Will Glastonbury Be Next to Ban Native American Headdresses?

Article by: Laura Mason|@masonlazarus

Wed October 15, 2014 | 00:00 AM


We've all seen them before: festival attendees wearing massive, feathered Native American headdresses. Sure, they're beautiful and make quite a fashion statement, but if that statement comes at the cost of appropriating a culture that in most cases is likely not their own, is it worth it? Furthermore, given that the only people who are traditionally permitted to wear these war bonnets are honored Plains Indian men, either in battle or during sacred ceremonies, we'll just venture to say that the 19-year old girl you saw wearing a headdress at Coachella last year probably shouldn't have been wearing it.

Bass Coast Festival in Canada made headlines earlier this year when they banned the controversial head gear outright, and now it looks as if Glastonbury might be next in line.

Taking notice of an online petition created by Daniel W. Round, Glastonbury organizers have already implemented new guidelines that prohibit vendors from selling war bonnets at the UK music festival.

There is a loophole, though: attendees of Glastonbury may still wear their own headdresses to the festival, so this isn't a complete ban yet.

What do you think? Should people be permitted to wear whatever they want to festivals, including Native American headdresses? Or is this fashion statement one of cultural appropriation and insensitivy, and should it be banned completely?