Is "Cowboys and Indians" offensive?

[SinCitysCold]

In an FB group I'm in, someone has asked for recommendations about holding a party, and has mentioned in passing that the theme of the party is "cowboys and Indians". Someone else has come on to tell them that the theme is really very offensive.
The Someone Else is white American, whereas the OP is European, and the party will be held in Europe. I'm inclined to think the American should naff off with their post-colonial hang-ups, but obviously I am not native American so I can't know how they would feel.
What do you think?

Different people within the community have different preferences about whether to use Native American or American Indian.

They would all agree that a cowboys and Indians party is totally racist though.

Surely it should be 7th Cavalry and First People?

*First NATION, not PEOPLE (fuck knows where people popped up from)

Yes, 'cowboys' is a bit of a euphemism isn't it.

Some indigenous people do use 'First Peoples'. Theoretically it's nicer for urban indigenous people who have been robbed of a nation.

It would be considered really shocking in America, like nearly as bad as dressing your kids in blackface.

Worse where I live. It's highly offensive.

Of course, it's offensive. Others have pointed this out, but the notion that Europeans should not be sensitive to the offensive nature of it is indeed a bit shocking. Lots of those "cowboys" would have names of European origin. How did that come to be do you reckon? Our history (I'm American) is your history, too.

Cherokee is a great place, self governing. Really beautiful. I know I'm going off the point a bit.

visitcherokeenc.com/#home

www.cherokee.org/

'Cowboy' is not a perjorative term (even though strictly speaking it isn't cows that they herd - 'Bullockboy' doesn't sound right).

Have any cowboys been invited who are likely to be offended?

Of course it’s offensive. And it doesn’t matter where you live. You don’t live in Israel but you wouldn’t go to a party dressed as someone in Auschwitz. What happened to the Native Americans was also a genocide. The Trail of Tears is where you might want to start googling if you still don’t know why it’s offensive.

Have any cowboys been invited who are likely to be offended?
Geez, let's hope this isn't a serious comment.

Worse as a 'joke'?

Honestly I don't believe you can ever please everybody.
Some people may find cowboys and Indians offensive. Some people may find offense with anything a child could dress up as.
I've had people say that Disney princesses are anti feminist and therefore offensive.
There was that ridiculous pirate thread a few days ago, OK so... Pirates are apparently now offensive.
Gender specific themes, deemed offensive by some.
Anything at all you could potentially have as a theme, we are in a culture now where there will be someone that disagrees with your choice or is offended by something.

I wouldn't worry about it personally. It's a kids party for god's sake.

I know RibenaMonsoon some people would even find a 'Nazis and Jews' or 'African Americans and the KKK' themes offensive. What are they like, eh? There've been perfectly good films made on both themes, so why all the hand-wringing PC squeamishness now? Silly snowflakes!

Absolutely racist. There is no grey area whatsoever.

lottie

Yeah it's a kids genocide party for god's sake, what's the problem

Maybe if more people were offended by genocide, it wouldn't happen all the damn time

i think nothing at all, but i'm aware that playing "indians" may be poor taste in this day and age.

dated and racist term. You hoping that some white europeans will 'black up' or something to portray native Americans???
Can't believe anyone had to ask if this is offensive or not.

'There was that ridiculous pirate thread a few days ago, OK so... Pirates are apparently now offensive.'

It's NOT the same fecking thing at all! And if you read that thread you'd see that most people thought the poster complaining about pirates as poor role models or whatever was a loon...

Depends whether the "cowboys" are going to eradicate the "indians" by killing them, burning their crops and houses and accidentally and deliberately infecting them with smallpox or not.
Sounds like a fun party.
Just because we grew up playing these games, doesn't mean it's ok.

Oh another thread leading on from Pirates party lol

I suppose a toga party is out of the question too lol

Maybe take the toga and put it over your head - don a pointy hat and burn some crosses - what jolly japes