How would you feel about someone dressing up as a prominent, historical Native figure, like Crazy Horse or Sitting Bull? I suppose it’s similar to dressing up as some other historical figure, but it seems sketchy. I’m kind of on the fence about it, though I could see people using it as a good chance to give others a history lesson when asked about their costume. What do you think? Also, do you celebrate Halloween? Are you dressing up?

About the author

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.

I can be contacted at flight.of.fancy@live.com, if you'd like to see something I've missed up on the site.

Want to contribute? Submit posts to www.mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/submit

Got questions? Submit them to
www.mycultureisnotatrend.tumblr.com/ask

nemoralis--deactivated01201 asked: How would you feel about someone dressing up as a prominent, historical Native figure, like Crazy Horse or Sitting Bull? I suppose it's similar to dressing up as some other historical figure, but it seems sketchy. I'm kind of on the fence about it, though I could see people using it as a good chance to give others a history lesson when asked about their costume. What do you think? Also, do you celebrate Halloween? Are you dressing up?

I don’t know. I can see it going either really really well, or terrible. It would be very difficult to pull off. Also, I just don’t know how well even the most accurate costume could be received. It’s a tricky one. I’m not saying it’s not possible, it’s just really really tough, and maybe even then not totally worth while.

I celebrated Halloween on Friday, Some of my previous Halloween costumes include being a unicorn, a mars bar, a black cat, the statue of liberty, Wizard of Oz, and one of the pink ladies from Grease.

Monday, October 31, 2011 — 5 notes ()

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my culture is not a trend.

About the author