Cultural Appropriation – David Garneau

This section brings together all selected writings on contemporary art, exhibition practices, and Indigenous representation. The texts are also organized thematically and can be accessed through the menu under the following sections: “Accessibility”, “Art Exhibitions”, “My Art and Curation”, “Conciliation”, “Cultural Appropriation”, “Indigenous Art, Display, and Criticism”, and “Other Writing”.

Thoughts on inappropriate appropriations

Not all appropriations are theft. Appropriation is the making one’s own something that belongs to another. Theft is misappropriation—the acquisition of property without either the rightful owner’s permission or a public sanction. People misappropriate cultural property because they are ignorant or assume that they can get away with it. It is currently popular to get tattoos from cultures not one’s own. Those who do so had better watch for Haida or Maori bikers!

Apropos Appropriate Appropriations: Metissage After the Apologies

The title of our symposium, ‘Art and Appropriation Post the Apology’, suggests that we are at the Post; one age is behind us, another before us. An optimistic descendent of the Old World might read this as an indication that we are already living in a Post Apology era. ‘Post the Apology’, post-apologetic—being post, after, no longer having to apologize. This must be a relief for anyone suffering post-colonial guilt. Not so fast. The title elides what the contrition was for: apologized for what? We could be less euphemistic: ‘Art and Appropriation Post the Near-Genocide,’ ‘Post Forced Assimilation. ’

Appropriate and Inappropriate Appropriations

Elders explain that the knowledge they keep—of the environment, medicines, stories, philosophy and spirituality—does not belong to them. They are keepers, not owners. Because the teachings are true, gifts shared by the Creator, they must be available to those who ask—in the right way! Protocols protect and guide transmission. Teachings are not bundled into packets, transcribed and published, bought and sold. This knowledge is not textual but contextual, a human-to-human exchange shared in special settings; an embodied gift unwrapped over time.