Black Nature at Bartram’s Garden- Saturday March 24th

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What: Black Nature at Bartram’s Garden

Join us as we explore the meaning of “black nature” and the connections between black identity and the environment. Panelists include Chris Bolden-Newsome, Third-generation Farmer, Food Justice Educator, Syd Carpenter, Gardener, Sculptor and Professor of Studio Art at Swarthmore College, Valerie Erwin, Chef and Proprietor at Geechee Girl Rice Cafe, Evie Shockley, Poet and Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University and Jeanne Thompson, Safety & Environmental Manager, BJ’s Wholesale Club.

When: Saturday, March 24th, 2012, 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Where: Bartram’s Garden, 54th and Lindbergh Avenue http://www.bartramsgarden.org

Cost: Admission is a sliding scale of $5 – $10, or free for members.

RSVP: to kmassare@bartramsgarden.org or (215)729-5281.

Hope to see you there!

Cultural Appropriation – Repost “Oh Miss Canada”

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http://nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/2011/09/oh-miss-canada.html

(via John Federov)

Oh, (Miss) Canada.

So, apparently, Miss Universe Canada Chelsae Duroche decided it would be appropriate to wear a headdress for the “National Dress” portion of the competition. Her stereotypical stoic Indian pose is helpful too.

From what I can find, I don’t think Chelsae is Native. But honestly, that wouldn’t have mattered. That’s a straight-up costume shop headdress right there.

UPDATE: “Miss Canada considers her First Nations-inspired cocktail dress a work of art. Her official website describes it as “A Homage to Haida—Its People & Art.”” Dear Chelsae, Haida don’t wear headdresses like that.

The sad thing is, she had an opportunity to do something cool. Look at her dress (once she moved the cigar store Indian arms):

Her dress is a stylized Northwest Coast design (which, again, way to combine distinct cultures–Plains headdress with NW coast dress?). Here would have been an awesome opportunity to use a Native designer to make the dress, and showcase a part of Canada’s “culture” appropriately. Much like Ashley Callingbull (Miss Universe Canada 2010) did in a pageant a few years back, wearing a beautiful dress by Danita Strawberry:

and then another gorgeous dress by a Native designer, Angela DeMontigny:

But this controversy isn’t new. Back in 2008, Miss Universe Canada wore this delightful get-up:

um, yeah. Clearly a very culturally sensitive event.

But guys, can we PLEASE talk about what Miss USA wore?

What. The. Eff.