tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post3968156818644231020..comments2024-03-25T16:24:52.850-03:00Comments on Eco Yogini: The Pow-Wow Dress and My Discomfort with the 'First Nations Yoga Fashion' TrendEco Yoginihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-24071193354124928042013-03-14T21:02:38.258-03:002013-03-14T21:02:38.258-03:00Just for clarification, the "Membertou gather...Just for clarification, the "Membertou gatherings" , the two that occurred in Halifax were pow wows. The first in 2010 was to "celebrate" the 400th anniversary of the baptism of Chief Membertou - but the gathering was a pow wow. It was so successful they hosted another pow wow in 2011. There were no funds so the pow wow did not happen in 2012. We are all very hopefully it will happen in 2013, so keep your eyes and ears open for the summer. ~~ Mikmaq MamaMikmaq Mamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-4165970013063814592013-03-13T18:43:35.449-03:002013-03-13T18:43:35.449-03:00Fashion is something that's always evolving, a...Fashion is something that's always evolving, and it seems to be more about what will sell than what reflects the general culture. Sure, this "First Nations" fashion definitely cheapens the meaning of the original clothing, but it'll keep on being pumped out if people are willing to buy it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-32970164246939891232013-03-13T16:46:30.000-03:002013-03-13T16:46:30.000-03:00Just to clarify to make sure that no one things di...Just to clarify to make sure that no one things differently: I am advocating for use of aboriginal inspired clothing (not costumes, not underwear, nothing sexually exploitative) as a form of cultural appreciation rather than exploiting a culture for profit. I would have loved to have seen more of this in my life so I could have learned a lot earlier than I did to appreciate my own culture. I will definitely be scoping out the Membertou gatherings in future to help my little one appreciate her culture from a young age :) Great sparking up some convo L. ;)Katie P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-27189976233212486282013-03-13T07:01:40.967-03:002013-03-13T07:01:40.967-03:00Thanks Katie for your perspective. It definitely i...Thanks Katie for your perspective. It definitely is a different perspective than one I've been reading- but a very interesting one. you bring up some good points. <br /><br />I wonder, though, if we assume that there is a sizeable group of First Nations Peoples who are hurt and offended by these trends that we should simply continue because it may help some people? <br /><br />I think I could help First Nations peoples if I took care to purchase jewellery and clothing directly from them. There are ways- etsy sells quite a bit of clothing and pieces as well as there are a few online places that cater specifically to this. Also- every summer in Halifax we now have the Membertou gathering and there are clothing pieces sold there. :)<br /><br />I do appreciate you sharing your story and it definitely brings up a very important point: How do we appreciate and celebrate First Nations culture and heritage without tipping into cultural appropriation?Eco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-80519899310196936862013-03-13T06:57:05.654-03:002013-03-13T06:57:05.654-03:00Thank you VB! I'm so glad you get it- sometime...Thank you VB! I'm so glad you get it- sometimes it's hard to explain that bit... Eco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-12873110246568455142013-03-13T06:56:22.919-03:002013-03-13T06:56:22.919-03:00thank you Lulu- it definitely is a topic across se...thank you Lulu- it definitely is a topic across several disciplines. I'm just glad there's a lot of discussion happening right now on the topic :)Eco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-14064593409475947642013-03-12T21:51:43.627-03:002013-03-12T21:51:43.627-03:00So I had originally wrote up a comment to this pos...So I had originally wrote up a comment to this post about how outrageous the idea was etc etc..and then I thought about it some and realized that in fact I have some different perspectives on the issue! I grew up as a visible minority, and now status Inuit, in a small community in Newfoundland. Let me tell you...being aboriginal in this community was not cool. It was completely uncool. I bet that if I went to my home community today it would still be uncool and that kind of racism would be present not only there but in many other smaller communities in the maritimes. As a result of this perception, I hated being considered aboriginal. I was ashamed of it and I never discussed it willingly or openly. At the time, my mother had some original Inuit pieces of clothing (e.g. wool embroidered coat) that I hated seeing her wear in the community. I would have never worn the anything with a reference to my background in public. I was embarrassed of my heritage.<br /><br />So fast forward..I now have a two year old little girl and am completely open about my background. Now, when I am shopping for my little one and I see any clothing with a reference to aboriginal or first nations on it I completely gravitate to it...and have definitely purchased some pieces for her. Would I prefer that she had the opportunity to have original hand made authentic Inuit clothing in her wardrobe? Absolutely! Is it readily available to me? Absolutely not! I want her to be able to wear any clothing with reference to her heritage or aboriginal culture with no shame was so ever. Do I agree with the Victoria Secret ad that ties overt sexuality to aboriginal culture? No. I find it extremely inappropriate. But would I ever be offended to see a white person wearing an article of clothing that makes reference to first nations or aboriginal culture? No absolutely not. In fact, perhaps if I had seen more of that growing up I wouldn't have been so ashamed of my background. In the meantime, my advice is to wear what feels right for you..and don't just think about who you might offend but who else it might help! Just a different perspective to chew on.... :) Katie P.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-35223379752139258492013-03-12T10:40:55.137-03:002013-03-12T10:40:55.137-03:00"In order to be honest, I need to recognize t..."In order to be honest, I need to recognize that I am biased. I don't believe people of privilege who claim to be completely unbiased. I work every day to honestly acknowledge how my small village and (loving) family and education have shaped my thoughts and perspectives while working to move to something real, respectful and empathetic."<br /><br />This is so profound and true. It should be obvious that our circumstances influence our perspectives and presumptions, but the dominant culture all but ensures we can't see it. Once we realize our privilege, it's really incredible and scary. I've been doing a lot of thinking on this topic as well. Thank you for your voice and wisdom.Vegan Burnouthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00647418989761380056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-19853054364838826932013-03-12T08:50:02.994-03:002013-03-12T08:50:02.994-03:00thank you! especially since I have found your thou...thank you! especially since I have found your thoughts on this topic (and inclusion in general) to be such an important voice in this discussion.<br />Yes- hipsters (and feathers)abound in Halifax.<br />I'll have to check out babarazzi!Eco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-33922436440526163952013-03-12T08:34:24.760-03:002013-03-12T08:34:24.760-03:00yes i agree 100%. I think what makes the yoga worl...yes i agree 100%. I think what makes the yoga world more complicated is that critical discussion is stymied by sweeping responses of 'but it comes from love' or some other sort of cop-out (increasingly less though, which is heartening). <br /><br />I'm not sure in the states, but recently in Canada the 'Idle no more' movement has been giving a more social media voice to the First Nations peoples. I also think that Canadians believe that we are so much more advanced in the reconciliation process than in the states (lets be honest fellow Canadians), but the reality is so much further from the truth.<br /><br /> An example, is the comment by the owner of the store re: geography (company situated in Vancouver BC) somehow justifies the use of a traditional, cultural symbol in a superficial, romanticized way.Eco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-45215115451426655152013-03-12T08:29:12.249-03:002013-03-12T08:29:12.249-03:00Thanks for sharing her article Bonita! I'm not...Thanks for sharing her article Bonita! I'm not sure how I missed that in the coast... (or maybe it wasn't in the printed coast?)<br />Oh your Mother-in-law; i am so not surprised that she bought you yet another shirt... lol. :)<br /><br />but I'm glad that I'm not the only person who 'feels wrong' when confronted with these fashion (and perhaps 'lighter') imagesEco Yoginihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10693080137196812405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-40169920088023138662013-03-12T02:31:47.110-03:002013-03-12T02:31:47.110-03:00Thank you do much for the post. This topic has bee...Thank you do much for the post. This topic has been coming up a lot lately. I actually came across the Jezebel article when looking for info about cultural appropriation. There's a lot of talk in the Zen Buddhist world of how to honor the traditions and sources of our lineage and how to make the practice "American" or fit western culture without either trying to be Japanese and without losing the heart of the buddha's teachings, which can't always be separated from the forms or practices which have been passed down from India to china to japan to the US. Great things to ponder and I appreciate your brave honesty.LuLu3156https://www.blogger.com/profile/13851331908243678310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-62458410483821002852013-03-12T00:17:17.724-03:002013-03-12T00:17:17.724-03:00Great post EcoYogini!
I think it's an importan...Great post EcoYogini!<br />I think it's an important issue which needs to be discussed far more than it is and from all backgrounds. I don't know if the feathering craze also hit the Halifax yoga community like it did us in Montreal (after Bollywood dance but before Andean shamanism).<br />The Babarazzi also had some great posts recently on the the cultural appropriation of "shamanism" a la Kelly MorrisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-19789191003589783062013-03-11T23:34:57.385-03:002013-03-11T23:34:57.385-03:00Ultimately, this recent fashion trend is just one ...Ultimately, this recent fashion trend is just one recent manifestation of large-scale appropriation/romanticization/utter falsification of Native American/First Nation cultures by the hippie/new age/alternative spirituality crowd, which reinvents the "noble savage" again and again. A general rule of thumb: if a yoga teacher says something about "what the Native Americans believe/do/say," there's about a 99% chance that it's bullshit (and, even if it is accurate for Native group, it's probably inaccurate for lots of others). One of my favorites is "it's a good day to die." Now, I don't know, it's possible a Native American actually said that (though, most likely, if so, he was an actor reading a script written by an anglo), but, either way, it's awfully convenient for us anglos to believe that the victims of our genocide had such a positive attitude toward death. If there's one thing I've found in studying depictions of Native Americans in American literature/movies/etc. by non-natives, it's that, whether the "Indians" are portrayed as noble or ignoble, they die beautifully. And, of course, that's why the Native Americans that fascinate the yoga crowd tend to be riding horses and living in teepees--i.e. safely in the mythical past, as opposed to the harsh conditions of the modern reservation. <br />Alright, rant over(I realize what I'm writing here is somewhat US-centric, but I don't know nearly as much about Canadian First Nations issues).YogaforCynicshttp://yogaforcynics.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2965370542440002490.post-88519389990082793782013-03-11T23:25:04.403-03:002013-03-11T23:25:04.403-03:00Hey,
Here's an article by Mandy's daughte...Hey,<br /><br />Here's an article by Mandy's daughter, Lindsay Raining Bird, on a similar vein. Although it was written specifically regarding Hallowe'en costumes, it is highly relevant here. <br /><br />http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/playing-indian/Content?oid=3451421<br /><br />Thanks for bringing this up, I'm feeling the same discomfort. For Christmas, my mother-in-law bought me a t-shirt with feathers printed on it, I rarely wear it... it feels wrong. <br /><br />BonitaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311055378747007983noreply@blogger.com