Love To Wear Native American Jewelry? Is It Cultural Appreciation Or Appropriation?

Cultural appropriation means taking in something intrinsic to culture and using it without giving due recognition to the source. In today’s world, cultural appropriation is looked down upon and sometimes makes people worry when buying authentic Native American jewelry. They worry that by wearing or buying such jewelry are they enabling cultural appropriation or are they appreciating the culture? Let’s take a look at this.

To understand this topic, we must first differentiate between appreciating and appropriating a culture. When you appreciate culture, you take elements from that culture, such as jewelry, and appreciate them for being a part and symbol of that culture. But appropriation happens when you take elements from a culture and use them for your commercial purposes but say that it is yours.

So, how do you travel down this path? Simple, by knowing what you are buying and using. When you know the cultural significance of the item you are using in its original culture and respect it, you appreciate it. For example, when you buy Native American jewelry from your local jewelry store in Pleasant Hill, try to know the significance and symbol present in that jewelry. And then wear it respectfully. But if you wear it to mock the culture or in a disrespectful manner, it is appropriating it.

• If you have always loved Native American jewelry and want to buy some for yourself, here are some tips on how to do so that show you are appreciating their culture and not appropriating it.
• If you can, always buy from a genuine Native American jewelry store dealer or maker. This way, you not only pay attention to amazing Native American jewelry makers but also help the community financially.

If there is no such store in your neighborhood, search for “authentic Native American jewelry near me” to find stores that stock them. And when buying a piece, enquire about the origin of the piece. Stores that stock up on such genuine jewelry will be happy to tell you which tribe the jewelry is from, what the stones and symbols used in it mean, and also the artist who made it. Tell others about these things when someone compliments you on your new jewelry. This way, you help the culture and the community that the jewelry is from.