hey oblivious, ignorant posuers

please stop.
i'm begging you.
how terribly unconscious can you make the human race look?? with your war paint and fake headdresses, running around with your leather moccasins on, and your PBR & american spirit smokes in the other.

how do these women take themselves seriously, thinking they're fashion forward???









this is not only a "fashion faux pas" as many say, it is a social, intellectual and mental faux pas as well. yeah, just what we need, more people to perpetuate the stereotype that Native Americans only exist in "cowboy and indian" movies.

some of us actually respect and honor Native American culture. and some of us actually know that Native Americans exist, and are alive and flourishing - they are not some hollywood "injun" that runs around saying "how" or poses on your terrible indie band album as cover art.

and please don't tell me that you are honoring your 1/84th part cherokee heritage.

--> word to the uneducated - please get schooled.

excerpt from a great post about this issue:

Headdresses promote stereotyping of Native cultures.

The image of a warbonnet and warpaint wearing Indian is one that has been created and perpetuated by Hollywood and only bears minimal resemblance to traditional regalia of Plains tribes. It furthers the stereotype that Native peoples are one monolithic culture, when in fact there are 500+ distinct tribes with their own cultures. It also places Native people in the historic past, as something that cannot exist in modern society. We don't walk around in ceremonial attire everyday, but we still exist and are still Native.

Headdresses, feathers, and warbonnets have deep spiritual significance. The wearing of feathers and warbonnets in Native communities is not a fashion choice. Eagle feathers are presented as symbols of honor and respect and have to be earned. Some communities give them to children when they become adults through special ceremonies, others present the feathers as a way of commemorating an act or event of deep significance. Warbonnets especially are reserved for respected figures of power. The other issue is that warbonnets are reserved for men in Native communities, and nearly all of these pictures show women sporting the headdresses.