Irish embarrassment - "The Indians"

Most of you are probably not aware of the "The Indians" as in Ireland's self proclaimed top showband.

A showband that in the early 1970s was looking for a gimmick and decided that misappropriating Native American culture was just the thing.  Not great, but it was the 1970s - there is no excuse for this in today's day and age and yes this showband is still going.   Still dressing up in tassells, feathered headdresses, war paint and singing about wigwams and squaws ('squaw' is a controversial term at best and sexist and racist at worst).

Recently there has been a campaign driven by Native American's for this band to drop the 'gimmick' which has lead to some rather nasty racist comments from both sides of the Atlantic.  As a person of Irish descent I am appalled at the lack of active listening from "The Indians" (the Showband and supporters) - it is not "honouring" or "flattering" someone when one group of people continues a behaviour despite the express wishes of the target group.   Many seem to think this is harmless, as harmless as "The Washington Redskins" and the "Cleveland Indians" complete with racist characture.   Native American mascots and groups that carry on like "The Indians" are not harmless - there is a lot of research written about the damage these stereotypes do.  A simple google search is all that is required to find this information.

As a person of Irish descent I'm not embarrassed by "The Indians" (unfortunately ignorance is everywhere), I'm embarrassed by the apathy and continued denial of Native American experiences displayed by my Irish bretheren, who could pressure this band into losing the Native American "gimmick" but don't.  Seriously - you would think Irish people would be more sensitive about cultural missappriopriation and stereotyping.

91 views

Share