who recognizes something is wrong should say something. Being native does not excuse my choices, so please don't feel bad for correcting me or adding context.
I mentioned my intentions in the anon's ask because I wanted them to know my making Russia Koryaki was not to erase these humanitarian injustices, but to see a character I adore as indigenous. No matter my intentions, I should have known better than to connect an oppressed native culture that I have no connection to, to the literal embodiment of its invader.
Your message is important to me and because you used multiple sources, I do want to share it as it is a great way for more people outside of Russia to know about the plight of Koryak people. To the anon, I altruistically apologize for my depictions.
To continue the conversation from the last message I received, I do want to address why I choose to depict America as native. To preempt, my perspective should not be taken as speaking for other natives, as we all have our own respective opinions.
It should go without saying but the United States as a governed superpower is a country that has purposefully failed and harmed black and indigenous people both on the mainland and abroad. The history of this country is cruel, brutal, and inhumane, and it should seldom be forgotten.
When it comes to America, the character, I do not see him as being involved in the crimes done unto these communities. I do believe it's because I truly love this character and I cannot imagine him doing these things to his own people-- but I can see why that would be a very infantile opinion to have on my part. Hetalia is inherently a political concept; personifications that represent governed states, therefore making their identities directly align with their national policies.
This is my personal headcanon but I always saw America, like Canada, and other Hetalia characters, as a manifestation of the land their state stands on, rather than being the direct personification of the imperial/colonial entity. This was one of the reasons I began depicting Alfred Jones as native and drew him that way (while keeping the more recognizable elements of his design)-- the main reason why I made him native is because as a native, I cannot see the imperialist nation being indigenous but I can absolutely see the land itself being indigenous: because it is.
However, after hearing other natives speak on this, I recognize that this is very much a cope of mine... In Hetalia, the personifications are very much shown to be involved in pivotal parts of history and it is implied that they get along with their overseers (most of whom were a bunch of racist old fcks). If a native personification existed, they wouldn't be okay with this.
I treat his identity similarly to my own because he has become my favorite character and I am not above inserting my identity troubles into my fictional faves. I am a reconnecting native (Nahuatl, Wixarika) who often feels so without identity that drawing a native AJ heals me. But that does not change that AJ, as a personification of the United States, represents everything that has traumatized native folks.
I do want to let other natives know where I stand in this conversation because I do not want my choices to be perceived as a vanity project to place indigenous faces wherever I please-- it comes from a true love for indigenous identity, my identity, and a great love for Alfred Jones.
From now on, I do think I may just make my own indigenous ocs in the future. it's the best way to ensure I never mix ndn identity with oppressive governmental states.
hi, I’m Koryak, i was adopted from Russia and i would really appreciate it if you didn’t make russia koryak. the russians have done so much harm to my nation and people, killing us and taking our land and banning us from fishing and hunting in our home. with the recent war, indigenous siberians been disproportionately targeted and the govt has cracked down even harder when we try to speak out. i do not want to see my colonizer claim the same culture it has tried to take away from my family.
Hello and thank you for saying this.
I wholeheartedly apologize if my depiction of a Koryak Russia was insulting. My intention in depicting Russia as Koryak came from a want to see more indigenous faces in my favorite characters, and I did not think of the implications that came with it. What Koryak people and Siberian natives have gone through is not to be taken lightly and I do not want to bastardize these true and real traumas in any way.
I will not make him native moving forward as I vehemently agree it is incorrect.
white matt and all vs native Matt and al
When I think native al and Matt I think of dudes who look like this
here's the actual tshirt design lol!
for my non-american folks, memorial airbrush shirts are often used as a sort of modern mourning attire.
they are worn for funerals or special familial events to commemorate a lost loved one and that is what al was parodying when he gave him the shirt, the lil shit
happy b-day gilbert! we still miss you everyday, fly high homie 🕊️
happy b-day gilbert! we still miss you everyday, fly high homie 🕊️
Probably an unpopular opinion: What's fascinating about RusAme is not their ability to kill each other but the ability to NOT do so. The entire Cold War is about refraining from making a move and risking the annihilation of the whole world while harboring resentment. They may want to tear each other down, but somehow they find the strength to repress it (creating lots of sexual tension, but that's beside the point). The real point is that it reveals something they deeply share – a value for this world, and a willingness to protect it, even at the cost of putting up with each other.
yo but what if all nations are born from the origin stories of their respective cultures/religions?
So WHERE is the rusame rocky 4 aus???!?! Have I just not seen it or have I been failed again by this Fandom and have to do it MYSELF
lily gladstone deserved that win and more!
omó’tsaaki = winner in Blackfoot
I see a lot of freaking good ass content about rusame during the cold war and rusame post-cold-war-- but like, how about the 90s? how was their reunion after the ussr fell? how did ivan look? what did alfred think? was it awkward or did they rock each other's sht? when was the first time they kissed or spent the night together after that? did they always have a thing or did it start up after they saw more of each other after the dissolution?
the thoughts are killing me and I can't write them down!!! I need a tape recorder and pacing space!!!
last reblog reminded me that i wanted to do a rusame fic that’s just snippets of them killing each other in various ways
in my headcanon gilbert beilschmidt absolutely sounds like peso pluma
alfred spends one weekend in vegas and the national debt doubles
Official art by: Hidekaz Himaruya
whenever I feel like I'm not drawing AJ correctly, I give him dimples and immediately rejoice
first art of the year ft. beyonce!
Your art is awesome 💖💖 why do you like rusame?
thank you so much omgomg! 🥺 as for that question-- to keep it short and sweet cause my post would be 100K words long w/ mla citation, the simplified reasons are:
their shared diplomatic history before the 1900s
their juxtapositions that complement each other so nicely
equal-footing being they're prominent nations
cojen pero bien duro y apasionado JAJAJAJA
your cuba is so.... chef's kiss. go off queen !! go the fuck off. i love this man i am looking so respectfully... your vision is exactly how i imagine him.... could not be more perfect, thank u for blessing the dash. we need more (respectfully. of course)
AHHHIJDIOJI thank you so so much, it means the world!!! I honestly do need to draw him more bcuz I feel you, he's a tall glass of water!! 😩💋
here’s to a liberated palestine and an end to the occupation in 2024، إن شاء الله
happy new years everyone! it's been a while since I've felt a part of community and the hetalia fandom has been kind to me time and time again. much love to y'all, hope to see more of everyone this upcoming year
Felt like sharing because I spent way too much time in it not to
here’s my rusame secret santa gift for amerus king @ironicorange!
I hope I did the funny christmas sweater concept justice (ivan totally knitted them both) and it was a huge honor to draw something for you! thank you for representing the amerus/rusame community as amazingly as you do, much love! xo
Cuetlaxochitl, Flower Of Fallen Warriors
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everybody who’s celebrating! Did you know that the “poinsettia” flower originated from Mexico? And that it had a tie to fallen the Aztec warriors? I go into on my Instagram about this!
Quick disclaimer; my Aztec survived the sack of Tenochtitlán, he’s alive and well I just wanted to make this aesthetic lol