Racial Retaliation for Halloween

By Aaron Lombardi

Halloween versions of First Nations traditional attire are being viewed as racist and may soon

be off the shelves of costume stores.

Fake buckskin suits, feathers and beads, tomahawks and fringe; these are the materials used to

complete standard “Indian” costume sets which are sold in Halloween stores across Canada. The

costume models are presumably Caucasian, holding their right hand in the air with their palm open, a

stereotypical gesture associated with First Nations.

In a growing age of racial sensitivity, these costumes have sparked outrage on social media and in

First Nations communities for their provocative image. Dale Cutler is a First Nations person who wants

to remind the public this goes beyond being too sensitive.

“Some people dress up like pimps with the canes and furry hats. A lot of those guys back in

the day were black,” said Cutler. “People don’t see it that way because it doesn’t have to be that way.

When you wear an Indian costume, you are simply imitating an Indian.”

These particular costumes are mainly found in the women’s section of the stores and being

given character names such as “Huron Honey,” “ Native Beauty,” and “Moon Dancer.” The costumes

carry a strong image of sex appeal. This trend is common in adult Halloween costumes but Cutler

believes the props are the most offensive.

“Feathers, beads, all sacred things…” said Cutler. “ Every bead and every feather represents

something about you, about your culture. It’s not just some stuff we throw together and wear.”

Maxine Nahdee, First Nations, Metis and Inuit Counsellor at St. Clair College also attributes

the costumes to a society uneducated about their Indigenous Peoples cultures.

“Buckskin suits, that is something sacred, everything stereotypically seen on TV or in costume

is just people wearing sacred clothing,” said Nahdee. “So yes, I believe it’s offensive.”

According to an article written by CBC Sudbury, First Nations women in the area are especially

offended by the ignorance of the culture with the sexualizing of costumes, reminiscent of the cases

of the missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Although Halloween stores in Windsor-Essex have been given no instructions to remove the

costumes from their shelves, employees do see them being gone in the future.

Kim Kelly, is an employee at Halloween Headquarters on Walker Road and has already dealt with

dissatisfied customers regarding these costumes.

“A man walked in last week and started yelling and swearing at me because of the Indian

costumes,” said Kelly. “I don’t make them so I don’t know why he was mad at me but I do see where

he is coming from.”

Kelly tells of a Caucasian woman who recently came into the store in search of a Niqab

costume for a Halloween party, a Niqab being clothing worn by those of the Muslim faith.

“Of course we didn’t have one of those, that’s incredibly racist, which is why I understand it’s

the same thing with the Indian costumes,” said Kelly.

With these costumes still on the shelves of stores across the country and Halloween right around

the corner, the costumes may still be worn this year. Next year, however, we may see a different

situation.