One thing I love about the US is it’s Native American history and culture that still exists. However, there’s a fine line between appreciating a culture and cultural appropriation (and with each culture, it’s different).
My question is, what do you think is that line? How can I show off how awesome native American cultural products are (I know not all native American culture is the same and that it’s extremely regional and individualized) without coming across as insensitive, ignorant, or wrong?
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What do you mean exactly – what are you trying to do? What do you mean by “show off how awesome native American cultural products are?”
Buying art made by native artists and putting it in your house is generally not considered appropriation. Negotiating an unfair deal with the artists to sell it to other collectors, and not paying them appropriately, would be appropriation. Wearing clothing made/worn by native people is generally fine but not if you aren’t minimally aware that, for example, wearing a war bonnet to Coachella is disrespectful. You just have to educate yourself about the culture.
Profiteering and parody, maybe. What are you looking to do?
Why don’t you ask the tribes that you want to buy the cultural products from? They will tell you the respectful way to display/wear them
Don’t go around wearing a headdress and calling yourself Chief Wahoo.
If someone native is selling you something for you personally to use/display you are just fine.
Unless you are taking advantage of someone and ripping them off it isn’t appropriation.
You would have to ask someone in the tribe you are buying from if what you plan to do is insensitive. Even then, other people in the tribe may disagree.
I think about it from a Catholic perspective. If people wear rosaries or display saint icons I am not overly bothered. It might be a little annoying if they are just using them as fashion or art and aren’t Catholic but fine. But if someone was to rip off a tabernacle from a closed parish and use it as a flower vase I would be much more upset.
I think a huge part of it is as simple as supporting actual Native American artists and artisans. If you can, engage with them about their work to ensure you’re using it in a respectful way. Often, native artists will not sell pieces that are meant to be used in religious or cultural ceremonies to people outside their communities anyway.
There are many Native artists and designers out there making all sorts of products for a broad clientele. Write them and ask who their intended audience is and I guarantee they will be happy to tell you what products are or are not okay to buy. Be prepared to pay a fair price for high quality, handmade items.
There is no “Native American culture.” There were/are many tribes with many different cultures.
Instead of buying “native/tribal-inspired” products, support actual Native American artisans – if they’re selling something to non-native markets then they’re OK with you wearing/using it and the money directly supports their communities.
If I’m wrong I’m happy to be corrected but I do believe that some pow-wows allow non-natives to attend as long as you’re a respectful guest.
Certainly don’t wear any clothing featuring old logos of sports teams that used to be named for Native Americans.
Be sure to support native American creators/artists.
Buy from Native Creators. It’s that simple.
If you enjoy native American art, buy it from actual native Americans. Don’t go buying dream catchers off of Amazon.
Don’t romanticize them.
Learn the differences between different tribes/nations.
Don’t wear a feathered headdress and pretend to do a rain dance.
But most of all just be willing to learn and engage with native communities and don’t try to claim native culture as your own. That’s where the line is.
Make indigenous food!
Buy from Native producers and if people ask where you got it, direct them to that producer. Eighth Generation (good place to buy from) has done a few reels on it over on Instagram.
Purchase art and jewelry by Native American creators, read books by Native American authors
There’s no problem with appreciating it. Do you mean displaying art in your home? It’s like any other cultural group in the world – showing appreciation isn’t the same as using rude stereotypes or caricatures in a mocking way.