"Cultural Appropriation"

[Amarok]

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.

This kind of thing is very understandable.  If someone from another came and peed on a gravestone or something, claims of cultural ignorance wouldn't save them from a ticket or even a beating.

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 .   

Okay this makes sense.  Let me say though that I've seen dream catchers being openly sold in native crafts stores in my hometown in B.C.  Do I get a pass on cultural appropriation if something has been gifted or sold to me from a member of that culture?  What if I grow up in a community where they are a majority, and I know what dream catchers are and take them seriously?

I'm also curious what you think if a white artist takes an interest in the traditional forms used for example in totems, or in traditional dances.  Would you take an interest in learning about the culture, if it's sincere, as an attempt to appropriate?

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.

Okay, your position actually sounds very reasonable to me, and in many ways I think that native populations in the Americas have a much more legitimate claim to cultural appropriation than do black people who get pissed off about dreadlocks or something like that.

This kind of thing is very understandable. If someone from another came and peed on a gravestone or something, claims of cultural ignorance wouldn't save them from a ticket or even a beating.

I would go as far as a beating but yes i see your point

Okay this makes sense. Let me say though that I've seen dream catchers being openly sold in native crafts stores in my hometown in B.C. Do I get a pass on cultural appropriation if something has been gifted or sold to me from a member of that culture?

I always find natives who sell native items dodgey . On one hand it's there art and they can sell it .On the other i worry that they are  reducing our culture to means of earning a quick buck . As for buying items it depends on the items as i have said before. Thou i can't stop them i don't think they should sell certain things. Ads for gifts depends on the reason and the person. Thou i stress i can't stop them from doing so.

What if I grow up in a community where they are a majority, and I know what dream catchers are and take them seriously?

Considering I'm half native ( my farther was white) .And over the years we have married non natives and yes many non natives live in the community and have married natives . And most give serious concern for the idea or at least respect the concept so yes it's possible.

I'm also curious what you think if a white artist takes an interest in the traditional forms used for example in totems, or in traditional dances. Would you take an interest in learning about the culture, if it's sincere, as an attempt to appropriate?

Pretty much the as above. I fact i know people like that. I 'm not a xenophobe . I just ask that certain items not be misused and trivialized

Okay, your position actually sounds very reasonable to me, and in many ways I think that native populations in the Americas have a much more legitimate claim to cultural appropriation than do black people who get pissed off about dreadlocks or something like that.

I won't comment on black American appropriation I fear I don't know enough to judge

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How do you work that out?

Just because you can do something does not mean you should

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Isis is not at all a horrible person.

In all instances no in this one yes . Just like sometimes i'm a horrible person