Influencer Faces Criticism Over “Decolonized Christmas” Ideas
A social media influencer from California is under fire for her remarks about traditional holiday foods and gifts, advocating instead for indigenous recipes and practices as part of a “decolonized Christmas.”
Elise Bonilla Myers, known as the “Gluten-Free Girlfriend,” shared her suggestions with followers on TikTok and Substack, focusing on ways to embrace indigenous ingredients this holiday season.
She highlighted a range of gluten-free recipes, noting that staples like wheat, barley, and rye aren’t native to the Americas.
Myers described her ideal Christmas cookie as griddle masa, created by combining corn flour with lime and cooking ash to enhance nutrient absorption, resulting in a softer texture.
She sweetened her masa rounds with honey, cooked them in a frying pan until golden, and topped them with an agave glaze. A video demonstrating this was shared recently.
Myers emphasized that a “decolonized Christmas” can manifest in various forms, particularly through gifts sourced from locally owned businesses this year.
Her recommended shops include a tea business owned by an indigenous Hispanic woman, a provider of Navajo corn products, and a clothing brand featuring the slogan “You Are On Native Land.”
She also considered shopping at a market managed by a local tribe in Los Angeles, where over 30 vendors presented artwork and wild rice.
Despite her 5,100 followers on TikTok praising her for these ideas, some have pointed out what they see as hypocrisy in her approach.
“That friend is too woke,” one critic commented.
Another user referred to her as a “histrionic final boss,” responding to a graphic that indicated “Fighting a fake problem.”
Questions about her perspective arose, with one person asking, “How do you go about ‘decolonizing’ a religious holiday that has nothing to do with America, indigenous peoples, or colonization?” Their curiosity seemed genuine.
Some users suggested alternative ways to celebrate a decolonized Christmas. One commented, “Going outside and touching the grass is another way to celebrate Indigenous culture,” while another quipped, “Or enjoy no phones, no electricity, no modern bathrooms…”
