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StudentPermalink Reply by luluperuse on August 19, 2011 at 12:40am

Are people wearing full-on Native American head-dresses these days for fashion?  Okay, I think that's a bit too much appropriation, if so. 

 

And then there is the classic punk hairstyle "the Mohawk" or "the Mohican" as they call it in the UK. 

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StudentPermalink Reply by Jessica on August 13, 2011 at 11:44am

I do wear feathers and have been criticized for it a lot (only by people online though). I also have a wolf spirithood that I have gotten negative feedback about because it is offensive to Native Americans.. I can sort of see where they are coming from, but I myself am part Native American, and it makes me feel closer to my pure Native American grandmother who I never got to meet. My dad (her son) has given me feathers to wear before, and I wear them with pride. It makes me sad that people take such offense to it, when I really don't think people who wear them mean any harm. I think fashion takes a little bit of everything, and is a light-hearted topic. I will continue to wear feathers and be a hoop dancer, regardless of what others may think of me.

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StudentPermalink Reply by shimarella* on August 15, 2011 at 11:13pm

I had liked the look of the feathers in hair but now that I know more about how the feathers are obtained I can't imagine wanting to buy into it ( since I don't have an awesome pet bird to give me feathers :)). And while many cultural styles and fashions do indeed get absorbed and transformed over time, some may just be too close to the bone. I mean, I have fascinators and hair clips with fake feathers ( or humanely gathered feathers) but I hope that's not quite the same.

 

I guess we all have to figure out where our personal line between " eh, lighten up its fashion" and " I didn't mean to appropriate your culture" is. I feel OK passing on the feather extensions. Thanks for the info, Caroleena.

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Permalink Reply by Traci "CircularPraise" Bonney on August 16, 2011 at 6:27am

I'm with you on this one, shimarella.  I can't in good conscience contribute to this situation, so I've found an alternative I can live with - fun fur yarn, the "eyelash" variety, is great for falls and fake extensions.  It can be knit or crochetted onto a hair clip, or just tied onto one.  It doesn't give the semi-permanent extension the feathers do, but it's a lot more humane.

 

Meanwhile, I want to say thanks for this discussion; it led me to write a poem on my poemflow blog that's been getting some good response.  If you want to check it out, it's called Extensions.

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Permalink Reply by Kari Johnson on August 16, 2011 at 9:28pm

Whenever I wear something that's not from the cultures I'm from, for me, it's a nod to that culture. I try to research and be aware of things I do and what background they come from or are inspired from. I also do my best to make purchases that support the originators as much as possible - the dreamcatchers, feathers, moccasins, and rug I own came from craft fairs on a Cherokee reservation (and I cannot begin to explain how much I ADORE each item and I know each piece inside and out, I could identify my dreamcatcher if stolen simply by naming the minor flaws), my hookah was purchased from a gentleman who made it for me in Egypt... I try to be careful and make sure that I'm appreciating and respecting cultures I borrow ideas from. :) Try, mind you. Try.

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StudentPermalink Reply by luluperuse on August 19, 2011 at 12:28am

This is a very important issue and I am glad you brought it up.  I used to be overly conscious of this issue, but in the end, I think if what you do comes from a loving place, a place of sincerity, then it is an honorable thing to be inspired by other cultures if the reverence and respect is there.

 

For example, I was born and live on the west coast of Canada where the First Nations people here are known for their amazing art and carvings.  If I (as a non-First Nations person) were to copy this style and sell it to tourists to make a quick buck, then I would consider that appropriation.  But, if I wanted to learn in this style and study the history of the people, of each distinct nation, learn from local masters, just because I simply revered and loved it, for the joy of doing it, then that would be different.  But I think it would be important for me to make that distinction--I am not a First Nation's person but I am truly inspired by this culture and their art.  Even if I did come from this place of sincerity, I would never be a First Nations' artist.  I would be an artist replicating a particular style.  Does this make sense?

 

With feather earrings in particular, however, I never thought of that as purely coming from North American native culture.  Feathers have been used in many cultures for many different things and to me symbolize what birds symbolize: freedom (as in flight).  Plus, they are natural and unique to birds and simply gorgeous!  That is what inspired me to wear feather earrings.  The feathers I use include peacock, ones my son finds for me because he knows I like them, budgie feathers....  I don't even wear them all the time, I just collect them if I come across them because I think they are lovely!

 

With hooping, I think this phenom has had many influnences: from Wham-O to Rhythmic Gymnastics to Indigenous cultures.  But the circle is a universal symbol and people have danced with hoops or in circles around the world for milenia. 

 

The traditional hoop dancing of certain Native peoples in North America: yes, that is a distinct style of "multi-hooping" and that has definitely influenced many of us hoopers.  We have been inspired, and we have borrowed: hopefully, we don't pass those particular moves off as our own dance but learn about where those moves come from and pay homage to that.

 

 

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