Thread: Costume Review - Native American

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Would you think it will be offensive?

I'm thinking of having just the pants or cut them down to capris because I would like to wear these boots.
http://www.buycostumes.com/Indian-Si...uctDetail.aspx

I plan to have a chest plate.
http://www.buycostumes.com/Western-A...uctDetail.aspx

Something like that. with no shirt.

Then I'll have some armband, maybe feather earings, and a headpiece.

I'll be mostly partying in UCSB. We have a residential area next to campus full of college students.

Hi, I'm a member of a tribe (yes, I'm mixed blood) and I do know a fair number of native folk... honestly, sure you will offend some people and you won't offend others.

Personally, my sisters and I, my mom, my native friends... we mostly laugh at those costumes, they seem pretty silly to us. However, I'm not offended unless something specifically offensive is being done.

The only thing I wish is that some respect would be shown in areas of traditional clothing that mimics things that are earned or gifted in special cases (things like head dresses) or things that are associated with highly misunderstood subjects (like scalps, words like redskin) but a costume like you want, just a generic pan-Indian deal would not have that issue, usually. I guess I just can't see the harm in it that a lot of my friends probably do. I'd love to see them disappear, but at the same time... when they are worn for fun, I don't think it's usually detrimental.

That wig was awful though. lol... just because it's a bad wig.

I hope that all makes sense, it's a subject far more complex than some would think and more than a lot of people would like it to be.

Show some much deserved respect for Indigenous Peoples by reading up on the shoes, chest plate, etc. you want to use & know whats degrading by educating yourself & when out at Halloween when asked & joked at educate others. My Great Grandmother was indigenous & I'm sure due to the thoughtlessness towards her people, I'm having a very hard time tracing my family history. Not to be a downer but people need to think, sometimes it's a thin line between having & making fun.

No matter what you do, someone, somewhere will find a reason to be offended. My son's friend came to our party one year as a native american....his name tag said he was "Runs With Scissors". It was funny as hell. And no one was offended.

Somehow I don't think that the UCSB crowd will be sober long enough to be offended... (I went there back in the day). My memories are just to make sure it's not flamable.

Originally Posted by morriganna

My son's friend came to our party one year as a native american....his name tag said he was "Runs With Scissors". It was funny as hell. And no one was offended.

OK, now that IS funny!

A generic reasonably-authentic plains tribe costume shouldn't be offensive, unless one is say, staggering around with a bottle of whiskey as a prop or something...

My gg-mother was also native American or at least half, but sadly, as they weren't on a reservation I can't find anything about her tribe associations. I find it sad that there was enough socioeconomic pressure on ppl. to "pass as white" that they would turn their back on their heritage...

Originally Posted by morriganna

No matter what you do, someone, somewhere will find a reason to be offended. My son's friend came to our party one year as a native american....his name tag said he was "Runs With Scissors". It was funny as hell. And no one was offended.

That's a really common joke among my friends, always gets a chuckle.

Well I don't see Germans getting all bent out of shape if someone wears lederhosen and says "ya" all night.

Its a style of dress from outdated times. Even "native americans" wear it as costume so should it be exclusive?

People are people and clothing of any kind is really just a "costume"... heck I see "cowboy" around here all the time with hats and boots. They don't have a horse or work on a ranch so they are playing dress up too. No one complains (except me I think they look goofy LOL).

So Prince Harry shouldn't of been told it's offensive when he dressed in that SS uniform. Dress how you want, but just because everone else around you goes with it not OKKK.

My date for halloween one year went as a native with the chieften headress and caught supreme Sh*t, it ruined her night. You may be ok but people are sensitive about these kindsd of things.