Native American headdresses have become a popular accessory in America. Often, these headdresses are worn by people attending festivals or by individuals in the media. These individuals view the headdresses as a fashion statement, but to Native Americans they are respected items with significant meaning. This article discusses that meaning and the disrespect a person shows by inappropriately wearing one. The author explains that the headdresses people wear as a fashion statement are modeled after those worn by various Plain nations. These headdresses are respected symbols of Native American culture that individuals, particularly men, must earn the right to wear. When non-natives wear these headdresses they are exploiting Native American culture and disrespecting their sacred objects.
This article is directly addressing the issue of cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation occurs when individuals who belong to a dominant group exploit the culture of less powerful groups. This is often done with little to no understanding of the non-dominant groups culture, history, traditions, etc..
The concept of cultural appropriation is clearly depicted in "Horned Toad Lady and Coyote." In this story, Coyote, a dominant species, forces the Horned Toad Lady, a less powerful animal, to teach him her song. The Horned Toad Lady's song is very significant to her and is specifically a pottery-making song. Coyote uses his dominance to force her to teach him this song, simply because he enjoys it. Ultimately, Coyotes want for this song leads him to his death. Just like the girls who wear Native American headdresses at festivals, Coyote is cultural appropriating aspects of another groups identity without respecting or considering their culture. This story shows us the danger of cultural appropriation. Coyote is killed for his actions. While disrespectful headdress wearing may not lead to death, it is incredibly disrespectful to Native Americans. People who wear them are offending an entire culture and group of people. They are disregarding a sacred symbol and tradition in order to fulfill their own wants and desires. This story teaches us that cultural appropriation has significant consequences, and this is a lesson that many people today would benefit from learning.
The concept of cultural appropriation is clearly depicted in "Horned Toad Lady and Coyote." In this story, Coyote, a dominant species, forces the Horned Toad Lady, a less powerful animal, to teach him her song. The Horned Toad Lady's song is very significant to her and is specifically a pottery-making song. Coyote uses his dominance to force her to teach him this song, simply because he enjoys it. Ultimately, Coyotes want for this song leads him to his death. Just like the girls who wear Native American headdresses at festivals, Coyote is cultural appropriating aspects of another groups identity without respecting or considering their culture. This story shows us the danger of cultural appropriation. Coyote is killed for his actions. While disrespectful headdress wearing may not lead to death, it is incredibly disrespectful to Native Americans. People who wear them are offending an entire culture and group of people. They are disregarding a sacred symbol and tradition in order to fulfill their own wants and desires. This story teaches us that cultural appropriation has significant consequences, and this is a lesson that many people today would benefit from learning.
Cultural appropriation was one of the first things that came to my mind after reading this story. One thing that's upsetting about cultural appropriation, is that it's easy to do using one's knowledge of stereotypes about a group, even kids do it. It's not a topic talked about very often at all though, let alone with kids. It's quite astonishing how many people you'd hope would be respectful can try to represent a culture they know so little about. This happens with white people using cornrows, non Rastafarians or people with the wrong hair texture wearing dreadlocks, people pretending to do war calls and picking spirit animals and joking about vision quests, etc. When I was in kindergarten, my small class planned a pow-wow. To this day, I am not sure what happened because for the first time in ALL of my years of getting sick, my mother actually kept me from going to school on the one day I was looking forward to most. I mean, she sent me to school with a sinus infection a year later!! Anyway, there's a good chance it may have been offensive.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering what others think about think about people taking something from a less powerful culture and claiming it as their own or exploiting it. Does anyone think it's okay in certain situations as long as it's done respectfully and with knowledge of the culture? Personally, I think there are very few cases in which this could be justified.
I'm happy to see you writing about the connection between "Trickster" and cultural appropriation! In the last few years, I have began noticing in stores like Forever 21 and Urban Outfitters and at music festivals like Coachella, people from non- Native American origin exploiting and making a profit from selling symbols and articles of clothing that have significant meaning to Native American tribes. It's upsetting to think there are people from non-Native American origin wearing headdresses and being ignorant to the negative impact that has on Native American tribes today.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the message "Horned Toad Lady and Coyote" had because the tale spoke about the dangers of exploiting a culture but in a way that was not to abrasive. Since the tale is set up with colorful pictures, it makes me hope that this tale is one day told to children. This tale could be so educational for younger generations on teaching them to respect different cultures and traditions.
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