Fall is the best season, and if you don't believe me, get ready to convert. Candy, pumpkins, warm drinks, pies, leaves falling, and wonderful food are just some of the reasons why it's amazing. On top of that, Halloween is my favorite holiday of the entire year! But do you know what ruins Halloween for me? Seeing women dressed in fake buckskin, wearing fringe, and sporting a massive headdress as their Halloween costume. For Halloween, people are supposed to dress as scary characters, their favorite couples from TV shows, and animated characters like the "Powerpuff Girls." They're not supposed to be mocking a real culture.
My ancestors did not die so that they could be dehumanized and stereotyped.
Contrary to some beliefs, Native Americans do exist. My culture is not and never will be dead.
I am a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation. My people walked for sixty-one days from Indiana all the way out to Kansas at gunpoint. The removal, led by General Tipton, took place in 1838. Let me tell you, when they arrived in Kansas, they did not get what they were expecting.
My ancestors did not die so that they could be seen as neon-painted fools.
Once promised land, homes, and crops, my people came to find rolling hills full of nothing. They didn't know how to live like this. They didn't even know how to hunt for the animals that lived on the plains. To make matters worse, winter was approaching fast. They had no shelter, so they hid under rocky overhangs near the creek and put blankets up to protect themselves from the harsh wind.
My ancestors did not die so that men could strut around in loincloths.
My ancestors adapted as best as they could and barely survived the winter (although others did not make it), but even when spring came, they didn't know any of the plants. The medicine men had never learned the healing properties of the new plants in Kansas. They weren't provided with a manual of how to live. None of them had seen the likes of the topography of Kansas before.
My ancestors did not die so teenage girls could lace up fake mukluks.
In our culture, women are extremely modest. There are rules for powwows and how one should dress. It is disgraceful to see that people think that we really wear short skirts and heeled fur boots. We sew leggings for our regalia to ensure that we are covered enough.
Only men are allowed to wear headdresses or bustles in our culture. Each feather in the headdress is special. Often, the feathers are prizes of war. A long time ago, men would go to war and earn eagle feathers for their kills. The men with the most feathers were the most skilled either in hunting or in fighting their enemies.
My ancestors did not die so that college girls could prance around with gaudy, fake plumes poking out from their headbands.
We do not dance around to gather attention. Dancing isn't just kicking your feet out and jumping around. There is rhythm, and there is a purpose. We dance for our ancestors and our Creator. When I dance, I pray for healing over friends or family members who are ill. I don't dance to cause a scene or to be silly. I take my dancing seriously and use that time to get close with God.
Halloween should be fun. It shouldn't be a time to dress up as someone's culture, especially when there are so many other options for costumes. I prefer dressing up as people who aren't still alive like Ancient Egyptians. I don't dress up or paint my face for Day of the Dead because I am not Mexican. I would never want to offend someone by turning his culture into a form of fashion.
My ancestors did not die so that they could become someone's Halloween costume.
When deciding what to be for Halloween, be smart. Think before you choose to dress up as a Native American. We're people too. I'm pretty sure you don't want to see me dressed up as a stereotypical white person.
If you'd like to see more about Native American culture, here are a couple of videos from other Natives.
