Tom Ford in a Headdress; but that's not the interesting part

 (image via HuffPo)

AK Note: Hi, remember me? My apologies for the sudden post drop off, school has been ridiculously busy. But I'm back, promise. And I'm still always looking for guest posts if anyone is interested...nativeappropriations@gmail.com

A few days ago, Huffington Post posted some preview pictures of Tom Ford's photo spread in French Vogue (he's a fashion designer, btw). The first picture of the spread is of Ford, sporting a warbonnet. So, we all know why it's wrong, and we can add him to the list of recent celebrity redface transgressions. Not that exciting. 

What I am fascinated by, however, are the comments on the article on HuffPo, but mostly on the re-post over at Jezebel. We all know I'm not a big fan of the Jezebel commenting community on issues of race, especially on Native issues, but check some of these out (the whole comment thread is here):

Navajo Potatoes: not what I was expecting

I saw this pop up on my friend Jerry's Facebook wall, and immediately thought it was going to be a "Random Appropriation of the Day"--but I was pleasantly and unexpectedly wrong. Walmart now sells potatoes grown on the Navajo Nation. How cool is that?

Update: commenter Bill posted the "About Us" from the Navajo Pride webpage:

"We produce premier Navajo Pride brand agricultural products, guaranteed to be the highest quality on the market today. We are located in the heart of the Four Corners region near Farmington, New Mexico, and are the largest contiguous farmland in the nation.

Our agribusiness features state-of-the-art farming technology including a multimillion dollar water management system. NAPI produces the finest and freshest varieties of Navajo Pride brand potatoes, corn, alfalfa, beans, and small grains, such as barley, wheat and oats. We are also expanding our Navajo Pride brand product selection at all times, so be sure and check our product availability frequently.
What makes Navajo Pride brand so unique? We are owned and operated by the Navajo people--those who understand and have been farming the land for centuries.
At NAPI, we take pride in producing Navajo Pride brand premium products for retail purposes, repackaging or for direct sale to our customers."

Awesome.

(Thanks Jerry!)

Presidential Proclamation on Native American Heritage Month

 (Obama on the Crow reservation, source here)

Every year since 1990, the president of the United States has issued a proclamation declaring the month of November as "National Native American Heritage Month." As a result, November often brings an influx of "Native American Awareness" programming at local libraries, schools, and community organizations, culminating with the one day Indians come up in casual conversation--Thanksgiving. I thought I would share Obama's presidential proclamation, which he issued at the end of last month. I'm curious how everyone will perceive the language choices throughout, and what was included and excluded. The proclamation is also posted in full on this site.

Harvard Sigma Chi Update #2: An Email from the National Chapter

(Random people at the Harvard Sigma Chi house...thanks google images)

After my post on the Conquistabros and Navajos party at Harvard, I fired off a few angry emails to the National Chapter of Sigma Chi, linking back to my blog. When the apology came out in the Crimson last week, I assumed that was it. Yesterday, however, I received a personal response to my angry email from an officer at the National level:

Mid-Week Motivation: I am NOT your Costume

I am a human being.

I am not your Halloween costume.

I am not your party theme.

I am not your mascot. 

I am not your costume.

These are some of my awesome friends and classmates from the Stanford Native community, protesting the use of "Native" themes at campus frat parties back in 2009. I thought it was fitting to bring it back today, given our recent discussions of frat parties and halloween costumes.

Also, awesomely (and the reason I re-found it), the picture made it all the way to a blog I am a huge fan of, a allure garconniere, for her halloween post--and she's in Quebec! The words under the picture actually came from this tumblr, and I'm amazed at how many people re-posted it. So cool.

Here's another shot of Kanani, Edie, and Rachel, some of the beautiful Stanford Native Hawaiians:

You guys continue to inspire me from afar. So proud of y'all. Even in the face of injustice and racism, there are always people fighting the good fight.

(Thanks Leon (they're his pictures), and Julia!)

Rachel Zoe as a "Makeshift Indian Warrior"

(Click for bigger, source here)

Add Rachel Zoe to the list of celebrities donning racial drag this Halloween. She posted this picture October 30th on her twitter account and blog with the tweet:

"headed out as a make shift Indian warrior! Happy almost Halloween! XoRZ"

The plastic tomahawk is a nice touch, right? sigh.

Here's the post:

The Zoe Report: Halloween Tweet

Earlier:

Paris Hilton as a "Sexy Indian": The Halloween Fallout Begins

But Why Can't I Wear a Hipster Headdress?

(Thanks Becky!)

Paris Hilton as a "Sexy Indian": The Halloween Fallout Begins

(image source--there are like 40 more pictures if you're curious)

These pictures of Paris Hilton at the Playboy Halloween Party have been making the rounds on the internets today. Jezebel put the photo up with a "ZOMG RACISMZ" headline--but no follow up or further information, so in typical Jezebel commenter fashion, the comments have descended into crazy. Check them out if you want to get pissed off (as per usual).