Non-natives in Regalia?

[Shadow-dancer]

Hey,

Just wanna know.

What do you guys, think about non-natives wearing Regalia.
Do think it's ood or disrespectful,funny,does it make you angry,or is it ok?

[billyjoejimbob]

Speaking as a non-native.

It depends on what we look like, why we dance and if we know what the heck is going on.

A lot of us are pretty funny though!

[Blackbear]

It depends on the individual for me. I have a problem with the OMGawds wearing skunk tails and fake braids... you know the kind that look like they walked out of the book, Where the wild things are? But there are quite a few individuals and we all know at least one, who dances, is respectful, a friend to many and given the right to dance by some family or another and don't overstep the social boundries.

[Wakalapi]

I think when someone puts on the fake tan, the fake braids, and does everything just to be fake, they do so because they think we are all fake anymore. So they justify it in their own minds, they do not believe there even is an NDN culture anymore.

[billyjoejimbob]

I have seen fake braids, people dying their hair (especially old people with pitch black hair) people who tan a lot, but no fake tans yet.

[CrazyLittleIrishGirl]

Hello. I'm new but figured since I'm definately non native that I would reply to this post. I've never claimed to be something I'm not and have not been like some others and claimed to be native when I am truly not. I don't believe in deceiving people or disrespecting the people who are actually apart of the first nation by trying to claim such. I always tell people I'm of Irish descent and that I am so pale I make white people look tan, at the very least I am honest.

I've been going to powwows for 6 years now. I've only danced one time because a respected elder told me to and I did not want to refuse their request. I really enjoyed the energy I felt when dancing and felt light in my heart and at peace. But my stance is that I have the utmost respect for first nation people and what is sacred both to them and in life. So I refuse to attempt to dance again until I have been properly taught how to dance,what each dance means, and when I feel I have earned the right to dance with the first nation people. This is out of respect. I don't consider myself a "tourist" either. People who treat it as such rather annoy me, especially when they take photos when they're not supposed to or without permission.

That's my input on the subject.


- Staci