“We were not legally allowed to practise our culture,” says Paul, who is an urban Denesuliné woman and a member of English River First Nation. “So, historically, people were making money off our culture that we were not allowed to practise.” Stolen designs may also feature ceremonial images and iconography, she says, which are then taken out of context when presented in isolation by a brand.
The hurt felt by affected communities goes deep—this unrooted representation of Indigenous peoples and Native cultures can lead to harmful stereotypes, which are then used to justify further oppression, mistreatment, and violence.
Protecting Indigenous Designs From the Fashion Machine - Atmos
