What do you think about people appropriating Indigenous iconography for performance?

Question

A Russian ice dancing duo has just won bronze at the Vancouver Olympics doing an 'Aboriginal dance' that they had previously ditched. Is it an shameless appropriation of Indigenous culture and racist generalisation of everything 'other' as the first example would argue, or a harmless contribution to the cultural melting pot, even honour for Aboriginal people as the second example would insist?

Example 1:

"At times, Shabalin led Domnina around by her ponytail. They mugged, stuck out their tongues and mimicked the hand over mouth gesture that was once associated with American Indians. (See it here and judge for yourself.) After the dance ended, the crowd gave the Russians what could generously be called a lukewarm reception.

After seeing the dance Sunday night, an Aboriginal dancer wrote in Australia's Herald Sun newspaper:

The dance is certainly unlike anything I've seen, and other than a few complex lifts, the performance didn't really entertain me. It looked wrong on so many levels. ... When creating a dance or theatre work, even as contemporary indigenous dancers, it is a part of our practice to follow cultural protocols and consult with traditional elders who understand the meaning behind the movement. It is respect for our traditional cultural laws, language groups and elders for this information to be passed on correctly."

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/vancouver/blog/fourth_place_medal/post/Aboriginal-leaders-Russian-ice-dancers-routine?urn=oly,221290

Example 2:

This is pathetic. Other countries than Russia have been doing their own inept versions of the Russian ballet like 'The Nutcracker Suite' which clearly originated with Russian/Germanic ideas in mind. ...Since when is a cultural idea or style such a nazi thing that only one group 'owns' it? The costumes look fine and the Russian duo should have been permitted to go ahead with it as a creative notion based on Aboriginal artistic and musical motifs. Red Indians have had their costume and war dances repeated endlessly from cartoons, comedies to serious movies. All not authentic but nonetheless enjoyable to the masses and drawn into everyone's culture. Cultural chauvinism should be ignored. If everyone took back their cultural contribution from the melting pot of the world we would be left with nothing. Could the English please take back the English language? Good idea except they stole many words from other Europeans."

"Oh FFS. GET over it! How pathetic is political correctness in the modern age. IF there was any intended link between this pair of ice skaters and the aboriginal culture/industry that has permeated Australian society over the past few decades, the aboriginals should be honoured and flattered that they are being recognised on the world stage."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/russians-ditch-aboriginal-routine/story-e6frf9if-1225828113753?from=public_rss

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/loin-cloths-and-rubbed-noses-why-would-anyone-be-offended/story-e6frg7mf-1225833194654

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=103512469&blogId=529746667

Answer 1

" Red Indians have had their costume and war dances repeated endlessly from cartoons, comedies to serious movies. All not authentic but nonetheless enjoyable to the masses "



and for as long as they have been doing that we have been saying we are NOT honored and it is insulting.



there is an unspoken attitude behind all of the appropriation of indigenous cultures that i hear loud and clear. those who think it is no big deal actually think.."we won. you lost. YOU do not get to tell US what to do."



so fine. if it is no big deal to mock another cultures beliefs and traditions, then i am sure every christian out there will love the following. i hope you feel honored that we give you such attention.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0LTKY6Wc7g&NR=1&feature=fvwp



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYSCY08u944&feature=related



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykkFJZnddG4



so obviously this is just funny and christians aren't offended at all right?



yeah. thought so. i guess its only harmless when its someone else's beliefs and culture being mocked. hypocrites.

Answer 2

Hi There's an awful lot of misinformation here in some of the answers I've read to this question. Some one even suggested the true English were the Scots and Irish this is complete rubbish. I have a book called the Celtic Empire which is the history of the CELTS. The book states that the original Celtic homeland was in Central Europe covering the areas Belgium, France and yet once again Germany. From there a gradual migration into Britain and Ireland and other parts of Europe took place. Even then there were two distinct groups of Celts in Britain speaking different forms of the Celtic Language. 'Brythonic' basically Welsh and Cornish. 'Goidelic' Irish, Gaelic and Manx. Prior to the Celts ( I believe) were the Beaker people so called because of the type of pottery they left behind. Though I'm not certain if these were also of Celtic origin or a different people entirely

Answer 3

"How tiresome! Aboriginals like everyone else have recourse to various IP protections, which provide defences to actual defined infringements. Happily, neither they nor anyone else has a special general claim over the realm of ideas now in the public domain. It's doubtful any of the material cited here would qualify for such protection but no doubt legions of attys would no be pleased to bilk aboriginals hugely to study the matter."

You feel that its "tiresome" that this so called performance offends people? You may be correct in saying that our People do not have a "claim" over anything that was portrayed....however, your ignorance of the issue and obvious callousness is unquestionable! Oh and just because something is seen as "in the public domain" doesn't mean that it can be defamed/used/ridiculed for the so-called "entertainment" of others. The photos of thousands of survivors of the Nazi death camps are in the public domain....should someone dress up as one of them and do a skating act? Or perhaps a couple dressed as Jesus and Mary Magdelene? Its about RESPECT!!! The skaters should have kept this performance "shelved" as it once was! I still can't believe they actually "whooped" with their hands over their mouths....haven't seen THAT one since I was a kid & the other kids were playing "cowboys & indians"...I would've thought that in this day and age ADULTS would know better!

I agree whole heartedly with Kanien!!!

Answer 4

The entire olymics this year is no different. Those mascots invented by whites, this years symbol created by whites. We are not watching. However at work they are showing the opening ceremony over and over. It was awful and I hope all those hang around te fort Indians (who were so well paid by the government to make you all think that we all support the olympics) get a good tongue lashing from their aunties. The bastardization of our culture that vancouver and the ioc are selling is even more sickening then what you are describing. But yes, what you described is racist and insulting and should not be allowed in the olympics but of course it is.

Answer 5

I agree with Kanien, once again, my hero. Applause @ Kanien



I will mention something I thought was nice, in 2006 at Lakota Nation Invitational during the night grand entry, the army took the mic and annouced that after asking permission from the Tribal Council, they will be naming a army helipcopter after us, its called Lakota.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UH-72_Lakota



I liked the idea that before calling it Lakota, that they asked permission and confronted the Lakotas as a Nation at one of the biggest gatherings. Its nice to know that we're not ALWAYS mocked.

Answer 6

How tiresome! Aboriginals like everyone else have recourse to various IP protections, which provide defences to actual defined infringements. Happily, neither they nor anyone else has a special general claim over the realm of ideas now in the public domain. It's doubtful any of the material cited here would qualify for such protection but no doubt legions of attys would no be pleased to bilk aboriginals hugely to study the matter.

Answer 7

Unoriginal. Why not go out to the animals and mimic their mating, defensive and hunting actions; that's where everything basically comes from anyway.