Trappings of Culture

In a consumer society, settler culture not only assimilates indigenous peoples into the dominant market relationships, it also assimilates the trappings of indigenous culture as yet another commodity. For those looking for meaning and purpose beyond consumption, the trappings are representative of a more authentic cosmology and philosophy, but achieving these visions entails a lot more effort and risk than acquiring tribal accoutrements. Having been chastised for appropriating domestic native rituals and attire, the safer route for the superficial is in adopting foreign autochthonous paraphernalia and practices, with the added benefit of its exotic marketability.