  Ruth Hopkins  While the misappropriation of American Indian
cultures and imagery by western society has persisted for
decades, there's been a gradual uptick in the misrepresentation
of Native peoples in the past several years. "Tribalism," a
mainstream trend largely based on false, stereotypical notions
of who indigenous people are, has become a pop culture
phenomenon. Celebutantes, pop princesses and hipster wannabes
have been donning gaudy, exaggerated war bonnets and
headdresses, wearing "war paint," and playing dress up in Native
American "inspired" costumes in record numbers. The perpetuation
of stereotypical images of Native peoples is unacceptable and
discriminatory for a myriad of reasons.   Perhaps the most
deplorable version of stereotypical American Indian ensembles is
the "sexy Indian" costume, a.k.a. the "Pocahottie." Such
costumes, like the one Paris Hilton wore last Halloween, depict
Native women as sex objects to be desired by non-native men (and
perhaps women). Considering that American Ind