natives, we're so in right now, natives.

Does lewd lyrics that Nelly Furtado sings relate to hoop dancing? Is it morally right for a artist of Portuguese descent, who hasn't appeared to attempt to educate society of Portuguese culture by means of main stream music videos, to portray a Native American traditional dance, which holds cultural significance, to the greater public without any sort of part of the video that explains what the hoop dance is and the purpose of it is? I feel like it is a great thing that Native American dancers were featured in a Nelly Furtado music video, however, I think that it is a missed opportunity to actually educate people of the greater society what is shown and represented in this particular music video, and that due to there being no form of attempt to explain what those dances are for, this video may lead to misrepresentation and further certain stereotypes of Native Americans. Is it explained in this video that these specific dancers come from a certain tribe/band/nation? That their regalia is of a certain way because of that? Is it a good idea to let mainstream societal artists try and culturally appropriate Native American traditions/culture? Or is it a better idea to tell mainstream societal artists, film industries, etc., that they aren't of a greater social status to misconstrue what Native American traditions/cultures/art are and that in order for Native American dances/art/culture to be displayed, in this case, in a Nelly Furtado music video, that elements of the video relating to Native American culture have to be portrayed and explained right? The intent of portraying hoop dancers in this video may have meant well, however, the fashion that it was done in and the song that it was done with was inappropriate on its face. The constant battle continues.

Props to the dancers. But I wonder when folks will let us near their sets without our regalia on.