A Tribe Called Red asks fans to stop showing up in 'redface'

The Tall Tree Music Festival on Vancouver Island had a no-headdress policy – they even confiscated headdresses at the door.

—Ian Campeau, A Tribe Called Red

To call 2013 a banner year for A Tribe Called Red would be a major understatement.

The trio of Aboriginal DJs has an album that critics are raving about, has been touring the world, and, most importantly, has pioneered a ground-breaking new music style that's all their own. Called "Powwow-step," their mash-up of indigenous beats and dance music has taken off in a huge way.

"We've been playing non-stop," says group member Ian Campeau, "and it's festival season now, so we've been bouncing around all over the place."

But as much as A Tribe Called Red has been embraced by music fans around the world, the group's newfound fame has come with a particularly troubling challenge.  

Some non-Aboriginal partygoers have been showing up to their shows in headdresses and face paint. And while the vast majority of fans know why such an outfit could be considered offensive and inappropriate, not every club and festival-goer gets the message.

"It happens fairly regularly," says Campeau, "the amount of times people show up to our shows in 'redface' is more frequent than I would like."

Unfortunately, this sort of "cultural appropriation" seems to be having a moment.

Victoria's Secret was forced to apologize after sending a model down the runway in a floor-length headdress last year. (AP)

Major American retailers Urban Outfitters and Paul Frank have been criticized in recent months for insensitively incorporating indigenous imagery into their designs. Late last year, No Doubt released a music video with a Cowboys-and-Indians theme - though the group quickly apologized and pulled the video.

A Tribe Called Red has taken to social media to spread the message that cultural appropriation is not okay.

"Non-Natives that come to our shows, we need to talk," read a tweet from last month,
please stop wearing headdresses and war paint - it's insulting."

No Doubt's controversial video featured Gwen Stefani in a headdress. (CBC Music)

And while communicating that message to their legions of new fans has been a challenge, Campeau says that he's hopeful it won't be a problem they'll have to deal with for long.

"It's being addressed," he says, "The Tall Tree Music Festival on Vancouver Island had a no-headdress policy - they even confiscated headdresses at the door."

"They wanted everyone there to feel safe, and feel wanted, and not ridiculed and cheapened. I really appreciated that."

A Tribe Called Red plays the Winnipeg Folk Festival's Big Blue Stage on July 12.

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