Furor over Native American Fashion Costume

[Monique]

Apparently even the "Native" fashion trend is pissing off "Native Americans" http://www.collectorsweekly.com/art...n-trend-is-pissing-off-real-native-americans/

These people are racist in the labels they attach to people. Apparently according to these people I'm not even allowed to wear a string in my hair, because I'm "white"? (see the comment on Jessica Simpson).

 

[zoobyshoe]

I think the people in this thread think Native Americans are white people with dark hair and skin and a superficial claim to an ethnic heritage, the way the rest of us say, "I'm Irish, Polish and Italian". Native Americans are a conquered people living in foreign occupied North America. We never assimilated them the way the Spanish did further south. (In Mexico and below you can't tell a person from Spanish heritage from an Indian to speak of because there was stirring and mixing of the melting pot from the get go.)

Here in North America we segregated the Natives, prevented them from being completely Native and also prevented them from becoming white. They're still here today, millions of them, in limbo on reservations. Real Native Americans who live on the rez are not Americanized in the way you all assume. They really don't quite get white culture and are living on very damaged remnants of their own former ways.

Some escape here and there, get a college education and try to act as go-betweens between the rez and the white world. There's very little progress there. They're too powerless for the white world to care what they think. No longer a force to be taken too seriously.

I'm former Navy and I've seen womens' clothing with stylized insignia including medals and rank insignia. I couldn't possibly care any less. Use of official insignia as a fashion accessory - particularly obsolete insignia - is not an insult.

In determining whether or not you'd be upset don't forget that this is being done by a conquering race so firmly entrenched in your people's former territory that you know they'll never, ever be dislodged. They can misrepresent what you used to be with impunity unless you're willing to undertake the strain of a lawsuit. I'm glad Victoria's Secret responded so well just at the level of objections.

 

[russ_watters]

In determining whether or not you'd be upset don't forget that this is being done by a conquering race so firmly entrenched in your people's former territory that you know they'll never, ever be dislodged...

I'm half German -- should my best friend, who is Jewish, hate me because of the Holocaust? For that matter, I'm a quarter English -- should I hate myself for the oppression of the crown?

This is just silliness. I've never killed a native American or Jew, nor have I quartered any troops of mine in Camden.

Native Americans are a conquered people living in foreign occupied North America.

Do they really still believe that? Given how much borders around the world have changed in the past 150 years, it is incredible to me that people would feel such a thing. It isn't like this is an active conflict.

Here in North America we segregated the Natives, prevented them from being completely Native and also prevented them from becoming white. They're still here today, millions of them, in limbo on reservations.

Nonsense. I went to high school with a guy who was half Cherokee. Mean jazz sax player (should blacks complain about him stealing their music?) and the chicks really dug the hair. They have a choice of where they want to live just like anyone else does.

They can misrepresent what you used to be with impunity unless you're willing to undertake the strain of a lawsuit.

You can copyright a name or a word, but you can't copyright history. And misrepresent? That assumes that there is a claim of accurate representation. I seriously doubt if Jessica Simpson cares if she's wearing her string "correctly".

 

[russ_watters]

I know that was condescending. I have trouble not responding to absurdity with sarcasm. Let me try to be more succinct, logical and unemotional:

Is not the desire for racial and cultural purity and an anger or hatred toward those who do nothing more than violate that racial or cultural purity pretty much the entire definition of racism?

 

[zoobyshoe]

I'm half German -- should my best friend, who is Jewish, hate me because of the Holocaust?

No, but don't you think he would have a right to object if a German manufacturer tried to sell women's lingerie using a Star of David? That more like the proper analogy here.

Do they really still believe that? Given how much borders around the world have changed in the past 150 years, it is incredible to me that people would feel such a thing. It isn't like this is an active conflict.

Which simply demonstrates that history is written by the victors. No, the Indians have not forgotten that it was the US Government's policy to render them all harmless by either 1.) relocating them to a reservation, or 2.) killing them. Easy for you and me to forget. We white people won.

There are, additionally, people south of the Mason Dixon line who are still not happy about the outcome of The War of Northern Aggression. It's easy for us northerners to view them as silly. We won.

You can't possibly understand any of this unless you can mentally put yourself in the shoes of the defeated parties.

Nonsense. I went to high school with a guy who was half Cherokee. Mean jazz sax player (should blacks complain about him stealing their music?) and the chicks really dug the hair.

This is probably not a Native American by Native American standards. Native Americans would say this is probably a black man who happened to be born in a red body. (Black people would also probably accept him as a "brother" if his sax playing has authentic "soul".) I'm going to bet you've never actually met a real Native American. You have the idea a Native American is an Americanized person with enough Indian blood in their background to physically resemble an Indian. I met a lot of those types in Minnesota, but they aren't the people objecting to things like this outfit. They don't care anymore than you because those types are essentially white people. They're completely Americanized. On the complete other end of the spectrum, there are people in remote parts of the Navajo reservation who never learned to speak English, Russ. Real Indians. I'm telling you, we didn't assimilate them. We segregated them and therefore, they still exist.

They have a choice of where they want to live just like anyone else does.

So do the Amish. Why is it they tend to stick with their own kind in Pennsylvania? The reservation is both a physical and psychological barrier. Leave the rez and you're surrounded by a foreign culture. You can never be sure you know what's going on. The reality is that people stick with what they know and understand.

And misrepresent? That assumes that there is a claim of accurate representation.

By this logic a Native American shaman should feel free to teach the kids on the rez that E=mc² is just a meaningless sort of decorative logo Einstein developed to put on T-shirts and coffee mugs, as long as he neglects to claim that's an accurate representation of what it is, and no one here would have the right to feel the least bit perturbed by it.

We know that's not going to happen. There'd be a long, angry thread generated by the news story reporting such a thing. People here get up in arms when anything scientific is misrepresented. People get banned for spreading ideas considered to be scientific misinformation. Why are Native Americans bad guys for objecting when their culture is grossly misrepresented?

I think what you may not understand is that, although their culture was badly damaged, they, many of them have continued to practice what they can of their religions in an unbroken line from the past to the present.

 

[micromass]

No, but don't you think he would have a right to object if a German manufacturer tried to sell women's lingerie using a Star of David? That more like the proper analogy here.

No... You really think he has the right to object because the manufacturer is German?? That's a bit racist, no??

 

[zoobyshoe]

Is not the desire for racial and cultural purity and an anger or hatred toward those who do nothing more than violate that racial or cultural purity pretty much the entire definition of racism?

So, you're saying you never feel the lest bit upset when you read about how rabble rousers in the Middle East misrepresent American Culture to their followers?

 

[zoobyshoe]

No... You really think he has the right to object because the manufacturer is German?? That's a bit racist, no??

I should think it would be particularly painful to Jews to have a German manufacturer try this stunt given that Germans tried to wipe Jews off the face of the earth, yes, and I would not object to them speaking up about it.

 

[Evo]

I should think it would be particularly painful to Jews to have a German manufacturer try this stunt given that Germans tried to wipe Jews off the face of the earth, yes, and I would not object to them speaking up about it.

There are German jews, you know.

 

[micromass]

By this logic a Native American shaman should feel free to teach the kids on the rez that E=mc² is just a meaningless sort of decorative logo Einstein developed to put on T-shirts and coffee mugs, as long as he neglects to claim that's an accurate representation of what it is, and no one here would have the right to feel the least bit perturbed by it.

We know that's not going to happen. There'd be a long, angry thread generated by the news story reporting such a thing. People here get up in arms when anything scientific is misrepresented. People get banned for spreading ideas considered to be scientific misinformation. Why are Native Americans bad guys for objecting when their culture is grossly misrepresented?

I think you're mixing up two things here.

1) If somebody teaches in school that E=mc² is nonsense, then I will get upset. If somebody teaches in school that native americans are barbarians, then I will also get upset. If an official in the US misrepresents native americans or any other kind of people, then I will get upset.

2) If somebody dresses like a native american, then I see no harm. If somebody wears a T-shirt with "E=mc² is nonsense", then I'm not going to demand the clothing manufacturers to issue an apology. If somebody in the US represents Belgian people as waffle eating drunks, then I'm going to find that funny.

 

[micromass]

I should think it would be particularly painful to Jews to have a German manufacturer try this stunt given that Germans tried to wipe Jews off the face of the earth, yes, and I would not object to them speaking up about it.

So, you think that Germans today are to blame for what happened with the jews? All Germans? I'm sorry, but that I find such a statement more racist than wearing native american clothes. It characterizes all Germans as bad guys and it says that all Germans wanted to kill the jews. Most Germans today do not have these views and most Germans today are not responsible for what happened during the world war. It is very sad that people keep blaming the Germans for what happened.

 

[zoobyshoe]

2) If somebody dresses like a native american, then I see no harm.

You are refusing to understand the breach of decorum in Native terms. An Indian can't just walk into another person's teepee, grab their War Bonnet and try it on. It's big, sacred mojo. It encapsulates another man's bravery. It's not just some sort of hat. The fact you don't object to a white person dressing up as an Indian is immaterial because you don't understand what all the parts of their garments represent in their terms.

You are also refusing to grasp the pairing of this with the woman wearing only underwear. In Native American culture it would be so shocking that all who saw such a thing might be afraid to talk to anyone else who saw it for a year. Natives weren't at leisure to get too preoccupied with sex. It was actively discouraged. Only the modest survived.

 

[drizzle]

I think we should have a poll.

 

[Evo]

i think we should have a poll.

a poll!

 

[zoobyshoe]

So, you think that Germans today are to blame for what happened with the jews?

No, I'm saying the hypothetical German manufacturer would be to blame for extreme insensitivity.

 

[micromass]

No, I'm saying the hypothetical German manufacturer would be to blame for extreme insensitivity.

Because he's German?? Sorry, but I find that attitude very sad.

 

[rootX]

No, but don't you think he would have a right to object if a German manufacturer tried to sell women's lingerie using a Star of David? That more like the proper analogy here.

No... You really think he has the right to object because the manufacturer is German?? That's a bit racist, no??

You usually relate tragic events to location and time. Even if a German Jew come up with that lingerie, it will be easier to get offended than say some American come up with that idea.

Because he's German??

Yes. As I said above people relate past events to more than just individuals responsible for those events. People are as sensitive to German making fun of Jews as they are to an English making fun past British colony people. Are they not?

 

[zoobyshoe]

Because he's German?? Sorry, but I find that attitude very sad.

I'm not saying it would be perfectly OK for a Belgian to use a Jewish religious symbol to sell lingerie. I'm saying, given recent history, it would be especially insensitive for a German to try it.

 

[zoobyshoe]

You usually relate tragic events to location and time. Even if a German Jew come up with that lingerie, it will be easier to get offended than say some American come up with that idea.

Any Jew, German or otherwise, trying to sell lingerie with a Star of David would be hounded by Rabbis till he stopped.

 

[Monique]

Any Jew, German or otherwise, trying to sell lingerie with a Star of David would be hounded by Rabbis till he stopped.

There has been no hounding yet... Star of David Underwear & Panties

 

[micromass]

Yes. As I said above people relate past events to more than just individuals responsible for those events. People are as sensitive to German making fun of Jews as they are to an English making fun past British colony people. Are they not?

OK, but we're not talking about Germans making fun of Jews. Making fun of Jews is unacceptable and racist, whether it is done by Germans or others. We're talking about selling lingerie with the cross of David. To me, that is not deliberately making fun of Jews, it's using a religious or cultural symbol for fashion. I don't consider that making fun. You might consider that making fun though, but I would disagree.

Victoria's secret used native american symbolism not to make fun of them, but because they thought it would be nice fashion. If their intent was to mock the native americans, then I would completely disagree with it, but I don't believe that was their intent.

So the question here is not: should we make fun of native Americans (the answer is of course no). But the question is: can we use religious and cultural symbols in art and fashion?? And I think we can. I see no harm in a German using Jewish symbols or an American using native American symbols.

 

[rootX]

OK, but we're not talking about Germans making fun of Jews.

I was responding to your quotes where you were talking about Germans like one here:

Because he's German?? Sorry, but I find that attitude very sad.

So the question here is not: should we make fun of native Americans (the answer is of course no). But the question is: can we use religious and cultural symbols in art and fashion?? And I think we can. I see no harm in a German using Jewish symbols or an American using native American symbols

This goes back to my last post (#47) then where I said many people are just too ignorant to see the significance of religious or cultural symbols. It's the symbols that define religions or cultures. There is no separation line between religious/cultural symbols and religions/cultures.

 

[Drakkith]

This goes back to my last post (#47) then where I said many people are just too ignorant to see the significance of religious or cultural symbols. It's the symbols that define religions or cultures. There is separation line between religious/cultural symbols and religions/cultures.

I think it's about people being ignorant that those things are even symbols at all. Is that what you meant?
I doubt anyone is going to make lingerie with the star of david or jesus on a cross, as those are far more likely to be recognized as religious symbols.

 

[Vagrant]

But the question is: can we use religious and cultural symbols in art and fashion?? And I think we can. I see no harm in a German using Jewish symbols or an American using native American symbols.

I think you are discounting religion or culture specific connotations and sensitivities that a non-member cannot be expected to know about.

For example, using Hindu religious symbols on clothes...you put them on shirts, bags, caps etc, no one will care, but you put them on slippers or shoes or underwear and most people would find that to be in extremely bad taste and disrespectful.

A person who is ignorant about specific customs and is casually using stuff inappropriately is not making fun of the culture or religion, IMO. To them it's just another pretty picture or a cool artifact. But they should be sensitive to the fact that this might be offensive be ready to react appropriately should that be the case.

 

[Monique]

A person who is ignorant about specific customs and is casually using stuff inappropriately is not making fun of the culture or religion, IMO. To them it's just another pretty picture or a cool artifact. But they should be sensitive to the fact that this might be offensive be ready to react appropriately should that be the case.

In many cultures cattle is sacred, should people stop eating beef because it's sacrilege?

Yesterday a 72-year old man was insulted, spat upon, and finally with a hard punch from behind beaten unconscious. The reason: he was eating a pork sandwich in the presence of Muslims. Should he not have eaten the sandwich, because it's a sin according to the Qur'an?

 

[Vagrant]

Yesterday a 72-year old man was insulted, spat upon, and finally with a hard punch from behind beaten unconscious. The reason: he was eating a pork sandwich in the presence of Muslims. Should he not have eaten the sandwich, because it's a sin according to the Qur'an?

Did I suggest that violence is acceptable either as a form of protest or as a reaction or for anything else for that matter?

I said that people should try to react maturely if they realize that their actions could justifiably be offensive to some. I was referring to VS's apology as appropriate action in reaction to people voicing their objections.

Anyhow, my comment was specifically in context of this thread and micromass' question about using religious or cultural symbols in art and fashion. I was trying to suggest that if you do use them, you should be open to the idea that there might be weird customs attached to them. Violence was not in the picture and nor did I account for it, so I don't think that you should take my comments out of that context.

 

[Monique]

I didn't suggest it was ok to use violence, the example illustrates that eating a sandwich can raise religious insult.

Religious and cultural symbols are everywhere in art and in fashion. People have the right to express their opinion on it, but placing a taboo on it is a step too far.

 

[Vagrant]

I didn't suggest it was ok to use violence, the example illustrates that eating a sandwich can raise religious insult.

Eating a sandwich can raise insult in only very, very specific scenarios. Context is vitally important. So is the manner in which you raise objection and react.

I think this is an example of intolerance and a criminal one at that. If, for example, the man was eating this sandwich that they objected to on the premises of their specific religious institution, they would have been justified in feeling upset or asking him to leave the premises. But I'm not even asking you for the context because IMO the second they resorted to violence, they lost any justification they might or might not have had.

 

[rootX]

A person who is ignorant about specific customs and is casually using stuff inappropriately is not making fun of the culture or religion, IMO. To them it's just another pretty picture or a cool artifact. But they should be sensitive to the fact that this might be offensive be ready to react appropriately should that be the case.

I think it's just wrong to use artifacts because they're cool but then not learning about them. There shouldn't be any excuse for cultural uneducated people to inappropriately use cultural/religious symbols.

It's ridiculous that a big company like VS is ignorant of natives customs.

 

[zoobyshoe]

There has been no hounding yet... Star of David Underwear & Panties

Excellent research, Monique! I can only say we'll see what happens. I think the "Remember the Holocaust" boxer shorts are not going to fly well in the Hassidic community.

 

[zoobyshoe]

I didn't suggest it was ok to use violence, the example illustrates that eating a sandwich can raise religious insult.

Religious and cultural symbols are everywhere in art and in fashion. People have the right to express their opinion on it, but placing a taboo on it is a step too far.

These issues are worth discussing but I think you're wandering off topic. The woman at the link is being criticized here for speaking out because her culture is being misrepresented. The question is, are people who object to being grossly misrepresented really out of line?

I don't think so and I think everyone here would be agitated if they were misrepresented in a way they particularly disliked.

 

[russ_watters]

So, you're saying you never feel the lest bit upset when you read about how rabble rousers in the Middle East misrepresent American Culture to their followers?

How is that anywhere close to what we are talking about? Jessica Simpson is not 'rabble rousing', she's wearing a string on her head.

 

[russ_watters]

No, I'm saying the hypothetical German manufacturer would be to blame for extreme insensitivity.

Should a German hate Americans due to WWII? German style houses are popular here: is it insensitive of us to build them because of all the Germans we killed?

The circle of hate goes round and round and is very difficult to keep track of.

 

[micromass]

I said that people should try to react maturely if they realize that their actions could justifiably be offensive to some. I was referring to VS's apology as appropriate action in reaction to people voicing their objections.

And I think people should act maturely if they are offended in some ways. People can get offended in a huge number of ways. Again: should we stop eating meat because it might be offensive? Should we not draw Muhammed cartoons because it might be offensive?? Or should the people who are offended grow a backbone and realize that they can't push their views on other people? I think the latter.

I don't believe we should aim to please everybody. I don't think we even can do that. All we can do is aim to be the best person we can be. And I don't think that wearing religious symbols makes me a bad person. And if somebody is offended, then they should deal with it. They should accept that I am a different person who does not think like them.

 

[Vagrant]

And I think people should act maturely if they are offended in some ways. People can get offended in a huge number of ways. Again: should we stop eating meat because it might be offensive? Should we not draw Muhammed cartoons because it might be offensive?? Or should the people who are offended grow a backbone and realize that they can't push their views on other people? I think the latter.

I don't believe we should aim to please everybody. I don't think we even can do that. All we can do is aim to be the best person we can be. And I don't think that wearing religious symbols makes me a bad person. And if somebody is offended, then they should deal with it. They should accept that I am a different person who does not think like them.

I believe that a mature way in which people deal with finding something offensive is to voice their objections in a rational manner. That does not equal to pushing their views on others. Whether you find merit in it, choose to engage in a discussion about it, oblige them or not is still up to you.

 

[micromass]

I believe that a mature way in which people deal with finding something offensive is to voice their objections in a rational manner. That does not equal to pushing their views on others. Whether you find merit in it, choose to engage in a discussion about it, oblige them or not is still up to you.

Or they could just be silent about it and accept that people are different.

I've been a vegetarian for more than 10 years. I have never said to people that I find it offensive if other people eat meat. Do you think I should say that?? How would you react if somebody comes up to you and says you shouldn't eat meat because people find it offensive??

I, personally, find nothing more annoying than vegetarians who try to make others feel guilty and who are even offended about the pokemon video game. For me, the situation is simple: if you don't like people to eat meat in your presence, then you should choose yourself not to go in that company. Don't start complaining about people offending you.

 

[aquitaine]

I believe that a mature way in which people deal with finding something offensive is to voice their objections in a rational manner. That does not equal to pushing their views on others. Whether you find merit in it, choose to engage in a discussion about it, oblige them or not is still up to you.

People don't have the right not to be offended. To say otherwise is inviting a whole mess of trouble along with some very outrageous restrictions on individual rights.

 

[Vagrant]

Or they could just be silent about it and accept that people are different.

I've been a vegetarian for more than 10 years. I have never said to people that I find it offensive if other people eat meat. Do you think I should say that?? How would you react if somebody comes up to you and says you shouldn't eat meat because people find it offensive??

What I am talking about is that certain things are inappropriate in certain contexts. I think that it would be inappropriate and disrespectful for me to bring meat into a vegetarian's house, and that person would be justified in raising an objection.
But, if it's a place open to the general public, I would dismiss such a person as being over-sensitive.

 

[micromass]

What I am talking about is that certain things are inappropriate in certain contexts. I think that it would be inappropriate and disrespectful for me to bring meat into a vegetarian's house, and that person would be justified in raising an objection.
But, if it's a place open to the general public, I would dismiss such a person as being over-sensitive.

Yes. I agree with that.

 

[Vagrant]

People don't have the right not to be offended.

I'm still trying to figure this one out. Could you please say this another way?

 

[russ_watters]

These issues are worth discussing but I think you're wandering off topic. The woman at the link is being criticized here for speaking out because her culture is being misrepresented. The question is, are people who object to being grossly misrepresented really out of line?

I don't think so and I think everyone here would be agitated if they were misrepresented in a way they particularly disliked.

If no one is claiming the representation is accurate, how can one claim it is a misrepresentation?

 

[russ_watters]

I'm still trying to figure this one out. Could you please say this another way?

It is the inverse of freedom of speech: people have a right to say things that are offensive. People do not have the right to silence speech that offends them -- in public.

Ie, bringing meat to a vegitarian's house is offensive and he can throw you out over it, but he doesn't have the power to prevent a McDonalds from opening up across the street.

 

[BobG]

And I think people should act maturely if they are offended in some ways. People can get offended in a huge number of ways. Again: should we stop eating meat because it might be offensive? Should we not draw Muhammed cartoons because it might be offensive?? Or should the people who are offended grow a backbone and realize that they can't push their views on other people? I think the latter.

I don't believe we should aim to please everybody. I don't think we even can do that. All we can do is aim to be the best person we can be. And I don't think that wearing religious symbols makes me a bad person. And if somebody is offended, then they should deal with it. They should accept that I am a different person who does not think like them.

What's your definition of acting maturely?

Is it to burn someone's house down every time they get offended? (probably not since it's a rhetorical question)

Is it to tell people you don't like it when they do that and tell them why?

Or is it to shut up and color and just take it?

Some people would say it takes some backbone to tell people when you're bothered by what other people do (especially if that person is bigger than you and has a violent temper).

By the same token, no one here knows how Native Americans as a whole feel about the fashion show. We just know that a few Native Americans were offended.

Just like a military veteran or two that aren't offended by people wearing the US flag apparel doesn't tell us how military veterans as whole feel about it.

If I had to guess, I'd guess not too many people are offended by either one. Some people get offended any time customs and courtesies are violated. Some people couldn't care less about any customs and courtesies even when they're just good manners. Most people probably notice when customs and courtesies are violated, but don't get very excited about it.

But, if it does bother them, I don't have a problem with them saying so. Doesn't mean it would change my behavior, but I'd at least consider their concerns if I knew it bothered them.

 

[BobG]

People don't have the right not to be offended. To say otherwise is inviting a whole mess of trouble along with some very outrageous restrictions on individual rights.

I, too, find this a very strange way to say things.

It almost sounds as if you're saying that you don't have the right to say anything about things you don't like. As if you're saying the offender deserves more rights than the offended.

I think it's more accurate to say the offended person doesn't have the right to force the offender to change.

If the offender is offended by the offended's comments about what the offender did, then what would you suggest the offender do in response to the offended's offensive comments? (geez, I wish I could say this 10 times fast)

 

[turbo]

Years ago, my great-aunt bought her husband a 4-point Pendleton blanket (the kind that was white with bold colored stripes) and hired a seamstress to make him a heavy coat out of it. He was a pretty big guy and hard to fit, but the seamstress did a wonderful job, and it looked great on him. Since most of my mother's side of the family is French-Canadian and Native American (Metis), nobody thought twice about it. It probably helped that about half the town shared our heritage.

He got lots of compliments on that coat. Even 30+ years ago, those trade blankets were $$$. He explained to me that the "points" woven into the hem of the blanket indicated not only the quality of the blanket, but also served as an indicator of how many beaver pelts would be required to trade for such a blanket.

He was a massive, ruddy-faced guy and could wear that well. Perhaps part of the critique over the VS costume was that a skinny white female was depicted wearing a ridiculously long flowing bonnet (reserved for chiefs of the Plains tribes) and that jarred the sensitivities of members of those tribes. I know that it was just a costume for a fashion show, but if you could come to central Maine when people of woodlands Native American descent hold their annual gatherings, you would see how seriously the participants take their heritage.

The French part of my family came from northeastern Maine (bordering NB and PQ) and I'm not even sure whether I'm descended from MicMacs or Maliseets. The French trappers and traders intermarried with native women, and at some point the Roman Catholic church became the record-keepers of those marriages, and records are scant.

 

[rootX]

Years ago, my great-aunt bought her husband a 4-point Pendleton blanket (the kind that was white with bold colored stripes) and hired a seamstress to make him a heavy coat out of it. He was a pretty big guy and hard to fit, but the seamstress did a wonderful job, and it looked great on him. Since most of my mother's side of the family is French-Canadian and Native American (Metis), nobody thought twice about it. It probably helped that about half the town shared our heritage.

He got lots of compliments on that coat. Even 30+ years ago, those trade blankets were $$$. He explained to me that the "points" woven into the hem of the blanket indicated not only the quality of the blanket, but also served as an indicator of how many beaver pelts would be required to trade for such a blanket.

He was a massive, ruddy-faced guy and could wear that well. Perhaps part of the critique over the VS costume was that a skinny white female was depicted wearing a ridiculously long flowing bonnet (reserved for chiefs of the Plains tribes) and that jarred the sensitivities of members of those tribes. I know that it was just a costume for a fashion show, but if you could come to central Maine when people of woodlands Native American descent hold their annual gatherings, you would see how seriously the participants take their heritage.

The French part of my family came from northeastern Maine (bordering NB and PQ) and I'm not even sure whether I'm descended from MicMacs or Maliseets. The French trappers and traders intermarried with native women, and at some point the Roman Catholic church became the record-keepers of those marriages, and records are scant.

It would be nice if they teach more about heritage in schools. Else, one day our heritage and culture will only be on bikinis or underwears.

 

[BobG]

It would be nice if they teach more about heritage in schools. Else, one day our heritage and culture will only be on bikinis or underwears.

Probably depends on the school system and I may have just gotten lucky by coincidence, but both cities I attended school in taught the cultural heritage of the native Americans that lived in the area. I had "Wichita history" which included the Plains tribes when I lived in Kansas and I had "Ohio history" which included the tribes of Ohio. "Ohio history" was more comprehensive, but that was a junior high course, while "Wichita history" was something taught in elementary school.

 

[turbo]

Probably depends on the school system and I may have just gotten lucky by coincidence, but both cities I attended school in taught the cultural heritage of the native Americans that lived in the area. I had "Wichita history" which included the Plains tribes when I lived in Kansas and I had "Ohio history" which included the tribes of Ohio. "Ohio history" was more comprehensive, but that was a junior high course, while "Wichita history" was something taught in elementary school.

We had none of that when I was a kid in Maine, and in fact we were looked down upon by lots of Anglos that didn't know or appreciate the contributions of our forebears. Forced assimilation results in the loss of valuable knowledge.

 

[WannabeNewton]

It would be nice if they teach more about heritage in schools. Else, one day our heritage and culture will only be on bikinis or underwears.

This would benefit only those who gave two cents about heritage and culture in the first place.

 

[turbo]

This would benefit only those who gave two cents about heritage and culture in the first place.

Or perhaps the accumulated knowledge that the ethnic groups could contribute. This is not a trivial thing. I learned valuable stuff from my family that is barely mentioned today. I grew up poor, as did most of my family, but we valued the contributions of the great and great-great elders. If you can't spend the time and effort to talk with them, it can be lost.