IDENTITY, RECOVERY, AND RELIGIOUS IMPERIALISM - NATIVE-AMERICAN WOMENAND THE NEW-AGE

Cultural disintegration and the resulting loss of selfesteem have acte d as precursors for rampant substance abuse in indigenous American com munities. Especially at risk are Native women, who have little recogni tion in the dominant culture, but whose traditional roles of respect h ave also dwindled with forced acculturation. Just when a wave of recon version (going ''back to the blanket'') is taking hold among Native wo men substance users/abusers, the even more prevalent commercialization of Indian religion and pseudo-religion are denigrating these recaptur ed sources of dignity and pride. This ''religious imperialism'' doesn' t just parody true Native faiths; it robs Native women in recovery of the self-esteem building tool which has proven most effective. It also continues the appropriation of indigenous culture which further serve s to undermine coming generations of Native American women.