They use a Kirby Sattler painting as their profile picture.
Kirby Sattler "See through Fog"
Now, I'm not saying Kirby Sattler is a bad artist or anything. (please don't sue me) Yes, I know, this is the "Awful" blog. He is a white artist who is a bit stuck in the romantic past, but honesty, compared most of the "Native Inspired" artwork out there, this is benign.
They say things like, 'The Spirits belong to everybody" and post videos like this.
Wow, don't you just feel enlightened now?
Maybe you should try doing few yoga poses while watching to get the full effect.
I'm in "corpse pose" right now!
I will probably be featuring a lot of that "art" soon. I really don't get the whole "Native Spirituality" youtube video thing, but then again, I don't understand why church services are on television, either.
Today's post makes no sense Why should it? It's 4-20 and I reserve the right to be as incoherent as possible, but in all honesty I never was that coherent to begin with. Disclaimer: the celebration of 4-20 does not mean the Blog Author advocates illegal activity of any kind...I just think it's funny.
Here's some brightly colored images for you to stare at.
I realize this picture has nothing to do with Native Americans at all, but they're rocks and they freaking GLOW IN THE DARK! Isn't that just mind blowing?
It's like somebody's handbag came to life and tried to start a conversation with you. I can't tell if this is "Native Inspired" or not, the description is too damn long for me to read with that thing staring at me, but it costs $2,777.00.
Coyote the Trickster, we've all heard the stories about how he tricks Iktomi out of his roasted prairie dogs or how he stole fire or his hundreds of other stories. (Wait, why is there no awful spider art? Believe me, I've been looking.)
Anyway, here are some "Awful" ways to express your connectedness to the coyote. Disclaimer: The blog author is not responsible for any wackiness that may occur in your life for embracing coyotes.
Getting in touch your inner Coyote...Or preparing for Coachella?
This woman says, "I can create headdresses such as this from just about any tanned fur you hand me. Bobcat, wolf, mountain lion, bear, African black-backed jackal....you name it, I'll do it (so long as it's legal, of course!)."
Wait, I found this trolling on Etsy... Yes, it is the same woman and still very creepy.
Her listing claims this is "Perfect for Halloween, religous purposes, Burning Man, bonfire parties, Pow-Wows, costume parties, re-enactors, cosplayers, or anyone who wants to feel more in touch with their inner animal." The misspellings are hers.
Um...What? I must have missed the Roadkill Pow-wow. Do they hold that off of the Will Rogers Turnpike?
But is it as bad as this?
From ebay, at $104 with 4 hours to go...
Oh but he looks so happy! You know, with his severed head hanging on the wall. Yup, happy.
Somebody wants this in their house, if it's any of you, please do me a favor and never invite me over.
Ever think, "I could use a handbag that can elegantly sheath my 6-8 inch knife. Those Burlington Coat Factory sales just get really rough sometimes, you never know when you might have to gut someone for taking the last pair of size 8 1/2 tiger print horse-hair pumps." The dead coyote in this case would just be a warning to others.
Sometimes, I can't decide if something is scary, awful, awesome or all three.
The website says, "This artifact is a wild and exceptional display piece! This impressive wall mount comes from Native American artists Super Moon and Black Wolf. It is part of a limited edition, number 20 of 500, and features a hand painted lost wax image of an American Indian Warrior." Now, I'm not going to claim know every Indigenous artisan out there, but Super Moon? It doesn't say what tribe(s) the artisans belong to, either, which always strikes me as odd, especially when there's that whole Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. (please correct me if I'm wrong about this) However, the site does go on to explain,"Native Americans have always felt a special connection to nature. The belief that all things have a spirit is an integral part of their religions. The Zuni believe that animals are more like the Zuni deities than is man. They also believe that animals have more power than man and that these powers, both practical and spiritual, reside in their totems." Um, what do the Zuni have to do with this exactly? Hey, but he has horse hair, bison mane and coyote fur and for the low, low price of $361.95 plus shipping he can be yours! I recommend hanging him in the guest room.
Cher in 1973
(not touching the debate on Cher's "self-identified Cherokee" ancestry)
In the seventies, it was cool to be an "Indian", unless, of course, you happened to be an Indian.
I happen to know some Apaches. I can say with some certainty, there's nothing Apache here! Check out the shiny, blue fringe on Mr. "Butter Popcorn".
No Apaches here, either!
Did you catch the play tent?
This could be the Hipster Pretendian Theme-song:
Perhaps Ke$ha will cover it next!
Don't you just love the Album art? Thankfully, we're spared the video with this one.
Of course, that is a re-make of this song:
I know it's from 1968 and not disco, but it's just too awful not to include.
What's a disco post without The Village People? Felipe Rose honors his heritage by dancing in a loincloth, again.
Oh, but we've come so far since the Seventies, right?
This is a Norwegian band called Wig Wam. I'm just as confused as you are.
Look them up on You tube if you're bored or really hate yourself.
(btw- that guy's shirt says "I Chief; You Nothing!" or something to that effect, I found it odd.)
Blog goddess note: This post comes on the heels of Newspaper Rock's post on"Land theft in My Little Pony". Yet another chunk my childhood has bee marred by bad writing and racism. And here I thought Shia LaBeouf was the biggest threat to my innocent memories.
For $2.99 you can download this book.
A Challenge to be a Unicorn, A Native American Indian Pony book 2
This was self-published on March 10, my other unicorn post was published February 25, coincidence?
A brief description from Smashwords, “All unicorns have to spend time on Earth being a much loved horse, they have to earn golden stars in order to become a unicorn. This is book 2, all about a Native American boy and his horse.”
So, it's like a video game? Like playing Dora the Explorer, collecting all the stars to access the next level? Or Scientology?
What hipsters do in thier spare time...(Warning this a minute of your life you won't get back)
I have no frigging idea.
The description says, “A Native American is doing her daily dance to honor life, when she sees a mythical creature... a flying unicorn!!! The Native American tries to make peace, but the unicorn brutally murders the Native American - later boasting of her ability to fly. This is a symbolic reenactment of the horrors that befell the people who were once native to our land. The unicorn is seemingly innocent, but the true innocence is embedded within the Native American. She is pure, trusting, and as a result, is dealt a cruel fate.”
I think a better description would be, “Hey, I'm drunk and I have this hipster headdress and big green piece of paper hanging in my apartment! So, we got out that unicorn head from last year's key party and put together some racist bullshit!”
Yes, it a feather with a rainbow and a Unicorn! I want to put in my hair, grab that pink Unicorn drum from White Ego Woman and see if I can get anybody at HINU to sing with me!
Oh, but it gets better, Diane Tolleson is a psychic! For $60 an hour, she gives psychic reading by phone, email or in person! She, of course, also paints feathers. For $75 dollars she will paint your Labrador on a crow feather. Where has this woman been all my life?
Geeze, send me $60. I'll tell you, "Everything is coming up roses" and I'll paint your cat with blueberry wojapi.
Think about Native American Action figures. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Spirit Iron-Knife, of course! If you were a child of the '80s, like me, G.I. JOE was a big part of your childhood along with He-Man, Transformers and, oh yeah, Star Wars. G.I. JOE had a Native guy, though. Okay, so he was a walking stereo-type with bird. What is up with the bird, anyway? I've never met a Native American falconer, have you?
1984 Spirit the Tracker
Spirit's file card from 1984
Spirit's pet Eagle "Freedom" came with both 1984 & 1989 figures
There's that word again, Mystic, ugh. Why can't he just be a guy who really likes mashed potatoes?
Wait, did you catch that? "He's not a healer or a priest or a witch doctor. There is isn't any equivalent in our culture for what he is unless we had shrinks that could actually help people."Well, somebody must have forgotten their Valium that day.
Spirit from 1989
Spirit's 1989 file card
So, this Spirit's special ability is that he's never late for dinner? Seriously?
Spirit 1992 (birdless)
Spirit 1992 file card
Anyone else think this sculpt looks a little...er...pale? Why do his "sew-in knee protectors" make me giggle? Ooo, "Authentic Navajo warrior boots", too, if Navajos were pirates.
Spirit 1993 (birdless)
Spirit 1993 filecard
This Spirit was a mail-away, ah, remember those? He's still kind of pale and would you look at those eyebrows! I wonder if he can use them defensively?
2004 12" Spirit Iron Knife
Spirit 2004 12" filecard
Admittedly, this is my favorite sculpt. Plus, I have weakness for 12" figures since I can make clothes for them or swap outfit from other one. Not that I do that. Okay, so maybe this really is just a boy Barbie. Don't judge me!
Spirit Iron-Knife 2005
2005 Filecard
Wow, this one looks normal except the bear-claw necklace, oh, and that damned bird! His special ability this time is whistle carving.
Spirit Iron-Knife's pet eagle, "Freedom" in 2005
Sigma Six 2005 Spirit Iron-Knife
So, this one, while sporting a dynamic sculpt, not only has an eagle, but a bow and tomahawks! Lookie, he's even got face paint and tattoos because he's exotic and mystic like that.
Sigma six 2005 Freedom
Spirit Iron-Knife 2006 (birdless)
2006 Filecard
Same mold as the 2005 version, same file-card text, too. However, the illustrations was new, too bad he looks like an Eastern European weight-lifting super-villain with a tan. At least, he didn't come with a bird.
Spirit Iron Knife 2008
Spirit Iron Knife's 2008 file card
Doesn't he look a bit like a confused old guy? This is a back-to-basics sculpt and the file card reflects that, too, except for the omitted opinions on modern psychology.
"Freedom" in 2008
Nope, still looks confused.
Spirit Iron-Knife 2010 (birdless)
Honestly, this Spirit, a Toys R Us exclusive, seems pretty benign until we gear him up.
Great, another tomahawk, and they almost got it right, too. What's up with the snakes?
Just because they're plastic stereo-types, doesn't mean we can't have fun with them. Spirit 2008 and 2005 make an appearances in Ian Skorodin's Crazy Ind'n The Sequel alongside the The Corp's Tracker Tom as leading man. Enjoy!
Blog goddesses note: For this post I do have to give credit to http://www.yojoe.com/and the collectors who submit their photos. Yes, I do own action figures, more than I would like to admit to, perhaps. Then, I married a Star Wars collector and my fate was sealed.
or how he stole fire or his 
(Wait, why is there no awful 
.
in Oklahoma City.
.
