Scholar shares stories of Native appropriation in fashion, media

A Native scholar, activist and blogger gave a presentation about cultural appropriation November 17 during Grand Valley's annual Native American Heritage Month celebration. 

Adrienne Keene, a member of Cherokee Nation, discussed her research and how she became inspired to start "Native Appropriations," a popular blog and forum that focuses on Native (American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian) representations, including stereotypes in pop culture. 

She started the blog while attending Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she researched college access for Native students. 

"I was the only Native student in my cohort with no Native professors, and I was struggling with visibility," Keene said. "One day I visited Urban Outfitters and noticed many clothing pieces and designs with Native stereotypes on them, so I took photos of them, started a blog and it took off from there." 

She said there are 567 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., each with its own language, culture and history. 

"Stereotyping shrinks diversity of Native peoples down to a series of one-sided stereotypes," she said. "I hope this blog provides a way to showcase issues that are important to the broader Native community." 

She said ways to incorporate Native fashion without being offensive is to buy from Native designers, research the story behind the design, and not wear sacred or religious items like head dresses.

"Cultural exchange in film and fashion can be beautiful when it's equal, but cultural appropriation is not, because it's the action of taking and using without permission," she said. 

Keene's visit was organized by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Native American Student Association at Grand Valley. 

The presentation was held in conjunction with the Professionals of Color Lecture Series. The next lecture will take place February 26 with a lecture by Linal Harris, vice president and chief diversity officer for U.S. Cellular.