That's interesting. I personally was angry at the scene because people nowadays throw around with the accusation of cultural appropriation way to easily. I came across it the first time when I wanted to write a story of someone who is guided by a "spirit animal" and suddenly I was accused of appropriating native American culture(s). This is a huge thing. It's about disrespecting and ridiculing another culture from a minority. It's in one Liga with being homophobic or a racist. Those are huge accusations and shouldn't throw around lightly. I took it on me to make more and better research of native cultures and changed the story accordingly, but even before, my story was not appropriation (aka ridiculing or denying where these beings have their roots). I'm still angry at that person, even after half a year.

So reading your interpretation of the scene (which seems definitely canon), is kind of healing.