Random Appropriation of the Day! ("Spirit Guides" Tomahawk)

Feast your eyes upon the "Spirit Guides Native American Style Tomahawk Replica" from a company called "Collectibles Today." In case its use was unclear, it's a wall hanging. duh. Besides the obvious stereotypes--tomahawk, wolves, feathers, beading, connection to the mystical, etc, you MUST read the description:

Be guided by the wolf's commanding spirit and remarkable courage with this awe-inspiring sculptural collectible Native American style tomahawk replica. This magnificent wall display combines a rich tradition and wolf artistry. Just look at the custom piercing on the sculpted blade as it creates the image of a majestic wolf howling at the moon on a starlit night.

Celebrate a creature of mystery and great power with this striking handcrafted limited-edition Native American style tomahawk replica, available exclusively from The Hamilton Collection. This tomahawk replica boasts wolf art "carvings" of a pack of wolves on the handle, and is decorated with real feathers, leather cording, "beadwork" and simulated turquoise. Makes unique wall decor and it's a fantastic wolf art gift. Heavy demand is expected, and you won't want to miss out. Order now!

Wow. Just one question: what is "wolf artistry?" I didn't know wolves could sculpt!

This beauty can be yours for the low, low price of only one payment of $39.95 (+$7.99 shipping and handling). It says heavy demand is expected, so you better get on it.

Also, my friend Steven found this from a Facebook ad. If anyone else comes across similar examples, please send them my way.

May the great power and commanding spirit of the wolf be with you!

"Spirit Guides Native American Style Tomahawk Replica": http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-901625001.jsp 

(I also recommend clicking on "Native American Style" on the upper lefthand side to see their other great products)

(Thanks Steven!)

Ivy League Graduation Appropriation

Sunday was "Class Day" at an Ivy League university, and I sat with 5 of my family members, watching my little sister graduate. Class Day tradition at this school dictates students wear "funny hats" along with their graduation robes (the traditional mortar boards are saved for commencement the next day). As I waited for my sister to enter through the gates (she was wearing a flower wreath), my dad grabbed my arm and said "AJ, look at the jumbotron."

Yep, a student decided it would be a great idea if his "funny hat" was a full on warbonnet. Then, a few seconds later, this girl walked by:

Not Again, Ke$ha.

Our favorite warbonnet-wearing-hot-mess of a musician sported another headdress at The Bamboozle (a big  music festival). The photographer calls her get up a "psuedo-patriotic costume of a feather headdress, aviator sunglasses, and the American flag". Right.

Plenty more pictures at the photog's site: http://ishootshows.com/2010/05/21/photos-kesha-the-bamboozle/

A couple of tipsters had sent over Ke$ha's new video for "Your Love is My Drug", a song which boasts the lyric "Do I make your heart beat like a native drum (an 808 drum--I stand corrected!)?", and this seems like an appropriate time to share it:

"The sexiest rain dance ever": Cyanide and Happiness cartoon

It took me a minute to even get the joke in this cartoon. Let's break it down:

We all know all Indians do rain dances, right? (riiiight)

And high roller strip club patrons "make it rain" by throwing money up in the air so it falls down like rain on the stripper. 

Therefore, it's funny, get it? 

When they dance, it's making it rain (cause they're Native), but instead of rain, it's money (cause they're a stripper)! 

ZOMG so funny. 

And all the stereotypes managed to be jam packed in one little cartoon (caution: sarcasm ahead):

Plenty of "Indians" and Equal Opportunity Racism: Bay to Breakers 2010

Bay to Breakers is an annual San Francisco Bay Area tradition, now in its 99th year. Technically it's a 12k race, starting downtown (the bay) and ending at the beach (the breakers). I don't know the exact history, or how it has (d)evolved through the years, but I can tell you it is now one part serious road race, and about 100 parts drunken costumed debauchery.

Early sunday morning I positioned myself on the side of the road, ready to capture what I figured would be a few rouge headdresses. I quickly spotted one, then another, and another...and before I knew it, I had to stop because there were just too many and it was getting redundant. My album on my computer has 53 pictures, and that was in about the course of an hour and a half. yikes.

Below, a few of the many "Indians" to grace B2B:

Random Appropriation of the Day! (International Pow Wow)

I was browsing twitter trending topics this afternoon, and saw that #powwow was a trending topic--way far down, but still! So I investigated, only to find out that none of the posts had anything to do with any powwow I had ever attended.

"I bead contemporary Native life": The Art of Teri Greeves

AK note: Repost from the always fabulous Beyond Buckskin's Jessica Metcalfe. If you haven't seen her blog, I highly recommend it. She blogs about Native fashion and Indigenous designers, and always has insightful and interesting commentary. This is one of her "Designer Profiles".

Teri Greeves
Kiowa

Teri Greeves grew up on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming and began beading when she was eight years old. Since then, she has developed her own style and has become known for beading on unusual surfaces. Her medium of choice, beadwork, represents Native adaptability to new materials because it references the interaction and cultural exchange with Europeans who first introduced trade beads to Native Americans centuries ago.

Eclectic and vibrantly colored, her fully beaded high-top shoes combine contemporary Native realities with traditional oral historical themes, and modernizes the tradition of beading moccasins. Through her work she hopes to educate by sharing the history and values of her people, and to bring beauty into the world in new ways. Although many of Greeves’ pieces are for adornment, essentially, she says, “I bead contemporary Native life.”

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Plastic Indian Necklace)

Another great find from regretsy.com (a blog that combs etsy.com for weird and hilarious postings). This masterpiece was included in their "Top 10 Horrible Necklaces," and awesomely titled "Dances with Plastic." Beyond the ridiculousness of the necklace itself, we have the description:

"I love the native american culture"? right. He's "hunting...perhaps for dinner. or lunch."? awesome. 

But let's also point out: she drilled a hole in a plastic Indian figurine, strung it on some ribbon...and someone bought it. (It's been sold)

Wow. 

Original Regretsy Post: http://www.regretsy.com/2010/05/10/top-10-horrible-necklaces/

Etsy seller's page: http://www.etsy.com/listing/45272694/native-american-necklace

Earlier: Groundhog Native American Shield (also via regretsy) http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/2010/02/random-appropriation-of-day-holiday.html

Random Appropriation of the Day ("Cherikee Red" Soda)

 (image source)

Cause we all know that changing the "o" to an "i" in Cherokee makes it all ok and not racist, right?

Feast your eyes on Cherikee Red, a cherry flavored soda available (yes, in 2010) in the great states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Besides the appropriation of the Cherokee name and the fantastically insensitive connection to the word "red" (redskin, anyone?), do I have to point it out again?

Dear world, Cherokees don't wear plains style warbonnets. Never have. Just because "Cherokee" seems to be the only tribe that 95% of the US knows doesn't mean that we wear the same traditional regalia as the tribes represented in westerns. Just an FYI.

When Non-Native Participation in Powwows Goes Terribly Wrong

Let's set the scene: Friday afternoon, Stanford powwow--one of the largest powwow's on the West Coast. Three Native powwow committee members and a friend are checking in on the vendor booths, making sure things are ready to go, and they come across the group pictured above. 6 non-Native girls, decked out in warpaint, feathers, fringe, and moccassins--playing Indian at its worst. I'll let my friend Leon tell the whole story:

While we were walking around Powwow on Friday, checkin out the vendors, we saw this pack of little white girls come running in from the street. Now, needless to say, we were shocked at the sight. We pretty much all just stopped in our tracks, and were speechless for a minute, as we looked on in sheer disbelief. After going through a few (angry) options in our heads about what to do, we figured we should have a little fun with it first (especially since there was this crew of little like six year old Native girls who were already making fun of them)...anyways, me and Lisa devised a plan to get this picture of them for you and your blog. So Lisa approached the girls and said "Excuse me girls..." (silence fell upon the land)..."could we get a picture of you for our newsletter?" "Of course!!!" the girls replied with excitement...

So girls, here's your "newsletter" debut.

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Pee Pee Teepee?)

Thanks(?) to my friend Jerold for sending over the "Pee-Pee Teepee: For the sprinkling wee-wee", found in an airport gift shop in Seattle.Click the picture if you want to read the accompanying poem. It's a winner.

Comes in many color and pattern choices for your little man...and this is making me uncomfortable. haha.

(Thanks Jerold!)

AK note: apologies for the lack of posts the last few days, I'm finishing up my finals. But expect a flurry next week, and until then, a steady stream of random appropriations to hold you over. :)