"The Potawatomis didn't have a word for global business center"?

I was waiting for my connecting flight at Chicago O'Hare, and spotted this advertisement on the opposite side of our gate. Close up on the text:

It reads:

"Chicago is the Potawatomi word for onion field. Apparently, the Potawatomis didn't have a word for global business center."

Wisconsin Bans Indian Mascots!

As of this week, schools in Wisconsin using race-based mascots can be fined up to $1,000 a day. This law has been a long time coming, the first form of it was presented to the state over 30 years ago. The way the law works is that parties can submit complaints to the state, and after a hearing, if the school is found to be in violation, they can face fines of up to $1,000 per day if they continue to use the image and name.

This is awesome news, and I can only hope that this is signaling a change that many other states will follow! Yay Wisconsin!

Read the whole article here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127987743

AK Programming note: I thought this was a fitting time to talk about Wisconsin, since I'm actually at the airport, en route to Wisconsin. I'm headed to Lawrence University, which is hosting College Horizons, an incredible program for Native high school students to learn about the college application process. I'm an alum of the program, and this is my third time returning as faculty. If you know of any Native high schoolers, encourage them to apply for next summer! They also host a graduate school version called Graduate Horizons for those of you a bit older. Seriously one of the best programs for Native students out there. 

(Thanks Mom and Katie for sending the article!)

Savage, Farting Maoris and "The Wives of Henry Oades"

As I was scanning the pile of new releases at the local library, my eye caught a line on the back of a book called "The Wives of Henry Oades." The paragraph ended with: "...the native Maori stage an uprising, kidnapping Margaret and her children."

You knew that book was coming home with me.

Between Pageantry and Poverty: Representing Ourselves

(source)

"It often seems as if America has only two frames through which to view its Native culture: ceremony and pageantry or poverty and addiction."

The New York Times has an incredible slide show on the web of photographs by Adam Sings In The Timber, a member of the Crow Nation in Montana. The above quote is so powerful and so true, and Adam says that his work seeks to fill in the space between the extremes, to show that the members of his Nation are so much more than the stereotypes that abound. He says,

“The rhythm of life on the reservation isn’t that much different from the rest of the country, just on a smaller scale.We have those who live in poverty and those who are upper middle class. The real difference is that we also have our identities as Crows. Those identities stem from our tribe’s culture, language and history.”

Disney Appropriation--"Injun Donald"

One of these things is not like the others, one of these things doesn't belong...let's see: Minnie Mouse, Tom Sawyer's Island, Fantasmic Logo...In'jun Donald?!

Reader Audra sent over this image, taken at Disneyland, of the side of the penny-stretching machine (remember those? you stick a penny and like 50 cents in, and get a smooshed penny with a souvenir design in it?). Here's the penny itself (the middle one):

Nudie Neon Indians and the Sexualization of Native Women

Neon Indian is a hipster-indie band that has been gaining some notoriety as of late. They performed on Jimmy Fallon, and have been making the music festival circuit as well. Though the name annoys me, I hadn't actually associated them with any cultural appropriation, since nothing I've read about the band references anything Native. I figured maybe they were talking about the other kind of Indian. Their name actually comes from (if you believe teh blogz) a make-believe band front man Alan Palomo (who is Latino) had in high school

So, even if the name wasn't a direct reference, and the band has avoided Native stereotypes (send me images if you find otherwise), you can't control your fans (Clearly, as we saw with the Blackhawks and Flyers fans last week).

Educating non-Natives at Lightning in a Bottle

My friend Ricky (who made this awesome graphic I've posted before) headed out to the Lightning in a Bottle (LIB) music festival a few weeks ago, and was prepared to approach the concert-goers in headdresses and other forms of cultural appropriation in the mindset of an educator. He encountered many headdresses, and more. I'll let him tell the story himself:

Random Appropriation of the Day ("Navajo Bronze" Hair Dye)

Apparently Clairol has a color of their "Natural Instincts" line called "Navajo Bronze"--a "light caramel brown". Of course, since Clariol wants you to think that this line of hair dye is "natural" and stuff, they have to use Natives for marketing, since we're all tied to nature and pure and whatever else they think. Frustrating.

Amazon listing: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E5EC4A/?tag=botkrajai-20

(Thanks Scott!)

TLC's Extreme Poodles includes some Extreme Stereotyping

TLC is not exactly known for its normal, run of the mill programming. While I'm sure we can all admit to paying rapt attention to "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" at one point or another, the network's stunts for ratings have gotten weirder and weirder lately. I think the topper might be their recent special "Extreme Poodles," a show that chronicled participants in an "Extreme" poodle grooming contest.

As I might have mentioned before, I (sadly) don't have cable. I know, I'm crazy. So I haven't actually seen the episode, and am just going off of the links and descriptions around the internets. But apparently, this is how it went down.

Contestants were allowed to "pre-dye" their poodles (with non-toxic veggie dye), but all cutting, trimming, and styling was done on a stage, in front of an audience and judges. Each poodle had a theme, and when the groomers presented the final product, they dressed up and had music relating to their dog's "theme". Other themes? Lion king, Roller Derby, Garden of Eden....and then the family you see above, with their entry titled "Cherokee Heritage".

Vince Vaughn Encourages Cultural Appropriation (well, sort of)

(image source)

Vince Vaughn is shooting a new movie called "Cheating Hearts," and apparently some scenes take place at a Chicago Blackhawks game. The casting agency put a call out for extras--"Blackhawk fans"--and some of the participants were a little overly enthusiastic with the Blackhawks "regalia" (like the pair above). ReelChicago.com describes the casting call:

Thanks for the severed head, you've proved my point.

Game 4. Philly Flyers vs. Chicago Blackhawks. The Flyers score a goal, and VERSUS tv shows this guy. This guy, holding an impaled, severed, Indian head. On national tv. Close up on his prop:

The Ultimate Tribal Fashion Roundup (June 2010 version)

(TNA Spring Catalogue)

It's been a while since my last tribal fashion roundup back in March, and even longer since I first questioned the emergence of Native themes in fashion back in January. The trends don't seem to be slowing down, and if the prevalence of the hipster headdress is any indication, they might be sticking around for even longer. So there may be an Ultimate Tribal Fashion Roundup July, and August, and September...we'll have to wait and see.

Just to get it out of the way early in the post, or in case you need a refresher, here's why all this is not cool: But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress?  The Last point is particularly relevant here, so I'll repost:

Well then, Miss Cultural Appropriation Police, what CAN I wear?

• If you choose to wear something Native, buy it from a Native. There are federal laws that protect Native artists and craftspeople who make genuine jewelry, art, etc. (see info here about The Indian Arts and Crafts Act). Anything you buy should have a label that says "Indian made" or "Native made". Talk to the artist. Find out where they're from. Be diligent. Don't go out in a full "costume". It's ok to have on some beaded earrings or a turquoise ring, but don't march down the street wearing a feather, with loaded on jewelry, and a ribbon shirt. Ask yourself: if you ran into a Native person, would you feel embarrassed or feel the need to justify yourself? As commenter Bree pointed out, it's ok to own a shirt with kimono sleeves, but you wouldn't go out wearing full kabuki makeup to a bar. Just take a minute to question your sartorial choices before you go out.  

These images are gathered from all walks of fashion and the far corners of the internets. Beneath each photo I've put the source and any other pertinent information. Most of the links have many more photos, but I just picked one or two for you to get the gist of it, so click through for more. Ready? Here we go...

Headdresses and Music Festivals Go Together Like PB and...Racism?

I don't know what it is about outdoor music festivals that seems to invite headdress-wearing these days, but we saw it at Coachella, and Ke$ha at The Bamboozle, and now at Sasquatch! in Washington over memorial day weekend. The Seattle Weekly Blog posted about the phenomenon (more photos on the site), and questioned the reasoning behind the Native-inspired garb:

"Tribal Hunter" is worse off than "Circus Clown": 2010 Indian Legos

Time to meet the 2010 Lego "Tribal Hunter," the smiling dude above. Note his "buckskin" outfit, beads, eagle feathers, warpaint, long hair, and bow and arrows. Pretty much every stereotypical marker that I can think of (see this post for more information about those markers). But lest you be offended, read his description below. He's not a violent warrior, he's not in the past--he has an ipod! And he doesn't kill animals--just pokes them! (I'm not kidding. Read it.):