Ruth asks…
where can I get modest native american costumes?
I want a native american costume, I am making a movie about a native american… So I’ll need some costumes :)
admin answers:
Without knowing the details of your film the only thing I can suggest is look at the oldest photos and drawings of natives in their traditional garb, and don’t fall for any over-embellished or tribally inaccurate stuff.
Http://www.native-languages.org/clothing.htm
this site seemed to list a good number of suppliers. I can’t say they’ll be cheap though necessarily ;0
Nancy asks…
What do you think of Native American costumes?
I’m wondering, what do other ethnicities think of stereotypical Native American costumes?
Of course I do Spunkiee. I was just wanting to see what other ethnicities think of them. If they also see them as offensive, or if they see them as cute and honorable.
I never understood why people of other races would want to dress like us either. Are we some kind of magical creatures, and I was never informed?
Same here. I can’t tell you how often I answer the Native costume questions with “I’m wearing jeans and a tee shirt.”
admin answers:
Some of them think we are magical…..like the Twilight crowd……..some of them have romanticized us due to the depictions they see in movies or read in books. The rest just think we aren’t even here anymore and that even if we are, its their right to just use us as they see fit.
All of the costumes I see for sale online or in stores, are skanky, or just plain ridiculous. Not even close to what our actual regalia looks like or even historical everyday clothes……a mockery. Along the same lines as using our images as sports mascots.
Sharon asks…
How does school yard games, halloween costumes, and team mascots trivialize Native Americans?
admin answers:
I’m not sure kids still play “cowboys and indians” at all, so i’m not sure about playground games.
But aren’t native outfits considered sacred, along with dances? So when non-Indians take those outfits and make them into dress-up, costumes or imitate these dances, it removes the sacred nature of the act. Team mascots do the same. Some whites who defend these acts insist on calling them “homage” when in fact if kids were dressing as priests and nuns, and doing some bastardized version of mass, they’d be punished or stopped and told it was disrespectful.
Daniel asks…
Am I the only person who finds Native American costumes offensive?
I’m not talking about people dressing up as a specific Native American, like Geronimo or Cochise. I’m talking about people dressing how they think all Native Americans dress for Halloween or costume parties. I see so many questions on Yahoo Answers asking, “How can I dress like a Native American?” Believe it or not, Natives usually dress like everybody else in this world. And I see a lot of videos on YouTube to teach people how to “look like a Native American”. I find it all offensive, racist, and stereotypical. It would be world war three if someone decided their costume for Halloween was going to be “White person” or “Black person”. Am I the only one getting offended over this?
Sundaerose, People mocking your race, culture, family, and ancestors might not be important to you, but it sure is important to me.
bloody_mary, They look like they’re just dressing up as cartoon characters……
troy, Are you seriously trying to justify acting as one race by giving an example of the exact same situation, only using a different race? That sure makes a lot of sense….
admin answers:
Im sure every native agrees with you whole heartedly ;) I almost get a sick thrill out of making fun of the white folks that run around on halloween as an “indian”. When i was a merciless teenager, my cousins and I woul go out of our way to make them feel stupid and rediculous, even if we had to be cruel. I think if they were racist enough to think its ok to mock us, they are asking for it.
Mary asks…
What should i do for a native american horse costume? Cannot use paint on the horse?
So i found out i cannot use paint on the horses because it will be to cold to wash the paint off so i need some other ideas for the native american costume and fast the show is this saturday! Thanks!
admin answers:
Lots & lots of feathers or go bareback on your horse :)
They did ride their horses bareback ;)
Lizzie asks…
Does anyone know what the differant sympols painted on Native americans horses mean??
Ok i am specifically trying to figure out what the dragonfly and the analope horn painted on the horse means. Plus any others that you might know. I am trying to authenticate my daughters native american costume for our POA shows. Thank You!
I am looking for the plains tribes more specifically. Cheyenne, Comanches, ect.
I already know the eye ring is see better, lightning is go faster, hand print is enemy killed.
The dragonfly is old, I see it on a lot of web sites but nothing to tell me what it means.
admin answers:
Which tribe? Similar symbols mean totally different things to each tribe. If you know which one you want, Google search the symbols by tribe.
EDIT:
Cheyenne Dragonfly:
Dragonflies symbol the avoidance of danger…
Still looking for the other symbol, can’t find it…
EDIT 2: Color and structure, still no antelope horn- could be a PERSONAL TOTEM
Charles asks…
Can anyone tell me a link to the picture of the girl in “how high” dressed in her native American costume?
My friend looks like her, and we are going to a costume party on Friday. I want to show her the girl from how highs outfit in the costume party scene so she can see it & replicate it! Someone help me please.
admin answers:
No me cannot. But me thinks the people of Nigeria can. So me thinks you should asked them. Good luck.
Donna asks…
why are people offended by Native American Halloween costumes?
I can totally understand if the costume is demeaning to Native American culture (i.e. the “pocahottie” cotumes) but otherwise, why in the heck should anyone waste their time getting all riled up about it? and as for the “we are a culture, not a costume” statement, is that not what Halloween is all about, getting dressed up to be something you are not?
I am not trying to offend your culture, or group you all into one group…but considering the fact that we are dressing up according to this “Hollywood” creation of Indian’s and not as your precious ancestors (that i might I add you had no experience in the pain they and hardship experienced) whay are you upset about the indie trends of Urban outfitters>?
*you know nothing about my life and have no idea what i have been through.I have been through a lot pain and hardships, definitely more than what the average KID has gone through. I am lucky enough to be where i am now. SO please make sure you know what your talking about before you talk about someone else’s life. AND i never meant anything by this question except to understand why a costume is such a big deal. HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! i’m done with this, I have an Indian costume to prepare :)
* by the way i know nothing about my ancestral line or what my ancestors did and i definitely don’t hold my self accountable for them…… so don’t act like this is my fault
* I guess i’ll go wallow in all of my ignorance. Ignorance is bliss after all right? I wish you a long healthy prosperous life…… btw
JESUS LOVES YOU! even if you don’t choose to believe it.
admin answers:
It’s Halloween! Who cares!
I mean really, any costume I can think of off the top of my head would SURELY offend someone or other.
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