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A California social media influencer is facing backlash for having a “decolonized Christmas” as she bucks traditional foods and presents for native and indigenous recipes and gifts.
Elise Bonilla-Myers, who goes by “glutenfree_girlfriend” on social media shared tips to her TikTok and Substack subscribers on the ways she is “decolonizing” this holiday season.
She shared different recipes to her social media accounts that were gluten-free because “wheat, barley and rye are not native to the Americas.”
Bonilla-Myers said “the perfect Christmas cookie” is griddle masa made from a form of corn flour mixed with lime or culinary ash, and “its nutrients become more bioavailable and it becomes more tender.”
The rounded dough were sweetened with honey, then placed on a frying pan and grilled till brown, finished with an agave glaze, she said in the video posted Monday.
Bonilla-Myers said a “decolonized Christmas” takes shape in many ways, including the gifts, which she is purchasing from “native owned” businesses this year.
The shop list includes an “Indigenous, Hispanic and woman-owned tea business,” a Navajo corn product purveyor, a Washington State-based business from the Snoqualmie tribe and fashion company famous for its “You Are On Native Land” clothing.
She also went shopping for gifts at a Los Angeles market operated by a local tribe that had over 30 vendors and featured artwork and wild rice.
The social media user who has 5,100 followers on TikTok, was called out for her idea with some pointing out her hypocrisies.
“That one friend that’s too woke,” one user wrote.
“Performative final boss,” another said above an image that read “Fighting pretend issues.”
“How are you going to ‘decolonize’ a religious holiday that has no relations to America or Indigenous people and colonization? genuinely asking out of curiosity,” someone asked.
Some suggested there are other ways to celebrate a decolonized Christmas.
“You can also celebrate indigenous culture by going outside and touching grass…” one user wrote.
“Or not using a phone, not using electricity, not using modern bathrooms… etc. enjoy,” added another.
