Protecting the Navajo Nation: Understanding Witchcraft Extermination

Navajo witchcraft extermination refers to the historical attempts made to eradicate witchcraft practices among the Navajo people, a Native American tribe predominantly residing in the southwestern United States. Witchcraft has long been a part of the Navajo culture, rooted in their traditional beliefs and rituals. However, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. government and Christian missionaries sought to suppress and eliminate these practices. This period of extermination involved a complex blend of cultural imperialism, religious conversion, and attempted assimilation.

The game was announced in the November 2012 edition of Nintendo Power, and was in full development since the beginning of that year, [7] but was already planned by the end of 2011, as Inti Creates were hired at that time to work on new artwork for the title. [8] The game was followed by Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.

One day, however, Shantae is approached by her old nemesis, Risky Boots, who informs her that a curse is rapidly overtaking the land in preparation for the return of The Pirate Master, spelling doom for all of Sequin Land. You will get a sword for some different attacks, a cannon which you can use to propel Shantae, and a pirate hat that works as a sort of hang glider, and many more fun techniques.

This period of extermination involved a complex blend of cultural imperialism, religious conversion, and attempted assimilation. One of the main reasons behind the witchcraft extermination efforts was the clash between Navajo beliefs and Christianity. Missionaries aimed to convert the Navajo people to Christianity and viewed their traditional practices as incompatible with their religious teachings.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse Switch Review

Shantae awakens to the town she protects being attacked! Upon investigating what is happening, she finds out that the mayor has traded away the town to the Ammo Baron for some chocolates, and the new owner is here to turn the town into a fortress. Despite having her powers stripped, she still decides to face the Ammo Baron and his forces to try and protect Scuttle Town. After defeating the Ammo Baron, the Royal Guard of Sequin Land Palace arrive to place Shantae under house arrest for attacking the rightful land owner, and inform her that she may be punished by removing her weapon, which is her beautiful hair.

It is then that she is attacked by Risky Boots as part of a misunderstanding and finds out that the Pirate King is trying to be resurrected. As Risky Boots wants to rule the seas herself, the Pirate King being resurrected is something she does not want to allow to happen. Shantae also feels this threat sounds menacing enough to warrant stopping, so the unlikely pair team up and the adventure begins.

I found the story to be a lot of fun. The characters were very likeable, and the humour laced throughout the dialogue is hilarious. As far as the story is concerned, it was good enough to make me want to see this one through to the end, and kept me intrigued as to what would happen next, and who we will meet along the way.

The music in Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is amazing. Every track is exquisite and varied. Each towns theme suits the look and feel, and each environment has a musical number that fits the area perfectly. Different situations also have music that suits that situation, which is especially noticeable in the fierce boss battles or the more laid back and relaxed tunes in the towns.

As far as the sound goes, it is also done to an extremely high level. Each attack has a satisfying whack to it. The few words here and there you hear spoken are quite cute, though can be a little off putting as there isn’t any voice acting besides the odd word.

The art style in Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is superb. Unlike 1/2 Genie Hero, this Shantae game has a pixel art style that is reminiscent of many indie games at the moment. This isn’t just another one of those though, as the level of detail and quality is great. The character models are beautiful, environments are gorgeous, and the towns look lively. Each island you travel to has its own look and feel, but it always fits within the Shantae universe they have created. No area looks out of place, which speaks to the coherent design they have achieved with this one.

In terms of performance, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is very smooth. At no point was I ever hampered by slow downs or bugs of any kind. The amount of polish is very high.

Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse is a traditional 2d platformer at its heart. You travel to each level, complete a set of objectives, rinse and repeat. The difference with this game is that each level is kind of a world in and of itself. It feels like you are exploring a new island location, rather than just going from level to level. There is a metroidvania vibe, without going too far in that backtracking direction.

As far as the platforming goes, it is of the highest quality. The controls are extremely solid, which allows for precise platforming. The act of controlling Shantae is a pure joy, which makes the entire game enjoyable.

You begin the game with a basic jump, attack, and the ability to use a magic lamp to suck up clouds of dark magic among other things. As you progress, you gain access to different weapons and abilities. You will get a sword for some different attacks, a cannon which you can use to propel Shantae, and a pirate hat that works as a sort of hang glider, and many more fun techniques.

The objectives you must complete in each level vary enough to keep things from getting stale. The way you get these missions are generally through conversations with other characters. They give you hints as to what you need to do through what they are saying, and it is up to you to work out how to achieve those goals. Thankfully these goals are never too hard to work out, so you won’t get stuck trying to work out what needs to be done. One problem is that it is difficult to remember exactly what needs to be done as you don’t have a quest log to keep track of these, but you are generally only doing one at a time anyway so it doesn’t tend to get in the way too much.

Is Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse worth your hard earned cash? The price point places it at the higher end of eShop indie prices, but I feel the level of polish and design that has gone into this game makes it well worth the asking price. Not only that, but you will get a good 9 hours plus out of the main game. You also get multiple endings and some additional modes and features that makes this a worthy addition to your Switch library.

Pros

Tight, precise platforming feels great

Supported Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish

Furthermore, the U.S. government's assimilation policies sought to eradicate Native American cultures and traditions, including witchcraft practices. These policies aimed to promote Christianity and Euro-American values, effectively erasing Native American identities. To eradicate witchcraft, the U.S. government and Christian missionaries implemented various strategies. Missionaries preached against witchcraft and demonized Navajo healers, leaders, and practitioners of traditional ceremonies. They emphasized the perceived negative aspects of witchcraft, labeling it as evil and devilish. In addition to religious conversion, government agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs actively suppressed Navajo ceremonies and rituals. Government-sponsored boarding schools played a crucial role in the extermination efforts. Native American children were forcibly taken from their families and sent to these schools, where they were prohibited from practicing their traditional beliefs and were taught Christian values instead. This disruption of intergenerational transmission of cultural knowledge significantly impacted the preservation of witchcraft practices. Despite these efforts, Navajo witchcraft persisted and even experienced a resurgence in the later half of the 20th century. The Navajo people, recognizing the importance of cultural preservation, fought against the extermination policies and worked to revive their traditions. This resistance was driven by a sense of cultural pride and the realization that their identity as Navajo was intimately tied to their traditional practices. Today, Navajo witchcraft and spiritual traditions continue to be an integral part of the Navajo culture. Efforts to preserve and promote these practices are ongoing, with individuals and organizations working to document and pass down the knowledge to future generations. The Navajo people's resilience in the face of extermination serves as a testament to the strength of their cultural identity and the importance of safeguarding their heritage..

Reviews for "The Impact of Navajo Witchcraft Extermination on Mental Health"

1. Jane - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with "Navajo witchcraft extermination". The entire premise of the book seemed highly exploitative and disrespectful towards the Navajo culture. The author focused solely on sensationalizing Navajo witchcraft practices rather than offering any genuine insight or understanding. It felt like a cheap attempt to cash in on cultural curiosity without any true appreciation or respect for the subject matter. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

2. Mark - 2 stars - I found "Navajo witchcraft extermination" to be a shallow and shallowly researched book. The author seemed more interested in compiling anecdotes and myths rather than conducting in-depth research or engaging with Navajo communities. The content lacked substance and depth, and it often felt like the author was simply regurgitating the same information found in introductory resources. If you're looking for a comprehensive and respectful exploration of Navajo culture and witchcraft, I suggest looking elsewhere.

3. Sarah - 1 star - "Navajo witchcraft extermination" was an offensive and deeply problematic book. The author consistently perpetuated harmful stereotypes and misconceptions about Navajo culture and spirituality. Instead of approaching the topic with the sensitivity it deserves, the author sensationalized and misrepresented Navajo practices, ultimately contributing to the exoticization and othering of an already marginalized community. I strongly advise against reading this book or supporting such careless and harmful portrayals of indigenous cultures.

4. Michael - 2 stars - While "Navajo witchcraft extermination" had an intriguing premise, it failed to deliver on genuine insight or meaningful exploration. The author seemed more interested in capitalizing on sensationalism and exploiting the curiosity surrounding Navajo witchcraft rather than offering a balanced and well-researched perspective. The book lacked depth and often relied on outdated and problematic stereotypes. I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed with this shallow portrayal of a complex and rich cultural tradition.

Navajo Witchcraft Extermination and the Modern Indigenous Experience