"Cultural Appropriation"

[Amarok]

To all the above yes accept the violence part . She may not be responsible for it's beginning but she is responsible for it's continuation . There is nothing oppressive  about protecting what's ours . And what so many have tried to extinguish or exploit  or trivialize . And frankly we have put up with it for long enough .

Oh, we have a live discussion now.  Exciting!

So you are claiming that some college girl with a dream catcher is, knowingly or unknowingly, contributing to the ongoing oppression of tribal peoples, and she should be prevented, by the creation and enforcement of rules or laws, or from an overwhelming pressure from social groups, from wearing it?

How about beaded moccasins and beaded leather jackets?  Should she be banned from wearing these, too, because they were made by native people?  Or should she not only wear them but charge you royalties for using glass beads which were invented in her culture?

It seems to me that "appropriation" is just a word for the flow of cultural ideas and styles from one culture to the other, and that it happens every time any two cultures come into contact.  White kid sees dreadlocks, thinks they're cool, gets dreadlocks.  White girl sees dream catchers, says, "Oooh pretty!" and wears one.  Native  kid watches a ball game, thinks "I can do that," and starts wearing a Kobe Bryant t-shirt.  Native dude hears country music, likes it, and starts wearing a cowboy hat.

I don't see that this is an oppression of one population on the other.  It is mutual, and the insistence that one party (i.e. the guilty party) has to walk on eggshells, while another party (i.e. the oppressed party) can do whatever it wants with a clean conscience, is a double standard.

So you are claiming that some college girl with a dream catcher is, knowingly or unknowingly, contributing to the ongoing oppression of tribal peoples, and she should be prevented, by the creation and enforcement of rules or laws, or from an overwhelming pressure from social groups, from wearing it?

Yes she is but I have little interest in using the law.( though I might in terms of the manufacture of said items) . I would far education kill this trend then legality . And hoping peoples sense decency prevails.  

How about beaded moccasins and beaded leather jackets?  Should she be banned from wearing these, too, because they were made by native people?  Or should she not only wear them but charge you royalties for using glass beads which were invented in her culture?

Nope cosmetic objects like leather jackets are very different from something ceremonial like a dream catcher. Or as I have seen taking Inuit grave makers (like the one I carved for my murdered mother ) And having some hippy in Toronto turning it into flower pot. Or (true story ) taking Inuit wedding oaths  and tattooing it on your ass to pick up chicks. But yes I have problem taking legal action against manufactures of native items and demanding our cut.

It seems to me that "appropriation" is just a word for the flow of cultural ideas and styles from one culture to the other, and that it happens every time any two cultures come into contact.  White kid sees dreadlocks, thinks they're cool, gets dreadlocks.  White girl sees dream catchers, says, "Oooh pretty!" and wears one.  Native  kid watches a ball game, thinks "I can do that," and starts wearing a Kobe Bryant t-shirt.  Native dude hears country music, likes it, and starts wearing a cowboy hat.

Nope my definition of culture appropriation is taking key defining or sacred qualities of a culture removing it cultural context and then trivializing it because you think it "looks cool ".  ( dream catchers, wedding oaths , grave markers . By the way I define this separately from cultural erasing .   

I don't see that this is an oppression of one population on the other.  It is mutual, and the insistence that one party (i.e. the guilty party) has to walk on eggshells, while another party (i.e. the oppressed party) can do whatever it wants with a clean conscience, is a double standard.

This is a straw man of my position see above and if your asking how prominent the above is I can tell you it is.