Native Appropriations is a blog that criticizes and analyzes the ways that Indigenous people are depicted in mainstream culture.
Targets of critique include the Washington Redskins use of an ethnic slur as the name for their football team,[4] The Lone Ranger movie remake,[5] depictions of skin walkers and Native American spiritual beliefs in the work of author J. K. Rowling,[6] the wearing of a hipster headdress and statements by musician Christina Fallin,[7] Halloween "Pocahottie" costumes,[8] and Urban Outfitters.
[9] Though much of the blog's commentary is critical, it is not exclusively so: Nelly Furtado, for example, has been praised for her respectful engagement with Native hoop and shawl dancers.
[11] However, the increasing popularity of her blog and appearance on other social media such as Twitter has made her a widely quoted expert[12] on matters to do with appropriations, with mentions in the BBC,[11] NPR,[1] The Guardian,[13] the Phoenix New Times,[14] Al Jazeera,[15] Time magazine[16] and other major news outlets.
The Guardian has credited her with leading a successful campaign against stereotypical imagery created by Paul Frank Industries: the company later invited Keene and other experts to help design new product lines working with Native artists.