Approximately 500 representatives from 40 different tribes and bands of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Nations gathered to pass a unanimous Declaration of War Against Exploiters of Lakota Spirituality. This document asserted that certain sacred elements of their culture were not available for the taking by outsiders and targeted the commercialization and distortion of their spiritual practices.
The term cultural appropriation entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 1945 through an essay by Arthur E. Christy. It did not become a central tool for analyzing how symbols are used until the late 20th century.
Tragic incidents in 1996, 2002, 2004, and 2009 highlighted the dangers of unregulated spiritual practices led by those lacking necessary training. These high-profile deaths underscored the community's concerns about safety risks when non-Natives adopt sweat lodge and vision quest ceremonies.
The 2012 Victoria's Secret fashion show featured model Karlie Kloss wearing an imitation Native American war bonnet, which a Navajo Nation spokesman called a mockery. This incident illustrated how the adoption of cultural symbols for profit can be perceived as a violation of the originating culture's shared intellectual property.
The girl group Kiss of Life faced backlash and removal from the KCON LA festival after dressing in outfits evocative of a hip-hop vibe, including cornrows and snapback hats. This led to a plummet in their popularity and highlighted scrutiny over the appropriation of African American culture in the K-pop genre.
Critics argue that prominent Arab dishes like hummus and falafel are rebranded as Israeli without acknowledging their origins, serving to erase Palestinian identity and create a new national narrative connected to the land. This phenomenon highlights how a dominant culture can claim the culture of another group for profit or to establish roots.