Beyond the Surface: The Complexities of the Term 'Totem'

This dialogue represents the conversation surrounding the divide of Western and Indigenous language to further development of the Worlds of Us game with respect and consideration.

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Ula: I recently delved into the digital initiative 'World of Us' and was intrigued by their initial concept of the 'Totem Space'. It was designed as an inclusive room where children could craft their own totems, symbolising their unique place in the virtual world. However, the term 'Totem' and its implications in such a context raised several questions for me.

Sylvia: Historically, totem has been appropriated and used in a reductionist manner, particularly in Western thought. For instance, Freudian psychology employed it to describe what they termed as primitive cultures, thereby perpetuating a superficial ethnographical understanding. Such usage not only oversimplifies but also exoticises the profound cultural significance of the term.

Ula: Indeed, and it's essential to trace back to the origins of such terms to grasp their depth. The term 'totem', for instance, is deeply rooted in the [Ojibwa](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ojibwa) language, associated with the [Algonquian](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Algonquian) people around Lake Superior. It's rather disconcerting to observe how a term, which encapsulates such rich and varied traditions, has been condensed into a singular, often misinterpreted phrase in popular culture.

Sylvia: Your observation reminds me of the popularised term spirit animal. While it has become a casual catchphrase in contemporary culture, its origins in Indigenous traditions are profound, sacred, and varied. The commodification of such terms, without a nuanced understanding of their cultural significance, is a classic manifestation of cultural appropriation. Similarly, totem poles, monumental creations of the First Nations o...