Native Appropriations (the Tumblr!)
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Florida State’s new billboard for their MBA. Really?
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So the Ranch responded to my wall post. What a disgusting establishment.
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In case you missed A Tribe Called Red mentioned in the November ELLE Canada Magazine …
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Description of the “Indian Costume” via Spirit Halloween:
“The Indian costume has been a part of the American Halloween scene since the beginning. Kids bedeck themselves in Indian costume jewelry and traditional Indian costumes and are able to live out a slice of American history.
The American Indian costumes that Spirit Halloween offers vary and come with a number of accessories that can make your Indian costume the best in the tribe. The American Indian Halloween costumes for men andboysare great costumes for any party or trick or treating adventure. Just don’t eat too much candy and go on a sugar induced vision quest!
The girl Indian costume variety is also a very popular Halloween costume idea. There are varieties for younger girls and women and similarly there are different accessories for the ladies with traditional Indian jewelry replacing the tomahawk and spear. There is also asexy Indian costumefor the more daring ladies out there trying to land their own John Smith.
Some of the accessories that Spirit offers for these great costumes are traditional Indian tools and weapons, guns,headdressesand jewelry. All of these accessories and costumes may only be a simulation of how these noble people lived, however, showing them deference and respect by keeping their memory alive in the traditions of America, especially one as festive and inspired as Halloween, is a great thing.
So when your kids want to don a traditional Indian costume with frays and a feather, don’t look at it as disrespectful. See it as a way to teach your little one about American history. Tell them about the rich tradition of the natives of this continent before the European invasion: the deep respect for nature, a rich, textured oral history, tribal society, etc. Let them in on the knowledge that for a thousand years, before there were cities and highways and the internet, there was a race of people living amongst the animals and trees. It will set their imagination on fire while instilling in them a sense of respect for Native Americans as well as a desire to learn more about them.
Halloween doesn’t have to be just candy and costumes, so this year, have your kid join the noble ranks of the thousands before him or her who wore the costume they will wear and tell them about the great tradition of it. “More on the annotation and dressing as an Indian: http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/2012/10/so-you-wanna-be-indian-for-halloween.html
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I wrote this poem last year around the time I heard about the Navajo nation suing Urban Outfitters for their “navajo panties”. I’ve had up to about here with all those damn models in headdresses and people walking around wearing geometric designs on their clothes trying to look native. Its just gets me. But anyways please reblog. I want to/need to get the word out about my poem.
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fuck paul frank
Paul Frank took down all the Fashion Night Out pictures off the facebook page…but that doesn’t mean we’ll stop fighting. This is messed up.
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The word "Redskin" is offensive by the dictionary definition. Why are we allowing a youth football organization to use a term that racially discriminates against an entire race of people? Please sign (via moosedeevita)
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Stumbling my way through girls and life: My dash will be pleased to know That I now have a standard response to Cultural Appropriation that involves more than flailing gibberish, ‘Fuck you!’s, and many links being posted. It will go something like this:
“Why is this wrong, offensive, and incendiary? Why can’t I just lighten the hell up as you don’t actually intend to…
That GIF is now my favorite ever. Thanks for that.
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Dear Native High School Student who was just admitted to college,
First and foremost, congratulations! Yay! I can’t even convey in words how excited I am for you. You are making your family, your ancestors, your Tribe, and your community proud. You’ve worked your butt off- putting your studies first, navigating a complex and confusing application process, making difficult choices along the way. After all those essays, standardized tests, and maybe an interview or two, you’ve done it. I am so proud of you.
After all that work, you now get to reap the rewards. Revel in the excitement of your family. Let your mom bring your admission letter to work. Let your little brother wear your new college sweatshirt to school. Because you deserve the praise. I know it can feel weird sometimes, but I want you to realize that going to college is not a selfish choice. It’s a choice that will give you the means to give back to your community, and the broader Native community as well. You will have the power to shape the future of Indian Country, and that is the most decidedly un-selfish thing you can do.
Although I wouldn’t be being truthful if I told you that things in the next few weeks or months won’t be hard. People may say things to you to try and diminish your accomplishments. I want you to be prepared, but I also want you to know that they’re 100%, completely and totally, wrong. READ MORE HERE: http://www.lastrealindians.com/2012/08/10/dear-native-student-who-was-just-admitted-to-college/
And if you want to see the original column (w/ good comment convo going on), it can be found here (orig posted 4/9/2012). Thanks to Last Real Indians for the love!
