Aussie here, so not well versed on this topic, but native content sounds gorgeous. All the beautiful patterns, the dream catchers and totems like in Brother Bear! I really don't know much about Native Americans, but it would be gorgeous, if they consulted some of the major tribes or groups they want to use items from.
Maybe leave out objects that will be used in the 'wrong way' like headdresses, and maybe some sacred items, and primarily do clothing, maybe a hairstyle, a hat, the bolo ties I've heard about on Parks and Recreation and maybe some clutter type objects, and even crystals or some kind of stones that could be used in RoM.
@munroele they could also go with the "alternate world" approach. Instead of making tribal stuff they could make modern thigns as if the natives never had the interception of europeans in their existence with modern/unique furniture bearing the patterns, maybe one of those tall lamps resembling totems and all of that.
To me, the best pack for adding native representation so far would've been Outdoor Retreat, but maybe a Horses GP or a Farming EP could lead us to a eco friendly and respectful approach to harvesting nature. IDK.
I still would love the Native North American Culture in Sims 4. As a part Prairie Cree & a big fan of all Native Tribes it would be so cool to able to properly have my Pocahontas sim & my Prairie Cree sim dress in Native outfits & have Native objects & build modes in the game.
That's really interesting. Although I don't know a lot about the culture myself, I am interested in it and would like to learn more. I'd personally enjoy this in the Sims but it would have to be done carefully and respectfully.
Maybe an "inspired by Native American Culture" pack, similar to how Island Living is inspired by Hawaiian and other cultures.
@GirlFromIpanema I think that if they do something like Island Living/Moana where the devs took inspiration from multiple ethinic groups, it would make more sense if they made one for North American Natives and South American Natives. I can see a broad similarity within those groups, but the two together not so much... even the location in the pole provokes different cultures in a human settlement, you know?! Also, more variety.
I agree with having Native American content in the The Sims 4 game. I am not Native American, but I support the right to have Native American culture in the the Sims 4 game. It's the least we could do, since Native Americans went through a lot. And yes, Native Americans should be able to help The Sims 4 creators to represent Native Americans and their culture correctly. I would love to see Native American clothes in the game as well as the dream catchers, pottery too.
If they did this, they should absolutely consult actual Natives about it first. Would it be okay to do in the first place?
I agree that it would be cool, but only if done correctly and respectfully. And with permission. Some things may be too sacred for something like this.
Indian sweaters with raven or wolf patterns for all age groups
Moccasins for all age groups
Silver bracelets with carved ravens or whales
Beaded necklaces and earrings
Totem poles
Sculptures of ravens or whales
Carved wall art with ravens or whales
Beaded wall hangings
Vases and baskets with indigenous patterns
A carving, beading or basket weaving skill
> @Magdaleena said: > If they did this, they should absolutely consult actual Natives about it first. Would it be okay to do in the first place? > > I agree that it would be cool, but only if done correctly and respectfully. And with permission. Some things may be too sacred for something like this.
I think it would be fine as we're as Native peoples are asking for it. I've been looking since I created my own sim of me and there is very little in the way of cc that isn't Disney Pocohantas related and I would like to avoid that. A caring and respectful approach would let people like me have something of our own culture and share it with pride in the game.
Are any of us in this thread a member of a Native American tribe? I would like to know what Native Americans who are part of one of the nations think about these requests.
"Games Are Not The Place To Tell Stories, Games Are Meant To Let People Tell Their Own Stories"...Will Wright.
This isn't just one tribe fits all thing. Proper research and respect for each tribe it could be done. But this is EA and they love cutting corners and making excuses.
They can just avoid the spiritual sacred rituals of Native Pipes, Totems & Natives Dance. They could bring in the Native Hairstyles, Outfits, Shoes, Teepees, Huts, Hunting Skills, Spears, Arrows & Paintings.
I'm part Prairie Cree so I would approve this.
> @Magdaleena said:
> If they did this, they should absolutely consult actual Natives about it first. Would it be okay to do in the first place?
>
> I agree that it would be cool, but only if done correctly and respectfully. And with permission. Some things may be too sacred for something like this.
I think it would be fine as we're as Native peoples are asking for it. I've been looking since I created my own sim of me and there is very little in the way of cc that isn't Disney Pocohantas related and I would like to avoid that. A caring and respectful approach would let people like me have something of our own culture and share it with pride in the game.
Oh yeah, I get that. Certain cultures are very difficult to find good and accurate CC for. And the sims team has been respectful about stuff like this so far, so... yeah. Some Native content would be good.
Well as the developers are working on representation and skintones, I hope they can add things for Native American/First Nations representation too. Like hairs for instance.
This gets complicated.
There are federal laws in place that make it illegal to use elements of recognized tribes if one is not an active tribal member - put in place as a result of extreme cases of appropriation. A few large corps have gotten away with violations because of their clout, so we have things like car brands named after tribes - but this is not legal.
So everything would have to be 'generic native' - which then brings up a whole other complication that's kind of obvious just from the wording there... knockoff stereotyping that is pretty much offensive by nature.
Non-specific elements like skintones and hair are pretty much already in game. The same tones that will work for a Chicano person, and the same hair that will work for an Asian person. Anyone who is not being done as a parody stereotype would be viable with those.
(Quite a few of my Asian townies have had noses that look very Native American. A slight adjustment to skintone and eye shape for some of them, and a change in name - and there you go for any modern person).
The moment you start adding things like feathers and ceremonial gowns and drums and dreamcatchers you have landed in the hot mess of cultural appropriation / misrepresentation / stereotyping. And if you name any of it, illegal issues of tribal sovereignty.
Some of the very comments in this thread noting things like Pocahontas and Casinos and such point to how this could all easily go wrong in extremely offensive ways that could actually land EA in court.
To do what's asked would most likely literally require multiple tribal governments signing off on licensing of their culture to a video game. The odds of that happening are low.
I don't use Discord because it doesn't support multiple accounts and I don't need folks at work wondering what I'm doing even on my own time. Until Discord catches up with every single other voice / video conferencing system, I limit where I use it:
Well as the developers are working on representation and skintones, I hope they can add things for Native American/First Nations representation too. Like hairs for instance.
This gets complicated.
There are federal laws in place that make it illegal to use elements of recognized tribes if one is not an active tribal member - put in place as a result of extreme cases of appropriation. A few large corps have gotten away with violations because of their clout, so we have things like car brands named after tribes - but this is not legal.
So everything would have to be 'generic native' - which then brings up a whole other complication that's kind of obvious just from the wording there... knockoff stereotyping that is pretty much offensive by nature.
Non-specific elements like skintones and hair are pretty much already in game. The same tones that will work for a Chicano person, and the same hair that will work for an Asian person. Anyone who is not being done as a parody stereotype would be viable with those.
(Quite a few of my Asian townies have had noses that look very Native American. A slight adjustment to skintone and eye shape for some of them, and a change in name - and there you go for any modern person).
The moment you start adding things like feathers and ceremonial gowns and drums and dreamcatchers you have landed in the hot mess of cultural appropriation / misrepresentation / stereotyping. And if you name any of it, illegal issues of tribal sovereignty.
Some of the very comments in this thread noting things like Pocahontas and Casinos and such point to how this could all easily go wrong in extremely offensive ways that could actually land EA in court.
To do what's asked would most likely literally require multiple tribal governments signing off on licensing of their culture to a video game. The odds of that happening are low.
I didn't know things were so sensitive over their representation in movies and stuff. I would think they would welcome the opportunity for free advertising campaign that a game depicting native americans would bring. That being said I don't think EA would include any references to actual real tribe, they would just create their own generic version.
It's in wall decorations, roughly 5 rows down. It's called good mojo macramé, and came in Paranormal. Not a great dream catcher, but it is supposed to be one. Not enough, considering how much we have from other cultures.
I guess as Dreamcatchers are sacred, they tried to make something that looked a bit like it but wasn’t a real one so Native People wouldn’t feel disrespected when people use it.
It's in wall decorations, roughly 5 rows down. It's called good mojo macramé, and came in Paranormal. Not a great dream catcher, but it is supposed to be one. Not enough, considering how much we have from other cultures.
Comments
I would love this to be added. 😀
@munroele they could also go with the "alternate world" approach. Instead of making tribal stuff they could make modern thigns as if the natives never had the interception of europeans in their existence with modern/unique furniture bearing the patterns, maybe one of those tall lamps resembling totems and all of that.
To me, the best pack for adding native representation so far would've been Outdoor Retreat, but maybe a Horses GP or a Farming EP could lead us to a eco friendly and respectful approach to harvesting nature. IDK.
@GirlFromIpanema I think that if they do something like Island Living/Moana where the devs took inspiration from multiple ethinic groups, it would make more sense if they made one for North American Natives and South American Natives. I can see a broad similarity within those groups, but the two together not so much... even the location in the pole provokes different cultures in a human settlement, you know?! Also, more variety.
I agree that it would be cool, but only if done correctly and respectfully. And with permission. Some things may be too sacred for something like this.
they/he
simblr
Indian sweaters with raven or wolf patterns for all age groups
Moccasins for all age groups
Silver bracelets with carved ravens or whales
Beaded necklaces and earrings
Totem poles
Sculptures of ravens or whales
Carved wall art with ravens or whales
Beaded wall hangings
Vases and baskets with indigenous patterns
A carving, beading or basket weaving skill
> If they did this, they should absolutely consult actual Natives about it first. Would it be okay to do in the first place?
>
> I agree that it would be cool, but only if done correctly and respectfully. And with permission. Some things may be too sacred for something like this.
I think it would be fine as we're as Native peoples are asking for it. I've been looking since I created my own sim of me and there is very little in the way of cc that isn't Disney Pocohantas related and I would like to avoid that. A caring and respectful approach would let people like me have something of our own culture and share it with pride in the game.
https://www.cbc.ca/kidscbc2/the-feed/14-totally-terrific-totem-pole-facts
I prefer Haida art and Haida jewelry.
I'm part Prairie Cree so I would approve this.
Oh yeah, I get that. Certain cultures are very difficult to find good and accurate CC for. And the sims team has been respectful about stuff like this so far, so... yeah. Some Native content would be good.
they/he
simblr
This gets complicated.
There are federal laws in place that make it illegal to use elements of recognized tribes if one is not an active tribal member - put in place as a result of extreme cases of appropriation. A few large corps have gotten away with violations because of their clout, so we have things like car brands named after tribes - but this is not legal.
So everything would have to be 'generic native' - which then brings up a whole other complication that's kind of obvious just from the wording there... knockoff stereotyping that is pretty much offensive by nature.
Non-specific elements like skintones and hair are pretty much already in game. The same tones that will work for a Chicano person, and the same hair that will work for an Asian person. Anyone who is not being done as a parody stereotype would be viable with those.
(Quite a few of my Asian townies have had noses that look very Native American. A slight adjustment to skintone and eye shape for some of them, and a change in name - and there you go for any modern person).
The moment you start adding things like feathers and ceremonial gowns and drums and dreamcatchers you have landed in the hot mess of cultural appropriation / misrepresentation / stereotyping. And if you name any of it, illegal issues of tribal sovereignty.
Some of the very comments in this thread noting things like Pocahontas and Casinos and such point to how this could all easily go wrong in extremely offensive ways that could actually land EA in court.
To do what's asked would most likely literally require multiple tribal governments signing off on licensing of their culture to a video game. The odds of that happening are low.
I didn't know things were so sensitive over their representation in movies and stuff. I would think they would welcome the opportunity for free advertising campaign that a game depicting native americans would bring. That being said I don't think EA would include any references to actual real tribe, they would just create their own generic version.