Greta Van Fleet's Josh Kiszka has apologized for appropriating Indigenous culture in the past. Kiszka was the target of a recent hashtag campagin #SpeakUpGVF, calling him to address and remove a series of photos on his Instagram page showing him and his friends wearing Indigenous garments back in 2017.
He wrote in a statement, “My appreciation for indigenous culture is bigger than myself. I recognize the harm that ignorance can have on marginalized communities, something I’d never want to perpetuate. Hate, disrespect and prejudice of any kind are not welcome in this community. As I’ve come into adulthood, I’ve been able to grow and learn. This growth has not stopped and will not stop here.”
He continued, “The Chippewa tribe has had a particularly profound impact on my life having been exposed to their ceremonies and customs during my early years growing up in Michigan. I have made a charitable donation to the First Nations Development Institute to help keep indigenous traditions like theirs alive and well. Should you want to support with me, please visit firstnations.org.”