Just be real ,,,,be yourself

[runningbrook_PREV (deleted)]

Hi, my name is Allanna I'm from the Blackfeet tribe I'm new to this site and I have noticed alot of people that claim to be of native culture and I wonder to myself why is it that people just cannot be real about who they really are. I guess it must be popular this time of year to play natve american,,,LOL,, well I came here hoping to meet true native americans that actually know something of ther culture hope this is for real but have my doubts........

[ravenwoman_PREV (deleted)]

`That stings. I am half apache. It was not my choice to be raised white. I never knew what I was until recently. Sometimes you dont get the chance to say I want to be what I am. I guess I could just keep saying I am white, even though it does not fit with what I am inside. *shrug* Oh well, ya can't please everyone. Hope you find what you seek.

[(deleted)]

`The first thing that came to mind...."apple". I agree with ravenwoman...some people did not have the choice as to how they were raised. They should never be judged nor should anyone else. Sometimes you will find that a person with less quantum of native american blood knows moreaobut their native american culture than a person with a greater "quantum" of native american blood. Sometimes they live more closely to the values they believe.
Also, why would it be "popular" to be native american? The treatment received sucks!!!
That is just my "opinion" on this subject....everybody has an....opinion.

[nativepower_PREV (deleted)]

`hi
i´m navajo/white.but inside i feel that the navajo part is stronger than the white part.i live in germany and have always the inner fight with my native and the white part.someday i start to find my really roots?i was born in arizona,listen wat my father told me.sometimes it´s hard for me to be what i am.all i know for sure is i´m a human.
tomas
p.s.
excuse my terrible english,living too long in germany

[ravenwoman_PREV (deleted)]

`Come Home Tomas.... maybe you can find peace.

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`Being judgemental of others and not accepting them for who they are or what they need/want in life is not really the native american way, is it? Gloves off, girl. They are people too. Just like you, I find it hard to fathem that a white person would expect a true Native American to marry outside of their tribe. To each their own. Didn't you learn that?

Patience with people will help you grow to find someone who you need in your life. All of the others, do not let them dictate who you are or allow you to lose yourself or temper.

`kai`

[rockdrums]

`hi all..i'am steven charles, full blood lumbee indian......... i'am a pro. musician, drummer to be exact............hope you all are well, this is my first time on here trying to use the chat feature...hope i did it right...:)

[rockdrums]

`i see what u all are talking about.......i'am asked all the time.."are you indian", it gets old, but i do have a tribal registration card to prove it........then many of these folks always say, yea, i'am blackfoot/cheerokee, or whatever tribe they come up with, and they look as white as snow, or african american, they say it so casually, and like they def. know they're blood is indian, then i ask." oh can i see your tribal registration"...it shutes them right up......and living here in wash/balt....it seems so cool for people to want to climb on the indian express, ............

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`First of all.. just so you know.. no one likes you rockdrums because you never responded to my email. *laughs* j/k.. but seriously.. you are a butthead.

Secondly, my favorite is when people come up to me and say (the same as you) "Are you Indian?"... it's always at the most inopportune time too. When I say yes, then they say.. SO AM I!!!!! *laughs* I ask them how much and they say.. "1/10000000th". Haha. "Someone got some dirty business from a native back in the day.. I just know it!"

I don't understand what the hype is about though. Maybe because white people have no culture that they feel they need to belong somewhere.

`kai`

[(deleted)]

`Kai, rockdrumds . . . are you Human? . . . .
How much Human? . . . . . Really?
'Oh can I see your Earth registration'!

Like it or not we're Human first: blood, bones, heart, soul, spirit, feelings.

Yeah I can see how it can bug you.
Hey it bugs me (putting it very politely) how many times I get asked "what you're a vegatarian!!! what could you eat? rabbit food?
... grudgingly answer, 'just the same as you except without the meat'
Then comes the barrage of stupid questions which could take me all day to list.
It might seem minor to you, but I have to put up with it constantly, and know that I by choice am a very tiny minority.

The way I see it, whether you're a native whatever or a non native whatever, both are capable of being arrogant, condescending, ignorant, prejudice/narrow minded OR honourable, compassionate, wise, accepting/open minded.

As far as culture goes, I don't belong to any one particular 'tribe' or pigeon hole myself BY CHOICE. A rich tapestry of exploring my own as well as others' cultures/spiritual teachings, and finding what they have in common and what is of value to me is my way of being.
If I feel attracted to some aspects of Native American Culture, take it as a compliment, and nothing else. I love who I am and where I am from.

I cannot speak for others needing to belong somewhere or wanting you to adopt them, because I don't.
As annoying as the current lost/wannabe syndrome may be, think back to a not so distant past when nothing could be further from the truth, and it wasn't cool to be Indian. There's plenty of countries where being Native/Aboriginal is still looked down on . . . which would you choose?

[johnmarlon (deleted)]

Personally the idea of whos native and whos not is pretty overwhelming on a large scale. There are areas far more devastated by culture loss then other areas and thus people will have different views of whats more native and what is not. All in all it shouldn't matter to concern yourself with what others choose to label themselves as, theres really nothing that can be done about it on the scale of it.

I guess all I'm saying is that it isn't very healthy to think too heavily on nativeness. Especially to let it bother you to a certain extent.

[humored0ne_PREV (deleted)]

`Haha yeah, I forgot my earth registration. They should banish me to space.

`kai`

[dreamer86]

`runningbrook - I cant answer for all but perhaps if some people claim to be then they are...Not everyone goes around being fakes or whatever....I am not native american,clearly, so i dont know how it would feel tho i think its how you look at it too...Why not take it as a compliment or something like that.....I got interested in the native american culture one day when meditating and my spirit guide "spirit dancer" came thru....I admire the culture so i can see how some people might get mixed up, something like that about who they are...

I was born and bred in australia...But my dad is canadian and mother german and thats who i am,part of my roots....People think im not aussie,im a nazi lol oh yeah and im asian too....I have mongolian bloodlines so at times i look asian.........Soooo i guess because im not making sense what im trying to say is people have roots that go way back....If you have bloodlines then its apart of you......But im not speaking of the wanna be's or people claiming to be full blown native americans when they arent....But perhaps because they have a past they just see it differently than others,and maybe they are proud of that part of them...Like i said alot of people admire native americans and also over my way the native people too...Well i know i do...Oh i dont make much sense...Time for bed!

[merinass (deleted)]

Things only matter if you let them. Personally I am a mutt..a bit of this, a spot of that, a dash of the other.I came out okay I guess. spiritually speaking I am a Pagan..and I see a lot of wannabees there. I teach sometimes and quickly am able to see who watch a t.v show or movie and thought it was simple to do.
I think the question would be 'are these 'bad' people'...no..they are seeking, just like we all do..trying something on to see if it fits..it might fit, maybe it won't..but they won't know until they put it on. I am what I am for good or ill. It is that simple.

[shahila (deleted)]

Hi, Runningbrook,
I am Shahila. I am 3/4 Lower Brule Sioux. The main reason I joined this site it to meet more Native Americans like myself. I totally agree with Ravenwoman and Diane43. I didn't have a choice who I was raised by. My real mom was an alcoholic who had 7 children by 3 different men. I don't judge her and won't. she probably did the best she could by giving me up as I have had a good life. My siblings mostly raised in St Joseph's Indian School, while I was raised differently. Don't get me wrong, I love my adopted parents, but the Native part of me was always dying to come out.

I even had the chance to meet my maternal Grama before she passed on. The minute she laid eyes on me, she said, "I knew you would come home." I remember crying uncontrollably because I did feel that way and I regret no staying to learn from her.
As I get older, I feel more strongly to go back to South Dakota and be around my real bros and sisters so I can have that connection.
It is easy to live in society and say, maybe later. But later will never come if we don't "just do it."
Two of my kids are grown and I have two still at home. Once I graduate from college in one year and eight mos, I am going "home." I dont want my babies not to know who they are and go thru struggles as I have in order to fit in. I dont want to contribute to more Natives not knowing their culture....

So don't be so judgemental. If you see us, make freinds with us and teach us what you have been taught. I am never too old to learn and would welcome it. You are one of the lucky ones if your elders and parents have taught you Native values and traditions and language.

A new friend if you want one,

Shahila