Community Guidelines

Our spirit

Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ — we are all related. Native Story Book is built on that idea: a story belongs to a teller and to a place, and it is kept by the community it comes from. Treat this space the way you would treat a circle of relatives sharing at the fire — with honesty, patience, and respect. These guidelines are not just rules; they are how we keep the record trustworthy for the people who come after us.

Be a good relative

• Speak to others the way you would want your grandchildren spoken to.
• Disagree without contempt. Critique ideas, not people’s worth or identity.
• Make room for elders, for newcomers, and for people telling hard stories.
• Assume good faith, and let a moderator step in rather than escalating a conflict yourself.

Cultural respect & permission

This is the heart of Native Story Book. Before you post, ask yourself whether the story is yours to share.

• Share what is yours to share. Post your own stories, or stories you have been given permission to carry forward. Don’t post another family’s or nation’s story without their consent.
• Honor what is meant to stay private. Some knowledge — ceremonial, sacred, medicine, or otherwise restricted — is not meant for a public archive. Do not post it, even if you know it.
• Follow the protocols of the story’s community. Different nations have different rules about who may tell a story, when, and how. Respect them over your own preferences.
• Credit the teller. When a story was passed to you, name where it came from, as far as it is yours to say.
• Don’t appropriate. Do not present another culture’s stories, symbols, or knowledge as your own, or claim an identity or affiliation that isn’t yours.

If you’re unsure whether something is appropriate to post, hold it, ask, or reach out to us. When in doubt, protect the knowledge.

Keep it true

This is a record. Tell stories truthfully and don’t knowingly post false history, fabricated “traditions,” or misleading claims dressed up as fact. It’s always fine to say when something is a family version, a retelling, or uncertain — that honesty is part of keeping a good record.

Respect others’ privacy & consent

• Don’t post someone else’s photo, name, or personal information without their permission.
• Be especially careful with images or details of children, who cannot consent for themselves.
• Some nations have protocols about naming or picturing people who have passed on. Where that is the case, follow the family’s and community’s wishes.
• Don’t reveal the precise location of sensitive or sacred places if doing so could put them, or people, at risk.

What isn’t allowed

To keep this community safe, the following are not permitted anywhere on Native Story Book:

• hate speech, slurs, or attacks on people based on race, ethnicity, tribe, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, or origin;
• harassment, bullying, threats, or encouraging others to harass someone;
• violent, graphic, or sexually explicit content, and anything that sexualizes or endangers minors;
• content that promotes self-harm or violence against others;
• illegal content, or content that facilitates illegal activity;
• impersonation, scams, spam, or repetitive self-promotion;
• sharing others’ private information without consent (“doxxing”); and
• content that infringes someone’s copyright, trademark, or cultural rights.

Content we remove

Moderators may hide or remove any content that breaks these guidelines or our Terms of Service. When your own content is hidden, you’ll be able to see it in your removed-content area, and — where available — submit an appeal for a moderator to review. We aim to explain our decisions and to be proportionate.

Reporting & moderation

If you see something that breaks these guidelines, report it using the report option on the story, share, or comment. Reports go to our moderators, who review them and decide what to do. Please report in good faith — don’t file false or retaliatory reports. Cultural concerns can also be raised directly with us at isaachollowhorn@gmail.com.

Consequences

Depending on what happened and whether it’s a pattern, we may remove content, give a warning, temporarily suspend an account, or — for serious or repeated harm — permanently ban it. We may act without notice when it’s needed to protect people or the community. Bans can be appealed by contacting us.

A note for non-Native members

You’re welcome here as a respectful listener. Come to learn, and let Native voices lead. Don’t speak over the communities whose stories these are, don’t take stories or images to use elsewhere without permission, and remember that being allowed to read something is not the same as being given it to retell.

Contact

Questions, concerns, or a cultural request? Reach us at isaachollowhorn@gmail.com. You can also read our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.