Wakalapi

The Puyallup School District in western Washington (Tacoma area) announced that all Halloween celebration is banned from now on. It seems that witch costumes offend real witches, according to a complaint from a local Wiccan. Anyone coming to school in a Halloween costume (witch or not) will be told to take it off or go home. The district, under fire from a number of parents, defends its position.

I think they should have treated the witches the way they treat us .... just say "it's an honor! so shut up!" Afterall, how long have we voiced objection to our identity being borrowed for sports teams? Once again, ever little group that pipes up has to have their little butts kissed, but no not us Injuns. I guess it is just our place to put up or shut up.

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"Friends don't let friends drink decaf..."

Blackbear

BAHAHAHAHAA!!!! Maybe all the indians should go dressed as witches and get a holiday huh? Actually that might hit it home for some folks.

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Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear... just sing, sing a song.

Tom Iron Eagle

That's just wrong.

It seems that every body has to complain and "*****" about everything and they get the response they want, But as you said Wakalapi, we Natives get no respect at all for anything!

River Spirit

1) let's compare apples to apples, eh? "Halloween Cancelled: Witch Costumes Offend Wiccans". Okay. Let's replace 'so what about Indian mascots' with 'so what about all those Pocahontas costumes?'.... mascots are disrespectful, but when you've already got a related issue it makes more sense to use it than another issue entirely.

2) Respect is earned, not an automatic. We want respect? Let's do things THAT GET POSITIVE MEDIA ATTENTION. Granted, that could be difficult because they seem to want to perpetuate the 'drunken indian' image; and, now, the emphasis seems to be on 'thieving casino indians'. I know it seems like we can't win for losing, but if all we do is whine out here on the board that doesn't improve the situation. I would challenge each Native community to find positive activities and role models and get their own PR machine in gear. Learn how to write a press release. Bombard your local or regional TV and radio stations with public service announcements or new items playing up achievements of tribal members...

The mainstream needs to see us as contemporary, human and visible; not historical has beens brought out at Halloween or for Hollywood historical epics like 'Last of the Mohicans', etc.

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"The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name. They don't want to be known as a team that perpetuates racial stereotypes. From now on they're just going to be called the Indians." - Native Comedian Vaughn Eaglebear, Colville/Lakota

DANCINGEAGLE

I agree with you SS.

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the-grass-punk

cursing will get yu no-where i think we should just ignore it and if if we see someone dressed as a ndn give them a bad glare and mumble you son of a b**** lol;)

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Singing Eagle

This is so f'ed up - I mean GEEZ - you can walk into any Walmart, kMart, zellers or target and look at the kiddie Halloween costumes and I'd bet any money there'd be a Pocahontas cotume and an NDN brave costume! How can anyone not think this would be offensive!?

In fact my friend was holding one up in the store the other day in a big crowd of parents buying Halloween supplies and asked where she could find the WHITE man costume or the Black man or the Asian man - cleared the aisle and she tossed them suckers up onto the top of the rack they were hanging on - prolly be there until next year.

Please take a moment to write a letter to the editor of your local paper or the large chain store you most frequent and ask them to not carry these items!

River Spirit

Some of the blame for the ready availability of Pocahontas for Halloween wear must go to Disney for turning the story into a cartoon. They wouldn't have done this unless some suits sitting around a big table hadn't decided they could make big bucks with marketing and promo paraphernalia: costumes, dolls, collectibles, CDs, DVDs, figurines, watches, clothing, etc. I don't see Skins boycotting Disneyland or Disneyworld? Do you? It's the old adage "if you build it, they will come". They have a gimmick and it sells--theh American way prevails. If you agree with the theory that there is nothing to be done to stop the marketing machine then you need to pick another battle and quit giving yourself an ulcer. It is far easier to 'educate' schools on the offensive nature of NDN mascots and cities/counties on the offensive nature of naming themselves or streets 'Squaw' this or 'Squaw' that than it is to halt the wearing of a costume on Halloween.

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"The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name. They don't want to be known as a team that perpetuates racial stereotypes. From now on they're just going to be called the Indians." - Native Comedian Vaughn Eaglebear, Colville/Lakota

Wakalapi

SS I see your point, but my point was (distilled down more). Indian people have been objecting to Indian likenesses being used by schools for years, and have largely seen the one finger salute in response. Yet, when a Wiccan complains about a witch stereotype, BAM!! instant action to appease. I think I was comparing apples to apples here.

To bolster our community PR, I am happy to report that some of the local tribes ran some ads telling about their participation in important environmental management issues. It's a start.

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"Friends don't let friends drink decaf..."

River Spirit

I don't disagree with you at all, Wakalapi, I just don't see anyone listening--as you said. I think one difference here is that Wicca falls under the freedom of religion acts; and, no, Wicca is not satan worship. That is another myth perpetuated by mainstream White America still Puritan through and through (speaking of Thanksgiving anyone?). While our issue is racial/ethnic and this country has always placed religious freedom above race when it comes to discrimination and protection from harassment. America likes to think it is color blind when, in fact, just like NDN Country; it is not.

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"The Cleveland Indians are going to change their name. They don't want to be known as a team that perpetuates racial stereotypes. From now on they're just going to be called the Indians." - Native Comedian Vaughn Eaglebear, Colville/Lakota

Wakalapi

Well said. Isn't it interesting that while Wicca is protected under freedom of religion (as it should be), American Indian beliefs are only thought of as "tribal mythology" and not even recognized as religious beliefs at all.

And no, neither America nor Indian Country are colorblind (or blood-quantum blind), are they?

OK, now I guess I really AM getting of course a bit.

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"Friends don't let friends drink decaf..."

Adrianna

Away from the Halloween aspect of the imagery, I have a question. What if your work, where you were basically the only indian person, started doing different projects to celebrate "native american month". Let's say they are doing trivia contests, a headdress making contest, shadowbox contest, and a turkey drawing contest. For the headdress contest they handout a cardboard strip to make your headband and one colored feather to everyone and say use your imagination. Let's also say that several individuals come up to you asking you for help in making this headdress as well as asking you for the answers to the trivia questions after calling you Ms. Squaw. How would you handle this?

quicksilverwade

I figured that my fat stealing wasicu pigskin Halloween costume would offend the white folk so I put it on hiatus until next year. Maybe then I could be a Wiccan fat stealing wasicu pigskin without the broom.
Wade Crowe a fat giving Dakota redskin to the pigskins

River Spirit