indigenous

Indigenous Group “Condemns” Viral Chiefs Fan For Headdress And Face Paint

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The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians have condemned the behavior of a young boy who wore a ceremonial headdress and face paint to a Chiefs game last weekend. “We are aware that a young member of our community attended a Kansas City Chiefs game in a headdress and face paint in his way of supporting his favorite team. Please keep in mind that the decisions made by individuals or families in our community are their own and may not reflect the views of the broader tribal community. As a federally recognized tribe, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians does not endorse wearing regalia as part of a costume or participating in any other type of cultural appropriation,” Chairman Kenneth Kahn said in a statement to Front Office Sports.

The boy, who has not been named in media reports, was spotted wearing a headdress as well as black-and-red face paint to the Chiefs win against the Raiders in Las Vegas. While it was initially erroneously reported that the child was doing blackface, a great deal of outrage has been leveled at the child. Furthermore, many have turned against the Chiefs, who have chosen to remain silent on the incident.

Read More: Machine Gun Kelly Makes Travis Kelce Hilarious Offer To Leave The Chiefs

Viral Chiefs Fan’s Mother Defends Her Son

The statement from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians comes a day after the boy’s mother spoke out on social media. “People are ridiculous. Everyone asked to take a photo with him. The players even loved it!” Shannon Armenta wrote on Meta, formerly Facebook, alongside several photos of her son. The Chiefs, who have done work in recent years to try and steer their fanbase away from harmful stereotypes of Indigenous Peoples, have not commented on the matter.

However, Elon Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to take credit for fighting disinformation. Musk claimed X was responsible for helping fight “deception” in the story’s reporting. Despite this, many people ignored Musk’s bragging. X has come under fire in recent weeks for a number of issues, including helping spread misinformation about the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

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Indigenous Communities Bash New “Avatar” For Racist Stereotypes

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“Avatar: The Way of Water” is still fresh in theatres, but it’s continuing to make headlines for its allegedly racist tropes.

Indigenous communities are speaking out about the series’ second instalment. Many are accusing the film of continuing to glamorize colonialism.

Citizens walk by a poster of film ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ at a cinema on December 16, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Hou Yu/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

The first movie, directed by James Cameron, was released in 2009 to critical acclaim. It was praised upon its release because of the 3D effects and editing. At the time, the use of this kind of technology was monumental.

However, critics and movie-watchers alike were quick to point out the film’s dangerous portrayal of Native stereotypes.

According to an article by The Washington Post, Indigenous critics say that no progress has been made since the original. They say that the problematic flaws present in the first movie reappear in its follow-up.

Within the science fiction films, the alien species called Na’vi are reportedly inspired by real Indigenous tribes around the world. The Maori, who are the Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, are allegedly the inspiration behind “The Way of Water.”

Additionally, some are calling for the boycott of the movie due to some racist remarks made by Cameron 12 years ago. In 2010, he allegedly said that the Lacota people should have fought harder against colonialism.

New Movie, Same Stereotypes

Although Cameron vowed to make an effort in improving the second movie in these ways, it appears as though it still embraces racial stereotypes. Furthermore, the plot is being accused of romanticizing colonialism and downplaying the real-life suffering of Indigenous communities.

Regardless of the backlash, the film has still managed to be successful in its first week. According to reports, it made $53 million on its opening day. However, its three-day earnings are $130M-$150M, slightly below predictions.

Cameron, or anyone else from the movie’s production, have yet to make a comment.

Have you seen the new Avatar? If so, do you think the series should be boycotted? Comment down below.

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