Noble Warrior. Native Princess. Tribal Temptation. Chief Hotty Body.
Halloween is here again, and many indigenous groups – including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs – are speaking out against the portrayal of stereotypes that disrespect their cultures.
Cheryl Bryce, former land manager of the Songhees First Nation, calls these costumes racist – not to mention inaccurate.
“It’s misrepresenting Aboriginal people across Canada because we’re so diverse. In our culture we don’t wear headdresses,” she says. “It’s disrespectful, and it’s not really understanding indigenous peoples of the land, or honouring indigenous peoples in any way.”
A recent BuzzFeed clip that went viral showed how uncomfortable indigenous volunteers became when they tried on so-called “First Nations” costumes.
"Right off the bat I notice the axe, because we're savages,” says one man. “A costume like this keeps Native Americans in the past, as if we’re not real today.”
"You're not dressing up as a viking. Or an ancient Roman - those people aren't around anymore,” says another volunteer. “This is still very real to us."
“Chief Hotty Body? I can't even say that-- it feels wrong," says a woman holding up a skimpy costume.
Stephen Kass, owner of In Character Costume and Novelties on Vancouver Island, says there is a demand for costumes of this nature, which is why stores such as his supply them.
"We don't purchase our inventory based on politics or political correctness or anything like that; we're here to provide variety for our consumers,” he says. “It’s not our intent to offend anybody."
“It may not be what be a true representation of what aboriginal people actually wear, but it fits the general theme and that’s why we have it available.”
Yet Mona Gleason, professor in the department of educational studies at UBC, says it’s not challenging to see where costumes cross the line.
“I think in general it’s inappropriate to dress up in costumes that are clearly trading on stereotypes,” says Gleason. “Absolutely Halloween is a time to have fun – it doesn’t have to be at the expense of other people. You can have lots of fun without belittling other cultures, or being sexist and racist.”
Gleason says she hears excuses like “it’s just one night”, “it’s just for fun”, or “what’s so bad about it?” all the time.
“One of the strategies that First Nations people really object to is the idea that somehow they exist only in the past as these very stereotypical costumes,” she says. “Aboriginal people are here now, they’re our neighbours. So the idea that we can dress up in a costume that writes off history is hard to defend.”
Bryce agrees.
“Consider twice before [you] buy a costume,” Bryce says. “Is it going to offend somebody? Is it racist? Is this right? And if you’re even doubting it, don’t buy it.”
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Peter Grainger
