Latinos and Native Americans

[incangold (deleted)]

Im somewhat new to this site so i apologize if this topic has been covered alot.

What do natives feel about latinos claiming to be indian...particularly say the mexica movement. Many of these "mexicans" are 100% indian they have just lost their cultural ties through the harsh system passed down by the colonial era. I myself am peruvian and have many indigenious traits...culturally i am latino/american tho...how would i be categorized racially (considering that latino isnt a race). What makes someone native american, only if their ancestry resided in what is now US/Canada?

Just curious

Lesharo

[jmar (deleted)]

I think because many people in america see themselves as apart from the dominating nation around them, culturally and nationally. It's sort of different when people call themselves latino when the latin language itself comes from europe. I think the same with people calling themselves mexican. The nation itself might have had leaders of indigenous bloodline, yet I see it as a nation built on conquest just as america is, and thus for me to recognize only myself as "american" kind of shows my stance there. I guess mexicans are lost natives who forgot their ancestral tribes? Whereas natives here belong to a vast number of tribes and reservations apart from america in a lot of ways.

A teacher at a langauge table once used the word "tea makers" in ojibwemowin to describe what we call asians, and he asked "well then what are mexicans?" and we kind of looked at him blankly. He says, "What do we call them? Southern man? BEAN MAKERS!? *laughs*"

Culturally, I'd say you are who you are under the concept of culture, which doesn't define only racial. I'd say one chooses their own ethnicity though, and you seem to have it down already, though questionable with the native part but that's up to you to decide not anyone else. Doesn't matter what a piece of paper wants you to put a checkmark next to.

Usually, natives here have a strong basis of tribal origin, and they emphasize it through representation. I guess it's almost an over proudness that some point to as arrogance. I like to see it more as a humble proudness based on where it originates, and that's the sum all the values, traditions, and most important, the bravery of our ancestors ability to survive as well as preserve knowledge under those extreme conditions.

[emme2009 (deleted)]

`Here's an interesting article on Mexico and it's indigenous population, and how it figured into Mexico's census over time.

(removed)

[daniel5247]

`well native american indian or amerindian are people with an identity to a native group that is native to the americas the native identity is through a history,language,cultural pratices , historical geography of that native group and outlook at life around you . the "latino or hispanic " or any one else might have native blood but the cultural identity is not these groups tend be sided with the western heritage spanish language,and customs and nationality to thier country of origin in the case of natives they have an ancestral language not a european language native focus more on thier native identity first before thier nationality even though they are very patriotic no matter what country they are in from canada to argentina