Cher, pool party, Indian maidens howling at the moon...


Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

August 20, 2009

Wolf maiden ad for Washington, D.C. pool party

Read the following advertisement reprinted in Newspaper Rock blog. The pool party organizers were doing their best to coax people to attend "Indian summer camp. " It wasn't a joke. The ad recently riled up a lot of Washington, D.C. folks who succeeded in getting the pool party organizers to change the theme of the get-together.

Check out an excerpt of the ad:

We want to see people breaking out the feather headdresses and moccasins. Or go the cowboy route and bring some water pistols to take down the savages.

btw, this guy was Italian, Native Americans don’t give a shit about the environment

If you roll up in a van with some sweet art on it, you get in free.

You can read all the comments and the rationalization of the organizers for being out of touch with reality. But, they argue, it makes sense to them.

I've said it once, but it's worth repeating: We need more Native voices on the Internet and in the media to create a much stronger Native presence and awareness in American society. Only then will Indian-themed pool parties become a relic of the past. Unfortunately, discrimination continues to thrive in the workplace, in our communities and in the nation's capital.

Jodi Rave

Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

(Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation)

Founder & Editor in Chief

Location: Twin Buttes, North Dakota

Spoken Languages: English

Topic Expertise: Federal trust relationship with American Indians; Indigenous issues ranging from spirituality and environment to education and land rights

See the journalist page
Jodi Rave Spotted Bear

Sharing Is Caring

This article is not included in our Story Share & Care selection.

The content may only be reproduced with permission from the Indigenous Media Freedom Alliance. Please see our content sharing guidelines.

© Buffalo's Fire. All rights reserved.

Help us keep the fire burning, make a donation to Buffalo’s Fire

For everyone who cares about transparency in Native affairs: We exist to illuminate tribal government. Our work bridges the gap left by tribal-controlled media and non-Native, extractive journalism, providing the insights necessary for truly informed decision-making and a better quality of life. Because the consequences of restricted press freedom affect our communities every day, our trauma-informed reporting is rooted in a deep, firsthand expertise.

Every gift helps keep the fire burning. A monthly contribution makes the biggest impact. Cancel anytime.

Continue
Register for the free Buffalo's Fire Newsletter.

Respect The Fire

At Buffalo's Fire, we value constructive dialogue that builds an informed Indian Country. To keep this space healthy, moderators will remove:

  • Personal attacks, harassment, or hate speech
  • Spam, misinformation, or unsolicited promotion
  • Off-topic rants and excessive shouting (All Caps)

Let’s keep the fire burning with respect.