Hi Friends,
It’s almost 2012! How are these for some slightly embarassing statistics–my 2010 blog post count: 158 and 2011? only 58. (Where did those 100 posts go?) But don’t worry, my goal for 2012: 5 million blog posts!!! Or at least more than once every three weeks. Also look for a blog re-design in the new year, as well as some other exciting things in the world of Native Approps.
I’ve been inspired by Jessica over at Beyond Buckskin–she’s been doing some great round-up posts to close out 2011, so I thought I would throw together one of my own. Also, if you haven’t already, check out Beyond Buckskin’s new design, twitter, and facebook page. Show the Native blog-o-sphere some love!
So without further ado, here are the most clicked on posts this year for Native Appropriations:
11. A “Cowboys and Indians” party is just as bad as a blackface party.
I talked about the strange world that we live in in which dressing up in redface for a party is A-ok, and blackface is the ultimate taboo. Really, it’s so frustrating when you think about it.
10. Love in the Time of Blood Quantum
The post that originated the term “unicorn” to describe an educated, motivated, culturally connected Native man–a term that has snuck into our everyday lexicon out here on the East Coast. I still want someone to do a follow up on this from the Unicorn perspective, or a non-heteronormative perspective…you know you want to!
(the rest after the jump)
9. The Privilege of the Yay Life Tribe
Oh Tucker Gumber, “Chief” of the “Yay Life Tribe”–how’s that cashing out of your 401K to go to music festivals working out for you?
8. Let’s Talk About Pendleton
Thinking through my own strange relationship with Pendleton, how I love and value my blankets, but got mad when hipsters started thinking it was totes cool to march around town in Pendleton everything.
7. Oh Spirit Hoods.
Wearing a decapitated stuffed animal on your head became the newest trend this year. And they managed to throw in some hardcore cultural appropriation in there too…there’s even a response from the owners in here.
6. Urban Outfitters is Obsessed with Navajos
This one I’m most proud of–remember all the craziness with Navajo Nation and Urban Outfitters with their Navajo-named products? You heard it here first! Much thanks to my “sources” within the Navajo DOJ that gave me the tip initially and let me break the story. 
5. Representing the Native Presence in the “Occupy Wall Street” Narrative
When trying to be inclusive sends the wrong message (a Plains warrior for an occupation on Lenape homelands?), and my early thoughts on the Occupy movements.
4. Oh, (Miss) Canada.
When Miss Canada decided an “Homage to the Haida” should include a full plains warbonnet and a strange take on NW coast art on her dress.
3. Halloween Costume Shopping: A sampling of the racism for sale
The photos and descriptions from the Spirit Halloween store that read like an Onion article. The most in-your-face example of racism this year, hands down.
2. Miley Cyrus Enjoys Dream Catchers, Apparently.
I think the key word combo of “Miley Cyrus” “tattoo” and “18th Birthday” made this one a winner
And the number one clicked post…drumroll…with almost 25,000 page views (that’s incredible!)
1. Open Letter to the PocaHotties and Indian Warriors this Halloween
In which I get angry and “emotional” at all the people who decide to dress up as Indians for Halloween. It was shared close to 10,000 times on facebook, and I got called some really mean names. But I think it was worth it!
Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year, and I’ll see you in 2012!!
Much Love,
Adrienne
Also your annual reminder that your can follow Native Appropriations on Twitter and Facebook–a lot of activity on there between posts!
Comments
Your Haloween post was quoted as a source by a trend spotting company Iconowatch. That’s also how I’ve learned about your blog.
I appreciate your work, being an observer from seemingly (but not quite) distant Poland 🙂 Best wishes for the coming year 🙂
http://www.threadless.com/product/2944/T_P/tab,girls/style,shirt
TP. Get it? How freaking clever.
These performers: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.465143663034.274363.218441293034&type=1#!/photo.php?fbid=464204293034&set=a.465143663034.274363.218441293034&type=3&theater
The link above is for a photo of a circus performance group that mixes their own sense of spirituality into their circus performances. I think their use of headdresses is definately cultural appropriation. These girls live & work in my area, I have never commented to them that I think it’s a bit inappropriate because I didn’t feel like getting into an argument with Quebec girls. (if you know Quebecors, it’s sometimes just not worth argueing with them; I have a hard time finding a Quebecor that actually realizes that they have a whole country called FRANCE; they are not loosing their language, they are on Mohawk territory so wtf are they complaining about; if anyone has a right to complain about loosing their language, it’s the Mohawk or any other Nation native to this land)
(FYI if any Quebecor ever sees this post, I am sure my comment will have offended someone, but hopefully with some luck, no Quebecor ever reads this comment cause well, I mean what I say and I dont’ want to have to butt heads with them).
Anyways, these girls, to give the benefit of the doubt, I do think they grew up ligitimately influenced by native culture, but I dont’ think it’s appropriate that they are wearing headdresses like this which clearly immitate what I believe would have been worn by chiefs coming from the plains people… though I must admit the outfit is pretty, minus the disrespect to indignous people…
Busted! Frankly if you knew anything about “Quebecors”, you’d know that there is no such thing. Quebec Francophones are called Quebecois, Quebec Anglophones, like me, are Quebecers. And no, we don’t “have a whole country called FRANCE”. France is its own country. Quebec is part of Canada. I was born in Quebec, both of my parents were born in Quebec, three of my grandparents were born in Canada, none of my ancestors were born in France – my heritage is Scottish and English. Get educated, damnit! And stop generalizing a whole group of people – growing up in Quebec didn’t stop me from being able to understand white privilege and cultural appropriation, nor am I some kind of exception.
Um, wow. That’s like saying that Native Americans have a whole country called Siberia. The Quebecois left France 400 years ago, aside from language, they have virtually no connections remaining, and even the way they speak French is very different. Is there a list of groups that DO have a right to complain without being written off as “privileged” anywhere? It’d make it all so much easier to ignore other people’s arguments because they don’t come from a sufficiently downtrodden segment of society.