First Nations inspired headdresses not allowed at Osheaga

Osheaga posted to Facebook on Monday that attendees of the arts and music festival will not be permitted to wear headdresses inspired by First Nations.

The cultural appropration of Non-natives wearing headdresses has been highly critisized in recent years, as it has been commonly used as an accessory in stores and on fashion runways.

According to the Montreal Gazette, the notice read,

"Please note that First Nations Headresses are not permitted at the festival. The First Nations Headdresses have a spiritual and cultural meaning in the native communities and to respect and honor their people, Osheaga asks fans and artists attending the festival to not use this symbol as a fashion accessory"

and thanked those for their understanding and cooperation. Seven hours after being posted, the message has recieved over 8, 660 likes and 2, 140 shares on Facebook.

The same rules will also apply to those attending IleSoniq in August.

Back in 2014, organisers of the Bass Coast electronic music festival in British Columbia also prohibited the wearing of headdresses. In the story, The Guardian wrote why the fashion headdress should be stopped, saying that the trend ignores the differences between indiginous peoples, lumping hundreds of tribes together into one stereotype; and ignores the sacred significance behind it, as they were a symbol that was earned and worn during special ceremonial occasions by male chiefs. The Guardian states that it is also a reminder of the crimes an human indignities that have befallen the tribes for hundreds of years.