Montreal

Headdresses banned at Osheaga music festival

Montreal's Osheaga music festival says wearing a First Nations-style headdress is a fashion don't - it wants festivalgoers to do away with the inappropriate "accessory."

Appropriated headdresses also outlawed by Heavy Montreal and ÎleSoniq

Osheaga posted its headdress ban on its Facebook page on Monday afternoon and quickly received widespread support for its decision. (Facebook/Osheaga 2015)

Montreal's Osheaga music festival says wearing a First Nations-style headdress is a fashion don't — it's asking festivalgoers to do away with the inappropriate "accessory."

A Facebook post on the Osheaga 2015 page says: "First Nations Headdresses have a spiritual and cultural meaning in the native communities and to respect and honour their people, Osheaga asks fans and artists attending the festival to not use this symbol as a fashion accessory.

Heavy Montreal and ÎleSoniq have also adopted the ban.

The Osheaga website lists feathered headdresses and First Nations headdresses under things that aren't allowed at the festival.

According to the website, any headdresses will be confiscated. 

Osheaga music festival organizers have announced First Nations headdresses will no longer be permitted at the event. Jessica Deer of the Kahnawake Youth Forum says the headdresses contribute to stereotypes about aboriginal people.

Winnipeg Folk Festival under pressure to enforce ban

Headdresses are usually only worn during special ceremonies and they're usually reserved for select members of the indigenous community. 

In recent years, performers and music-lovers at music festivals across North America have been in hot water for wearing headdress as a fashion item. 

Over the weekend, angry festivalgoers took to Twitter after a woman was spotted at the Winnipeg Folk Festival wearing a traditional feathered headdress and face paint.

Now some are urging organizers at the Winnipeg Folk Festival to ban the practice for future years.