But am I indigenous? No. Like the Scotch broom that has overrun many roadsides in my state, I'm an invasive species. I can do my best, however, to not become a noxious weed like the Scotch broom, not only by practicing my religion as virtuously as possible, but also by not ever having the illusion that though this land has nourished me and provided the very building blocks of my physical and spiritual being, that I am anything but a guest here. As much as this is my home, I know I'm not the one who holds the lease.
If you find yourself in a similar position, I'd invite you to critically consider your usage of the term "indigenous" in relation to your spiritual practice. No matter how much some of the luminaries of modern Paganism and polytheism may encourage you to "think in indigenous ways," remember that you're doing so from a diasporic perspective, which is always different from indigeny, as such.
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