Krewe members and festival organizers have always claimed to pay tribute to American Indians and educate people about their culture.
Beaulieu's group sees things differently.
"AIM contends desecrating Native American culture with headdresses, whooping and hollering, wearing buckskin, feathers and beads is nothing but a mockery," she said in a news release sent out Friday.
Beaulieu said the feathers are to be used in spiritual ceremonies, not "fun and games."
She said the group has made progress over the years. For example, organizers no longer have children re-enact the fictitious story of Queen Chasco and her consort, Pithla.
"It made Native Americans look savage and pagan," she said.
Also, the festival features more American Indian vendors and artists.
"It's 100 percent better than what it was," she said.
For more on the festival, see Fla. Chasco Festival Calls Indians "Savages" and "Heathen." For more on Native stereotypes in general, see the Stereotype of the Month contest.
4 comments:
Those multi-colored necklaces look similar to the ones tossed out to drunken crowds by bare-breasted floozies in New Orleans during Mardis Gras where it always reeks of stale alcohol, urine, vomit and butt.
Yes. I presume they're doing the same thing as the Mardi Gras revelers: pretending to be Indians and tossing beads to the crowds.
Rob,
FL AIM will have a some video footage of the Krewe antics posted on You Tube in the next month, when it is edited. At least this year the city banned throwing beads. In past years the Krewe hit some of the elder Native protesters in the face. Protesters had to use their signs as shields against the pelting.
This year a woman aimed at us and hit one of the dozen or so police officers in front of us right on his ear. I know it hurt, he was rubbing his ear. We tried to point out the offending woman, but the officer ignored us. They took one of the other floats out of the parade for throwing beads, but the Krewe people got away with it.
We have some great photos of Krewe people if you'd like me to send them to you.
Press Release
3/12/2009
The American Indian Movement of Florida Plans Protest
The American Indian Movement of Florida will once again demonstrate at the Chasco Street Parade. For a number of years, AIM has persisted in protesting the racially offensive Chasco Krewe Float. Krewe members claim to be honoring Native Americans but AIM contends desecrating Native American culture with headdresses, whooping and hollering, wearing buckskin, feather and beads is nothing but a mockery.
It shouldn't be the krewe that determines who honors us. We determine who honors us. If we don't believe it to be an honor then it's not an honor. If it's hurtful to one person, it should be stopped.
People ask, "Don't you have more serious things to do?" The American Psychological Association, the American Sociological Association are among other reputable academic, educational and civil rights
organizations have publicly stated that Native American stereotypes harm the psychological welfare of young Native Americans. Now that's serious! We don't spend time protesting because we have nothing better to do.
The African American "mammy," "Sambo" and blackface performances have disappeared, as well as Frito Bandito. Today, Native American culture is the only minority group that is still depicted in stereotypes and caricatures.
It's time the Chasco Krewe stops exploiting Indians for their fun and games. Let's educate instead of promoting racism.
Ruby Beaulieu, Executive Director
American Indian Movement of Florida
P.O. Box 6995
Hudson FL 34667
Post a Comment