Random Thought #218: Departure öF The Wyandot N’d’Ns

There’s this weird Paradox that comes with cultural appropriation that ironically leads to genuine appreciation. Instead of trying to explain in theory, I’ll give a personal example.

One of my favorite places growing up was a Waterpark named “Wyandot Lake.” As a kid, I thought it was a funny & cool name, but it wasn’t until later in Life that I learned “Wyandot” is the name of an Ohio Indian Tribe (Native American if your bigotry is too distracting from what’s actually important…). And so, my childhood Love for the Waterpark transferred over to this tribe. I didn’t really know anything about the Wyandot people, but the kid in me knew he loved them. I still don’t really no much about them, but I’m looking forward to the journey I take to discovering exactly why they’ve been so important to me, subconsciously. One fact I learned is that they were the last tribe to move West since they refused to leave for the longest. That fact in itself is a funny coincidence for me, since one of the things I always say to my self is:

“Someone has to be Last…”

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Getting back to what I think my original point was supposed to be before getting Lost N my own history. “Wyandot Lake” no longer exists, well, at least the name no longer does. Now it goes by “Zoombizi Bay.” Because the thing about that name is that the Wyandot people had nothing to do with that Waterpark. It was some White dudes in Suits who appropriated the “funny & cool” name to make some money on ignorant suburban parents who just wanted a break from their kids. It had nothing to do with the culture. I’m confident that, unless for publicity, none of the money ever went to the people the park was named after.

So, I guess this is where I get to my real point. It’s a good thing they changed the name. Not inherently by the word itself, but the mechanisms behind the naming made its use racist. Basically the same as the “Cleveland Indians” or “Washington Redskins.” Using the identity of the people you oppressed in order to make a profit. Honestly disgusting.

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Yet, here’s were that bittersweet feeling comes in. As a kid, I was completely ignorant to those implications under the surface. The only thing I saw was a fun place, and a fun word to associate that fun with. I have genuine appreciation for the people the kid in me calls “N’d’Ns” – since they feel like they’ve always been there for me, and Wyandot Lake is proof for Me that they were.

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I’m kinda taking around the burning bush, so I guess…whatever