Wearing a headdress, to many Native Americans, is about the same
thing, though. A headdress is a war bonnet worn by a brave Indian warrior who finally
became a leader of his people, a chief. The feathers are sacred since Indians
believe they not only gauge prowess and ability in battle, also protect these
Indian warriors not only during times of war, but during peace times, as well. Long
ago, an Indian man's feathers were his most valuable material possessions. And
historically, everyone knows American Indians fought many battles with white
settlers, lawless cowboys set on winning the West, and the military monster of the white man during not only Revolutionary War times, but even post-Civil War times, as is the case of the U.S. 7th
Calvary Regiment, which slaughtered hundreds of unarmed Sioux men, women and
children on Dec. 29, 1890. The Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota, along with countless Indians of other tribes, are melancholy and morose during the festive holidays when the dominant culture is celebrating Christmas.
And today, a lot of the descendants of Public Enemy #1 are now
costumers rooting for the team with Indian mascot and funky Native American
name. And oh how those Internet headdress companies take a lot of orders during
football season!
So Kloe Kardashian isn't a lone offender. And this culture-vulture cannibalism isn't anything new. In March, a photo of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed daughter of Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin made the glitterati pages. Christina Fallin, hardly Native American, wore an ornate red-and-white headdress that she posted on her electric-punk band Pink Pony's Facebook page on March 6, along with the words "appropriate culturation." (See: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2575855/Christina-Fallin-Daughter-Oklahoma-governor-Native-American-headdress.html) Although the photo was removed quickly from both Facebook and Instagram, it created quite a stir among Indians; and also, in the progressive and mainstream media. Even London, England's Daily Mail went big with this controversy. (See ibid http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2575855/Christina-Fallin-Daughter-Oklahoma-governor-Native-American-headdress.html)
In the comment thread following this article, several sock puppets who identified themselves as residents of the United Kingdom wrote that they think nothing's wrong with Christina Fallin wearing a headdress, and they said it's no more serious than if she wore any other type of "hat". Well, in following this train of logic, do you consider your queen's crown a "hat"? Is that what Queen Elizabeth II wears around during very important times of her royal duty? A "hat"? Did Queen Elizabeth II's father, King George VI, don such a "hat" during his reign? Is that what you call that glittery thing filled with precious gems and metals? A "hat"?
Is a bishop's mitre a "hat"? Would it be apropos to wear such an ornament into a strip club?
Is Old Sparky's electrified skull cap a "hat"? In the dark old days of 'insensitivity education', was the kid who acted up -- and who the mean teacher put in the corner with "dunce" written on the head piece - simply a "hat"?
And that square black thing that you wear along with that long black robe when you are awarded a diploma or a degree? Is that just a "hat"? If you think it's just a "hat" - why haven't you seen young kids at a punk rock concert slamming into each other wearing these things? Have you ever seen them worn at a city council meeting? Do off-duty firemen wear them on their heads when they're running errands or just kicking around town?
What was that? And what's all this mean?
It sounds kind of nice, but although Christina is quite young, she really should've known better than to make herself a war chief. She lives in a state that is heavily populated with Native Americans and must be familiar -- at least enough to know what a headdress signifies to Indians. After California, Oklahoma leads the nation in American Indian population. Its state flag is emblazoned with American Indian symbols and an Indian statue is perched on the state capitol dome in Oklahoma City.
Yes, all of these things are worn on the head, like a "hat;" but they have symbolic significance. These head ornaments are much more than "hats".
The ardent feminist might declare, "well that's not fair!" Well lady, feminism has little to do with Indian history and culture in regard to the wearing of an Indian chief's headdress. American history begins with Indian history. And moreover, Indian culture and traditionalism is different, that's all. It's not a woman's rights issue. It's an Indian issue.
(Article changed on July 10, 2014 at 23:00)
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