Are you really all them tribes?

[sparkie85 (deleted)]

I get a laugh when I go to some tribes groups and most of the people on them are not even from that tribe. I'm Shoshone and well I thought I was going to find other Shoshonen Tribes, but heck only found like people that wanted to meet us. Suggestion if your non-native, just say so! Its cool that we welcome everyone, but we also want to keep our identity! Its not cool to also say your looking for a healer or that you are a healer. If you need help or want help post a message. But beware, those that advertise of being a healer or charge, are not welcome among the rest of our peoples and therefore go out into the rest of the world to pull the wool over the sheeps eyes! Take care and God Bless for those who read this!

[jezpur]

`I agree! You should never try to be something your not. I do understand some struggle with finding an identity to help themselves spiritually but I feel each person is unique and special no matter where they come from and should be proud of who they are as an individual. In my case I am such a mixed mutt I wouldn't know where to start if someone asked me look to your past and ancestors no matter where your from and embrace it. But give people a chance to know the real you. You'll be surprised to see that once you do that you'll open new doors Peace xo

[skiescryblood (deleted)]

`I completely agree. You don't have to tell us you're Native to get to know us, or for us to be friends. Just be honest about who you are, we don't bite! And definitely, anyone claiming to be a medicine man or healer is 99% of the time NOT, so stay far away!

[dancingloon (deleted)]

`lol. The one percent here, with the exception that I do NOT work with bipeds. Quadrapeds only. If you don't have hocks and stifles, I can't help you. lol. I would have included tails in the description, just to over clarify, but I didn't want to leave out the poor manxes. Not a medicine woman, but definitely a healer. Just not for you.
On another note, I think people do not understand the boxes they are checking. I think, they think it means that they are looking for someone who is in those tribes or full blood and such. Not that they are in those tribes. Just more people in the world not paying attention. I do know that a few of those, actually have family in several tribes, for real. But I have also seen the whitest guys ever claiming only native american and cherokee as if they are full blood. And then spouting off about it like they know what they are talking about, and they are so completely wrong. Do they know they are being so offensive?

What if I decided one day that I was gonna be black? Thought it was cool, dressed like they did two hundred years ago, went picking cotton.....see what I mean? Offensive. Please stop dressing up in deerskin britches, standing in the woods with your shirt off and calling yourself Cherokee.

[msnix]

`I agree, they should KNOW a subject before they claim anything about it. Lol, I had to giggle at your summary about the whitest guys, DancingLoon. I see it a lot, but I let them go on putting their foot in their mouth at every turn. It makes for good entertainment.
I can't find them offensive when I'm laughing. And I give each and everyone of them a nickname to fit their "crime". Most are delighted until they discover the meaning of the name. :D

[longthinker (deleted)]

`I must admit I get a kick out of so many people wanting to claim Indigenous heritage from a great great great someone from somewhere. At least now the claims are branching out a bit from the traditional Cherokee claim. I'm not saying anyone is lying or telling half truths. I'm just saying I get a kick out of it.

People, there is nothing wrong with just being yourself. I think people put too much emphasis on identity rather than wanting to be seen as a person. For us natives it's who we are no matter the situation. There's no interchange within society. We don't have to prove what we are or from what tribe as much as we want to be seen as just people. Our history and ancestry is something we hold dear. Our spirituality is sacred. I've noticed our traditions mocked by self given names and mock ceremonies. Some things you're either born into or brought into.

If you're interested in knowing your native part then understand the history first and branch out from there. Understand the struggles that still go on to this day. Understand the joys and the hardships. First you must wipe away the magical and mystical thoughts and myths to understand the realities of who we are. Joining a group won't truly get you there as much as knowledge and awareness. That's just my two cents.

Mvto.