"Is this the most California thing EVAR?"
California Governor Gavin Newsom has allocated millions of dollars to a program that funds Native American “food sovereignty,” owl counting, and “cultural burns,” in which tribal groups use traditional fire techniques to clear brush from the landscape and preserve their “close kinship” with plants, animals, and “other natural relatives.”
On a related note: I've noticed that native-American religious practices always get taken seriously by federal and state governments, as well as in Hollywood movies and television programs. Judeo-Christian faiths? Not so much.
$millions for the bureaucracy, about fiddy cent for the other stuff.
ReplyDeleteNotice, when American Indians burn stuff to clear underbrush it's all about the "close kinship" and tradition, when a person of pallor suggests it, Hate Crime!.
Sounds very familiar to this Australian.
ReplyDeleteFrom Brave AI:
Fees for Welcome to Country ceremonies in Australia typically range from $300 to $750 for standard events, though costs can vary significantly based on the scale of the event and the specific Traditional Custodians engaged.
Standard Ceremonies: The National Association for Visual Arts (NAVA) and ACT Government guidelines generally recommend $350–$750 for a basic Welcome to Country, with some community organizations quoting as low as $200–$470.
Complex Ceremonies: Combining a Welcome to Country with a Smoking Ceremony typically costs between $700 and $1,500.
High-Profile Government Events: Official ceremonies for visiting dignitaries or major federal events can cost substantially more, with reports of fees ranging from $1,000 to over $6,600 per ceremony.
Parliamentary Fees: Historical records indicate that Elders performing Welcomes to Country at the opening of Parliament have received fees such as $10,500 for "entertainment services."
Nice little earner, as they say.