Just be real ,,,,be yourself

[merinass (deleted)]

shahila wrote: 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 You know in a way I envy you all. as tenuous as they may be, you have roots. I'm not native at all or if there is a drop of blood in me it'd be just that. Why envy you? Well, many people like myself simply do not have these sorts of roots. Many are lucky to know their great grand parents, and they came from somewhere else. Don't get me wrong I am not complaining a bit, but if you have something to hang on to, a culture to call your own and a heritage, it would be ashame to not explore that. Roots are what gives us the stability to weather the storms in our lives you know.

[juggalo96]

`Ok.....I tried to walk away from this subject but kept getting drawn back to it, so before I start I just have to say...WHO CARES!!?! seriously. Isn't the whole reason everyone is on here, is to find a connection with someone? Wether it's for friendship, love, or something else. No where on this site did I see a "Native only" sign posted anywheres. Does it really matter if your red, white, black, green or purple? The only thing I see on this site is people. Yeah it's called Native American Passions, but that only means you are trying to get to meet native people. Growing up on the rez I was taught to accept everyone for who they are and to treat them as equals. And now having lived off of the rez for the last 15 years, I know why. Because even though we are of different blood and skin, we are still only humans. yes I'm full-blooded Native, but I'm half Mohawk and half Shawnee, does that make me any less of a person? If some of the people on here bother you, then pass them by. There's nothing here saying you have to talk to them, or even check them out, that's your choice. I've said my piece on this subject, and really don't care on how anyone responds to it. this is my opinion, and thats all that matters to me.

[(deleted)]

`Juggalo96,in my opinion, summed it up very well. Not much that I could add to his comment..I am impressed with his comment and insight.
Good job, juggalo96.

[(deleted)]

Juggalo, WELCOME!!! I cannot THANK YOU enough for taking the time to comment ... sooo glad you didn't just look and walk away.
For me you have summed up perfectly what I'd hoped this site would be and the reason why I joined.

You said:
"Growing up on the rez I was taught to accept everyone for who they are and to treat them as equals.

Which is exactly what I thought was the very essence of what attracts people from far off countries all over the world, to admire most about traditional Native American ideology/culture/spirituality, that and a deep love and respect for all life forms ... animals, nature, Earth. That is what we, well at least I resonate with most, above all else. I know there is much more than I am unaware of, but this is what I choose to connect with.

I have met on this site some with backgrounds much like your own who are very comfortable with who they are, and have nothing to try to prove. They never comment on these forums, but I know they have exactly the same view as you. I know because I consider them to be amongst my most valued, honorable and trusted of friends/penfriends.

All you said I tried to say in many different ways, at times, especially early on feeling pretty unwelcome (forums only), out of place, letting myself react and get defensive, and just felt like deleting.
But I'm glad I stayed, because there are some really good decent people here like yourself, who have treated me as equal with much respect and kindness. Water eventually finds its level.

You also said:
"If some of the people on here bother you, then pass them by. There's nothing here saying you have to talk to them, or even check them out, that's your choice."

Wise words indeed in dealing with people in all areas of life I think. Wish I had of done it sooner ... live and learn ... and better late than never hey!

Thanks again *
Cello

[chumani67_PREV (deleted)]

`..."and all the white girls sing...do...do...do...do do do...do...do...do..do do do...dooooo..."

[vlws]

So what makes them less Native than you?

[(deleted)]

Hey Chumani... I love that song!... haven't heard it in forever...
Lou Reed, Take a Walk on the Wild Side... Do do do, do do do do do,
do do do do do do do Oooo .... yeah!

[chumani67_PREV (deleted)]

`Was a joke....okay!!!!!!

[chumani67_PREV (deleted)]

`JEEEEZ....... ( Cello thank you for "getting it")! Guess you'd have to have been there

[(deleted)]

`I got it!!!

[chumani67_PREV (deleted)]

`Happy to see some people have stiiiilllll got it!

[636mavis]

being a indian is so hard that i would not change what i have experienced or what i have felt . that said. can i please have some good times for a change...lol
to be a indian is hard but i am so proud of my culture and people.

as to apples, they bug the hell out of me as they flipflop so much that it only irks and annoys me.
They are usually hanging out with white people and changing their hair lighter that they actually believe that they are white.And , they only become native when financial gains are in order.
and as for wannabes, they are equally annoying as they come on so strong with their book knowledge that they just don't get it that they sometimes are thought of as those crazy ones...lol...which is usually the case.
i went to school and learned early canadian history.the white one... and i feel that i am pretty knowledgable aboutcanadian white history.....BUT ..i don't act like one(mannerisms), i can only say that i understand.
the apples have to decide,and get off the flipping fence..your either one or the other..then i ,as a native person, can truly accept you as a native person.
you wannabes, thanks for the compliments but please remember that you have your own culture...so plz don't try and indian us to death with your harvard education about native people.
be proud of who you are and go find out about your own culture for yourselves.


that all said, in this day and age..i must admit that i think native is about blood and mind
set. :-o

[cahlin]

`I think the fact that people admire our culture is nice considering how we were treated in the not too long ago past. However when they step in and act like they have the right to know some of our family traditions/spirituality things that are private, that's when I get annoyed. At the same time it's like you don't really know who to trust outside of your own family/tribe. I mean who knows if some of the things that are supposed to be kept close to the vest will end up in a new book or what have you. Granted there are some honest people out there that are genuinely interested in our spirituality, I just kind of hate how it's like a "fad" with the wannabes. They think it's all fun and games being Native and learning the ways, I don't think some of them realize the prejudice still exists today. I grew up in Connecticut away from my tribe in a town that was 99% white and I stood out. The prejudice there was almost unbearable from being called cattle and being poked with a hockey stick, to random kids saying "Hey is your dad the chief of your tribe?" Even in college one girl in my Native American Literature class asked "Do Indians who live on reservations still wear loincloths and hunt buffalo with bows and arrows?" I mean the ignorance is still pretty amazing. So yes, I am grateful that there are people out there who appreciate us and our culture, but as far as them actually wanting to be us...it's not really fair, able to learn and to not have to deal with prejudice.