Metaphorical Costumes and Children’s Diversity Education via American Indian Databases

Fazila Derya Agis, University of the People

This research is based on the investigation of databases on the costumes, accessories, and hairstyles of American Indians, which are metaphorical objects: these objects’ analyses will be divided into three main categories: 1) environmentalist appearances, 2) warrior appearances, and 3) festive appearances. The following databases on American Indian costumes and hairstyles will be used in this study: (1) American Indian Records in the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/research/native-americans; (2) Native American Hairstyles: http://www.native-languages.org/hair.htm ; (3) Featured Native American Cultures: http://www.native-languages.org/home.htm#list; and (4) History of Native American Clothing: https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/native-american-clothing/history-native-american-clothing.htm. Successively, a new theory of cognitive environmental criticism and education, called the “Ecocritical Intercultural Transition Reinforcement” will be employed to explain how the data gathered from the above-mentioned databases can be used for (a) peace, (b) environmental, and (c) diversity education. A statistical analysis on the above-mentioned three appearance categories will be provided as well.

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 Presented in Session 53. Decolonizing Methodologies