From Simon Fraser University: Think Before You Appropriate
“People and cultures have always exchanged and borrowed ideas from each other to create new forms of art and symbolic expression. Whether intentionally or not, most if not all human creations reflect varied sources of inspiration.
Why, then, are some products negatively labelled “cultural appropriation” or their creators accused of disrespecting the very cultures they found inspiring? And why do products inspired from Indigenous cultural heritage seem to spark particularly strong reactions and pushback?
This guide unpacks these important questions. It provides advice to designers and marketers on why and how to avoid misappropriation, and underlines the mutual benefits of responsible collaborations with Indigenous artists and communities.” -from their website
See also Territorial Acknowledgement Guide from The Canadian Association of University Teachers
“The Canadian Association of University Teachers has released the Guide to Acknowledging Traditional Territory, which provides the territorial acknowledgment appropriate for each local region in which CAUT has member associations.
“The purpose of the guide is to encourage all academic staff association representatives and members to acknowledge the First Peoples on whose traditional territories we live and work” says CAUT president, James Compton. “Acknowledging territory shows recognition of and respect for Aboriginal Peoples, which is key to reconciliation.”
Acknowledging traditional territory appropriately takes place at the commencement of courses, at meetings or conferences, at presentations given either at one’s home institution or elsewhere.
You can find CAUT’s Guide to Acknowledging Traditional Territory at the following link.
– See more at: http://www.caut.ca/news/2016/05/27/territorial-acknowledgement-guide#sthash.ne2SfL3g.dpuf” from their website.