Exploring Native Peoples' Art & Spirituality on Second Life

This participant observation article explores several of the Native People (NP) sims on the virtual world of Second Life as a place to understand art and spirituality with its various meanings that ranges from centering oneself, holistic instruction or interconnectivity. Second Life offers avatar participants opportunities for touring a site, meditating in a peaceful place, joining and attending meetings, participating in social rituals, purchasing Native goods, sending notecards, recording chat, taking photos, storytelling, networking, educating, donating to a good cause, and machinima/film making. In so doing, participants can learn/debate such NP cultural stereotypes as Indians as mascot, clothes as regalia not costumes, and Indian giver and giveaways. Since NP spiritual life is complex and involves ceremonies (prayers, songs, dance) that the public may not attend, two astute Native art educators discuss what is missing. The article ends with teaching implications, notably through a machinima of presenting a spiritual ceremony in a sensitive way.