Spiritual guidance...not for sale!

I came across this <---(PLEASE READ) the other day while strolling through tumblrtown, blogspotville, and wordpressington. I was blown away by the amount of research/ history and current fashion happenings that were mentioned throughout the article. I myself am a registered native american indian, and I consider myself to be more american than american indian...however I am a registered tribal member to the Oneida Nation loyal to the Iroquois tribe of indians, my grandmother was full blooded, and I was raised around a lot of indian pride. I have steadily seen the rise of native american culture sneak it's way to the forefront of todays fashion. It's just another example of culture vulturing, and exploiting heritage in a tasteless manner. Let it not be confused some people have been doing it with class and taste for years and it was never an issue ( RL, Pendelton,Minnetonka, Chipewa) because it was merely a nod to american indians and their rich culture, I felt as if those brands were trying to shine light on native culture. The sad part today is that every one is trying to cash in on it and it's lost the homage factor. Native americans were spiritual people and just about everything they did in their lives had meaning, and it was a natural organic meaning that was in tune with the living and spiritual surroundings of the world. That has been lost in translation now that the imagery and patterns, and even wardrobe have been flooded in pop culture fashion. This article hit home with me because I started a clothing line before the streetwear thing took off in the early 2000's called N8TIVE Trading Co. I wanted to be a newer POLO RL with a little more of a streetwise edge... Well, the company didn't exactly take off, and we made a few pieces here and there and it kind of just took the back seat to other ventures in my life, but it sucked because the ideology behind it was heart felt I had a vision of bringing native american awareness to the world and a final goal to actually manufacture and make goods on reservations by native people. FUBU for Indians...LOL!!! No but anyway this article summed up how I have been feeling for the last few years watching this wack bullshit get passed off as cool, 99% of the patterns and image stealing of native styles are bogus! I have watched, like many of us have, things we have been into and feel passionate about get played out and popularized until it is no longer cool to you anymore. I can't wait until native folklore in pop fashion fades away and the real lovely and respectful brands can continue to do what they have always done, and the watered down fakers and shakers will have moved on to the next neon spandex spacesuit style...Just another rant from a guy with grey hair who is getting old and cranky with what the "kids" are doing!!!
Peace and love
Viva Lux

Once upon a time...Me and my father, late70's..

Union pacific homage...

While most were chasing pink and purple bathing ape candy camo....


For my cuzzy young chief Edmund, who put me on with this song...