Monuments and Mosques: A Debate Over What’s Sacred (An American Indian’s Perspective)

In CrazyHorse Memorial, Ground Zero Mosque, Guest Posts, I Am Not A Mascot, Sacred Spaces by Adrienne K.8 Comments

CrazyHorse Memorial, South Dakota (Image source.) AK note: Today’s posting comes from Simon Moya-Smith, the author behind I Am Not A Mascot. Simon is Oglala Lakota, writes for the Denver Post, and offers engaging and poignant commentary about what it means to be a contemporary Indian in America. You can also follow him on twitter, @IAmNotAMascot.  So the controversy – …

Random Appropriation of the Day! ("Money House Blessing" Air Freshener?)

In Indian Spirit, Money House Blessings Air Freshener, random appropriation by Adrienne K.3 Comments

One of the things I love most about having this blog is getting Random Appropriations from my friends as they go about their lives all over the world. Last week I got a text message from my friend Shane in Taipei showing an “aboriginal” cartoon at the airport, my friend Steven sent me some great ones as he drove cross …

"Navajo" Fashion Spread in Seventeen

In "tribal", Navajo, seventeen, tribal fashion by Adrienne K.12 Comments

(via my culture is not a trend, click for bigger version) Cultural appropriation in fashion has now gone seriously mainstream. The favorite read of tweens and teens everywhere, Seventeen Magazine, featured this “Navajo” fall fashion spread in their August issue. On many levels, I find this even more offensive than having a generic “tribal fashion” spread. I know I always …

Awesome Contemporary Native Art: Indian Shrek and More

In Bunky Echohawk, Contemporary Native Art, Susan Shown Harjo by Adrienne K.2 Comments

(image source, (c) Bunky Echohawk) Reader Carleen sent over this image, which comes from an exhibition of contemporary Native art that Susan Shown Harjo curated in DC back in 2007. I know it’s old, but you know how much I like art and images that call into question preconceived notions about Indian identity, clashing with stereotypes and challenging ideas of …

"Hipsters Like to Put Things on Their Heads": Links, Links, Links…and More!

In link roundup by Adrienne K.3 Comments

Hipster Wife Hunting did a piece on appropriation of Native culture in fashion. I thought it was satire at first. I was wrong. Though, all my curiosities about the hipster headdress have been cleared up in this sentence: “Hipsters like to put things on their heads”. But of course! And here I was giving them credit for trying to make …

Mid-Week Motivation: Adriel Luis Spoken Word+Pocahontas

In adriel luis, mash up, once tongue tied, pocahontas, slip of the tongue, spoken word by Adrienne K.4 Comments

If anyone needs an extra push to make it through your Wednesday, check out this awesome video via Sociological Images. This mash-up came out of a class assignment to use art to “inspire a critical perspective”. Socimages gives the context: Last semester my colleague, Mary Christianakis, assigned her students a mash up.  The idea was to take two forms of …

Why don’t you write?: Some reflections of 7 months of blogging

In Uncategorized by Adrienne K.7 Comments

(Leather postcard found at an estate sale by Jodi–great use of the alcohol, right? geez.) Many of you have probably noticed the blog has been a bit quiet this summer, going from about five posts a week during the school year to, like, one–if that. I’m not going anywhere, I promise! I’ve just been finding it a bit hard to …

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Totem Cups)

In Alaska Native, intellectual property, Native art, pacific northwest, totem cups, totem pole by Adrienne K.3 Comments

 (source) I initially didn’t have much to say about these “Totem Cups” by designer Rob Southcott–they’re cups. That look like a totem pole. Oh, but they are made in the land of many great Native appropriations: China. Southcott is a Toronto-based artist, and his pieces seem to incorporate a lot of the natural world with “functionality”. Lots of driftwood looking …

"Sioux Chief" Drain: Honoring Natives in a Bathroom Near You!

In headdress, sioux, Sioux Chief Drains, Sioux Chief Manufacturing Company by Adrienne K.3 Comments

(image source) It’s definitely an honor to have the place where dirty, disgusting water drains in rest stop bathrooms to be named after the most revered position in your tribe, right? According to the Sioux Chief Manufacturing Company, that’s exactly what they were going for. Tipster Ann spotted this tribute to the “proud and resolute people” of the Sioux Nation …

Random Appropriation of the Day! (Crate & Barrel "Hogan" Rug)

In crate and barrel, hogan rug, Navajo, random appropriation by Adrienne K.2 Comments

Another Random Appropriation courtesy of my parent’s house in San Diego. My mom got some beautiful new rugs for our bathroom from the Crate & Barrel outlet, and I don’t know if you can read it, but this style of rug is called a “Hogan” rug. Still missing the Native connection? This is a Hogan:  (image source) Hogans are the …