But Being Native American is So in Style...
Currently being "Native American" has been the latest craze in popular culture. Everywhere you look you see Aboriginal influenced trends, especially in fashion. When you go to the mall you see products designed with feathers, beads, dream catchers, fur, and designs influenced from various Aboriginal cultures. This is nothing different than what we have seen in the past, as exemplified with some of the pictures above. There has been toys, products, comics and games that have been influenced by the dominants society's perception of Aboriginal culture. This time, however, society has become more inclusive to other cultures and many are now justifying this trend with their respect and interest for the culture(s). Some people, such as hipsters, have gone as far as creating new names for themselves and living a life that is harmonious with the environment that resembles the common notion of the traditional Aboriginal life style.
Why the ‘Native’ Fashion Trend Is Pissing Off Real Native Americans by Lisa Hix
“The problem,” says Jessica R. Metcalfe, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa and doctor of Native American studies who teaches at Arizona State University and blogs about Native American fashion designers at Beyond Buckskin, “is that they’re putting it out there as ‘This is the native,’ or ‘This is native-inspired’. So now you have non-native people representing us in mainstream culture. That, of course, gets tiring, because this has been happening since the good old days of the Hollywood Western in the 1930's and 40's where they hired non-native actors and dressed them up essentially in redface."
According to my own experiences, I have learned that Elders find it unnatural, and in some circumstances disrespectful, for individuals to try and observe Aboriginal traditions without truly understanding Aboriginal epistemology (ways of knowing). A respected Blackfoot Elder once explained to me that you must first understand who you are -- your own identity -- and how you are connected to everyone and everything. He told me that is the first and the main aspect of Aboriginal epistemology. Therefore, covering yourself with paraphernalia of culture symbols does not make you any more or any less a part of that culture. Personally, I have fallen into this popular culture trend and it is hard to avoid especially when these so called "Native American" influenced designs truly appeals to your interests and, therefore, your consumer side. The cartoon below is a representation of the very notion of trying to assume a new identity that is based off of stereotypes, even if it is a part of your own heritage:
Why the ‘Native’ Fashion Trend Is Pissing Off Real Native Americans by Lisa Hix
“The problem,” says Jessica R. Metcalfe, a Turtle Mountain Chippewa and doctor of Native American studies who teaches at Arizona State University and blogs about Native American fashion designers at Beyond Buckskin, “is that they’re putting it out there as ‘This is the native,’ or ‘This is native-inspired’. So now you have non-native people representing us in mainstream culture. That, of course, gets tiring, because this has been happening since the good old days of the Hollywood Western in the 1930's and 40's where they hired non-native actors and dressed them up essentially in redface."
According to my own experiences, I have learned that Elders find it unnatural, and in some circumstances disrespectful, for individuals to try and observe Aboriginal traditions without truly understanding Aboriginal epistemology (ways of knowing). A respected Blackfoot Elder once explained to me that you must first understand who you are -- your own identity -- and how you are connected to everyone and everything. He told me that is the first and the main aspect of Aboriginal epistemology. Therefore, covering yourself with paraphernalia of culture symbols does not make you any more or any less a part of that culture. Personally, I have fallen into this popular culture trend and it is hard to avoid especially when these so called "Native American" influenced designs truly appeals to your interests and, therefore, your consumer side. The cartoon below is a representation of the very notion of trying to assume a new identity that is based off of stereotypes, even if it is a part of your own heritage:
When Popular Culture Becomes Offensive
There are a number of Aboriginal people who are quite offended by the way in which popular culture has taken the Aboriginal culture once again and exploited it for consumer purposes. No matter why trends appeal to society it does have one purpose alone and that is to make money. But who ends up getting that money? How come it does not cross any boundaries of copy right on trademarks? Native artists and businesses that sell authentic Aboriginal products are also now facing another challenge. They have to compete with the mainstream and their cheap knockoffs. This never bodes well for the small businessman. Some individuals have been expressing their concerns freely online through blogs, website articles and more. Below is an example of an unhappy blogger who writes "My Culture is Not a Trend" . Through this she has created a dialogue about culture appropriateness.
Hi, I'm a Native American, and I'm fed up with the appropriation of my culture by those desperate to be trendy, hip, ironic etc. Being a Native comes with a history of decidedly un-trendy events, such as the cultural genocide of an entire continent, residential schools, racism, stolen generations, and the eradication of entire tribes of people and their cultural traditions.
This blog is devoted to calling out those who might think that it is fun to dress like a native for a photo-shoot, or what have you. Just because it's popular, doesn't make it right, and to me, it is just as offensive as blackface.
Although we are a mostly invisible culture, that does not grant anyone the right to appropriate what little pieces of our past we have, robbing them of their dignity.
Part of being seen as "trendy" also makes an entire culture not only a commodity, but also something that people will (and can) tire of; therefore being disposable. And to me, that is unacceptable.