Indigenous market

This weekend I went to an Indigenous Christmas craft market. There were beautiful handmade items from Indigenous artists from around the Medicine Hat area. I really enjoyed looking at all the beautiful beaded earrings, but they were a bit out of my student budget range haha. In the back of my mind I kept thinking about what Thomas King would think about this whole thing. He shared that Indigenous regalia has deep cultural, and spiritual significance and is not a costume that just anyone should or can wear. However, at this market the Indigenous vendors were eager to sell to the white customers that were walking around. King also said that the commodification of Indigenous regalia by non-Indigenous people, this being done in the way of Halloween costumes or fashion trends, would reduce sacred symbols. I own many pairs of Indigenous earrings, and I have never thought of it as a way that I am disgracing sacred symbols, but instead celebrating Indigenous culture, and showing off their beautiful beadwork. If anyone asks about my earrings I always say where or who I got them from, as a way to honor the artist.

At the market there were also things like necklaces, keychains, lanyards, and some clothing items. However, the item that really caught my attention was a lady who made Indigenous Barbie clothes, and I wondered what King would think about this idea. Personally I thought it was a great idea, and if I had daughters or nieces that played with barbies I would have definitely got them a ribbon skirt for their barbies. However, In The Truth About Stories, King talks about how traditional clothing, regalia, and adornments are romanticized, and used as markers of "authenticity" by settler cultures, while their deeper cultural and spiritual meanings are forgotten. The barbie ribbon skirt might be a good example of traditional, and sacred powwow attire needing respect and understanding of its meaning. Or on the other hand, King might think the complete opposite of this and see this as a way for Indigenous artists to express their identity in ways that reflect both traditional and modern ways.

I have a Cree friend who has always encouraged me to wear my beaded earrings proudly, and says that this is a way for me to support and show reverence for Indigenous people. She would also say the same for the barbie ribbon skirt. I think that she would agree with me when I say that buying from Indigenous artists is a way of supporting them, as well as inviting conversations about Indigenous culture, as well as past harms, as a way to educate one another and continue the journey of reconciliation.

Hi Lynnea, I also would like to mention how beaituful that market was. I have never been to an Indigenous market before and everything that was there was truly beautiful, as well as the people that I met. Everyone was so kind and welcoming.
I was in awe with all the bead work that was there. I couldnt help but to wonder how long it took them to create some of those pieces.
I hope to attend more Indigenous markets and to celebrate their work.