Glastonbury Festival bans sale of Native American head-dresses

Glastonbury Festival 2015

Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th June 2015
Worthy Farm, Pilton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4AZ, England MAP
£220 (secured with a deposit) - SOLD OUT

Daily capacity: 198,000

Native American Headdresses have been added to the list of things traders aren’t allowed to sell at Glastonbury Festival without prior approval which includes alcohol, cigarettes, candle flares, mobile phone charging, flags, gazebo’s, and anything that says Glastonbury Festival on it/carries the Festival logo.

Hundreds of food traders, charities, campaigning organisations and peddlers of the bizarre and unique trade at the Festival each year and the Festival are taking applications to trade at Glastonbury 2015, with traders having until 1st December 2014 to apply. There are two applications available, one for food traders and one for non-food traders.

The move follows a petition launched online to ban the garment, started by Daniel Round on Change.org. He broke the news (here), saying "I have just spoken with someone at the Glastonbury festival office – they got in touch to inform me that the festival has decided to ban the sale of headdresses from next year!

"Our petition, small in numbers but passionate in support, pushed this issue right up to [organiser] Emily Eavis, and she listened. From next year, alongside candle flares and flags, Native American style headdresses will not be on sale at Glasto stalls.

"Although it is only one UK festival, I hope that if we spread the news of Glastonbury's decision online, positive discussions about the stereotyping of Native Americans and the headdress will grow in the UK and elsewhere."

The wearing of the headdress, which is sacred to the Amerindians, has in Canada and America already been banned by some festivals, and the appropriation of Native cultural markers as costumes, mascots and fashion accessories has been a hot topic lately. With the wearing of traditional American Indian attire that would never be worn elsewhere, and famous people donning the 'hipster headdress' considered by some racism rather than fashion.

Already this year Pharrell Williams apologised for posing in a feather headdress for the July edition of Elle UK. The Happy singer triggered a #NotHappy Twitter campaign. "I am genuinely sorry," Williams wrote, "I respect and honour every kind of race, background and culture."

The argument hinges on the fact to a race of indiginous people who were moved off their lands it is more than just 'fashion' it holds 'deep spiritual significance', akin to a burka or yarmulke. Wearing them as costumes also references a time when "playing Indian" was more common in pop culture, and the media used it to stereotype, dismiss and dehumanize Natives in ways that helped justify their marginalized status.

Simon Moya-Smith, a Native American citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation and journalist, told MTV, "The headdress is reserved for our revered elders who, through their selflessness and leadership, have earned the right to wear one. It’s a spiritual garb, not just cultural. It’s not merely an addition to one’s attire. Wearing one, even an imitation headdress, belittles what our elders have spent a lifetime to earn."

The eagle-feather war bonnet is a sacred ceremonial item, 'earned over the course of one's lifetime' and used by only 12 of the United States' 562 federally recognised tribes.

With the issue of cultural appropriation becoming an increasingly high-profile topic of discussion, one would hope more people start realizing how problematic such actions are and adjust themselves accordingly. Glastonbury Festival is not telling anyone what to wear, or what not to wear. Glastonbury are telling traders not to sell headdresses.It seems the Festival are at least aware of their spiritual, and cultural significance.

If someone chooses to bring one to wear to the Festival next year that's up to them, but perhaps like stars including Pharrell, Wayne Coyne, Kesha, Outkast and Harry Styles they may realise the headdress is not simply a quirky hat.

The application forms to apply to trade at Glastonbury Festival are available (here).

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