1929 - “Some persons frown upon the ‘barbaric’ dress of the Indians. I would have you note the painstaking care necessary to making such a costume." Luther Standing Bear
1929,
Aug 22. Argus Leader – Indian Criticizes Scanty Clothing of White Women
Some of the Sioux Indians of South Dakota have their own ideas about the abbreviated costumes of many of the “paleface” women and evidently do not look with favor upon the barelegged and extreme short skirt styles of the “paleface” women and girls.
Henry Standing Bear, full-blooded Sioux warrior belonging on the Pine Ridge reservation, expresses the views of his Indian brethren on these matters. His ire was aroused by newspaper stories criticizing the Sioux Indians for appearing, during celebrations, in their old-time attire, which the newspaper stories termed barbaric. Discussing these stories he said:
“Some persons frown upon the ‘barbaric’ dress of the Indians. I would have you note the painstaking care necessary to making such a costume. Then compare it with the abbreviated ‘barbaric’ dress worn by many women of other races. Some of the educated girls of our race wore such abbreviated dress at a church convocation recently held in western South Dakota, but at the recent Indian gathering at Rapid City it was noted the costumes worn by the Indian women were lengthy and complete, preserving the inherited modesty of the Indian race. Is not that a comparison worthy of consideration?"
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Some of the Sioux Indians of South Dakota have their own ideas about the abbreviated costumes of many of the “paleface” women and evidently do not look with favor upon the barelegged and extreme short skirt styles of the “paleface” women and girls.
Henry Standing Bear, full-blooded Sioux warrior belonging on the Pine Ridge reservation, expresses the views of his Indian brethren on these matters. His ire was aroused by newspaper stories criticizing the Sioux Indians for appearing, during celebrations, in their old-time attire, which the newspaper stories termed barbaric. Discussing these stories he said:
“Some persons frown upon the ‘barbaric’ dress of the Indians. I would have you note the painstaking care necessary to making such a costume. Then compare it with the abbreviated ‘barbaric’ dress worn by many women of other races. Some of the educated girls of our race wore such abbreviated dress at a church convocation recently held in western South Dakota, but at the recent Indian gathering at Rapid City it was noted the costumes worn by the Indian women were lengthy and complete, preserving the inherited modesty of the Indian race. Is not that a comparison worthy of consideration?"
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I wonder what Luther Standing Bear would think of all these sexy Poca-hottie costumes that non-Natives STILL wear - even after protests and Buzzfeed videos explaining why these outfits are offensive (besides the part where it's completely ignorant to dress as another race, anyways, for Halloween. )
In "real life" - this is how Native American women presented themselves - at this time period of the late 1920's - to the public, when wearing their "traditional" clothing.
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| 1929 fall fashions |
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| 1929, Aug 22 Argus Leader |
