The topic of cultural appropriation pops up from time to time in local and international media, sparking various reactions and debates.

The complexities of cultural appropriation will be addressed at Simon Fraser University’s Aboriginal Lecture Series Indigeneity, Cultural Property and Intangible Heritage at the Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (Wed, Mar. 16 at 7 p.m.).

George Nicholas, SFU professor of archaeology, will present an overview of cultural appropriation and the damage it does to Aboriginal individuals, communities and cultures.

Nicholas describes cultural property as “ancient artifacts, traditional knowledge, names, intellectual property, ancestral human remains, animate objects, and relationships.”

Cultural appropriation occurs when these are used without consultation or permission and taken out of context often for commercial gain, says Nicholas, who lists music videos, fashion, logos and even sports team names as a few examples.

“The problem with indigenous heritage is two-fold. The first is that indigenous heritage is often viewed as public domain, free for the taking,” says Nicholas. “The second problem is that for indigenous peoples heritage is not just what is put in a museum, but a set of values, beliefs, objects, and places that permeate their lives.”

Appropriation’s economic and cultural damage

George Nicholas, professor of archeology at SFU. | Photo courtesy of George Nicholas

Examples of cultural appropriation given by Nicholas include conflicts over land rights and use. Even when compensation is awarded to owners, little consideration is given to the local First Nations communities with historical ties to the land.

The founding director of SFU’s Indigenous Archaeology Program in Kamloops and the director of the Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH) project, Nicholas researches the concepts of heritage, what we can learn from it and how it should be protected.

Both the Indigenous Archaeology Program and the IPinCH project aim to change the way research involving First Nations and other indigenous peoples is done. Indigenous peoples participate in archaeology practices and contribute to them.

“[They are] full partners in the examination and decision making regarding their heritage, lands, and livelihood,” says Nicholas.

Appropriation of material culture, says Nicholas, not only damages identities but also has adverse economic and artistic effects.

Nicholas’ research points to cultural appropriation as a form of violence perpetuated against indigenous cultures as control over their own heritage is lost. This is compounded by a lack of resources to regain control of their heritage, and reinforces the stereotypes that can fuel discrimination. The misrepresentation of peoples and cultural expressions, he says, can undermine efforts to educate the public about histories and culture.

According to Nicholas the solution begins with a public recognition of, and respect for, the differences in world-views between non-indigenous and indigenous peoples.

“Although much has been made of “reconciliation” – which is a very good goal – what most fail to recognize is that reconciliation means more than just saying “sorry.” It means changing fundamentally how things are done,” he says.

Aboriginal Lecture Series

Simon Fraser University’s annual Lecture Series on Aboriginal Issues was inaugurated in 2012 at Simon Fraser University’s Woodwards (Vancouver). William G. Lindsay (Cree-Stoney), director of Simon Fraser University’s Office for Aboriginal Peoples says four to six lectures comprise each year’s series.

Lectures focus on both the Indigenous peoples of Canada as well as international aboriginal issues, and are attended by anyone interested in the individual topics.

“One of the original intents was to bring more Aboriginal-focused events to the SFU Vancouver campus, as we had lots going on at the Burnaby campus in this regard,” says Lindsay.

The series is produced in partnership with the SFU Vancity Office for Community Engagement, SFU Indigenous Research Institute (IRI), and the SFU Office for Aboriginal Peoples. Lindsay says both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal IRI faculty members are invited to present their research findings at the lectures.

For more information, visit “Aboriginal Lecture Series” at www.sfu.ca/sfuwoodwards/events