'Blood' Doesn't Make the Indian

ZASHAGALKA, RN · May 2, 2006

What you are saying is: nature vs. nurture.

I have some Cherokee in me. But. By nurture I was raised strictly post WWII American (without the 'native')

I have a 16 yr old and was recently thinking about all the new 'traditions' taken for granted today that were non-existent a century before:

prom

'taking the driver's test'

part-time jobs for 'spare change' (as opposed to labor to contribute to the immediate family)

video game culture (home now as opposed to arcade at the tip of MY generation)

popular music actually aimed at kids

the whole 'birthday party' thing

skating rinks, etc.

baseball games.

I could go on. The things that makes me a post WWII American are the traditions that I make and pass down. . .

So, I see your point.

~faith,

Timothy.

MARI 1 · Jun 20, 2006

Mari (Mowhawk Nation)

This was and is being done to have you become part of dominant culture. Land is the basis for our economy and there are treaties (contracts) still in place that give us access to benefits. The old ones signed those treaties so that we could co-exist in harmony. So that we the "First Nations" could learn from the Europeans and live as sisters and brothers. So the reason why your blood line is considered so important to the dominant culture is access to those benefits... According to Mowhawk tradition I am Mowhawk woman, according to dominant culture my mother did not have a status card.. Trying to trace those blood lines in Canada my country of birth is horrible, especially in Quebec. The church has all the records, for what they are worth. There were many times children were taken from their parents and shipped out to residential schools.. So this question of blood lines is a hard road to travel for many.

I know who I am and that is a proud Mowhawk woman... as "First Nations" people under Jays Treaty we are citizens of North America so we should be entitled to live either in the USA or Canada, now you must prove the amount of "blood" so that you can access that.

Dewgrl · Jun 21, 2006

I was just discussing this the other day...According to my father(who has passed) my maternal grandmother was "half" cherokee. I have pictures of her dressed in what appears to be some sort outfit that looks indian, and I have knives that she supposedly made. I had a little bead doll of hers that I was given as a child, but have lost. My point here is that although by my calculations I would be 1/8th cherokee, I take after my irish father with my blond hair and green/grey/blue eyes. I've heard of people trying to claim indian heritage for various aid, however I think money like that should go towards people still immersed in the native culture, trying to keep culture alive, rather than someone who's never been on a reservation. Just my two cents worth!

husker-nurse, LPN, LVN · Jul 20, 2006

My 9-year-old grandson, who is approx. 25% NA (Sioux) is very interested in that part of his heritage; I guess it skipped a generation..........

nativehealer · Jul 22, 2006

This I fully know and understand. I have good friends in the NAI community that accept me as one of their own. I also know some FBI (full blooded indians) that look down on me because I have no Tribal recognition. Its strange how one is treated on where you are in the U.S.

Native

Roy Fokker, BSN, RN · Jul 23, 2006

I have a question:

And I hope people don't take it the wrong way. I'm merely curious and desire to know more.

I'm assuming that NAIs are "classified" depending on their ancestory (and hence, the amount of "native blood" in them).

Does this relate to granting/confering/aquiring some status in law and/or society?

If so, is this or can this be related on a basic level with what happened to black folk in the late 18th century (for example, the "3/5th Compromise")?

Yes, I know it isn't a direct (and thus arguably a poor) comparison.

No, I'm not trying to dilute the issue.

I'd like to arrive at some kind of an understanding...

RN34TX · Jul 24, 2006

I am one of those 1/4 Indians and can see both sides.

As a child, I was put in special classes set up for native students to learn about their culture by elder Native American educators.

As a child/teen, I was interested but never really took my heritage that seriously as I was growing up and trying to fit into small town midwest white America.

As a young adult, I learned about being shunned by my own relatives because of my disconnection with being tribe affiliated and because (heavan forbid) I actually wanted to live in a city and not on a reservation.

At 36 and now living in southeast Texas, I rarely run into any Native Americans unless I go to Oklahoma. Mostly I get the old Texas routine:

"Are you part Mexican or something? You look kinda Spanish or something."

I rarely divulge my true genetic makeup unless the subject comes up.

Why?

Because I am truely tired of Caucasian/European and Black/African Americans who had some great- great- great-great-grandfather who was supposedly "half- cherokee" claiming that they themselves are "Native American" because of it.

Well, I have a great-great grandfather who came from Scotland with pale blonde hair, ivory white skin, and blue eyes.

I don't run around town in a plaid kilt playing the bagpipes trying to prove how Scottish I am.

At my complexion, I'd look quite silly doing that.

Nemhain · Aug 6, 2006

I am one of those 1/4 Indians and can see both sides.
As a child, I was put in special classes set up for native students to learn about their culture by elder Native American educators.
As a child/teen, I was interested but never really took my heritage that seriously as I was growing up and trying to fit into small town midwest white America.
As a young adult, I learned about being shunned by my own relatives because of my disconnection with being tribe affiliated and because (heavan forbid) I actually wanted to live in a city and not on a reservation.
At 36 and now living in southeast Texas, I rarely run into any Native Americans unless I go to Oklahoma. Mostly I get the old Texas routine:
"Are you part Mexican or something? You look kinda Spanish or something."
I rarely divulge my true genetic makeup unless the subject comes up.
Why?
Because I am truely tired of Caucasian/European and Black/African Americans who had some great- great- great-great-grandfather who was supposedly "half- cherokee" claiming that they themselves are "Native American" because of it.
Well, I have a great-great grandfather who came from Scotland with pale blonde hair, ivory white skin, and blue eyes.
I don't run around town in a plaid kilt playing the bagpipes trying to prove how Scottish I am.
At my complexion, I'd look quite silly doing that.

I have a different problem, but I can relate. I don't identify with my Native Ancestry (my great grandmother was Lakota), however, I when I do run into minorities THEY are the ones who keep asking what I am or even if it's a card carrying Native American they'll ask me what tribe I belong to. I was raised in the French-Canadian culture and that's what I identify myself as being. I do have an interest in learning about Native health issues because they run rampant on my mother's side (everyone's had their gallbladder out and has diabetes).

RN34TX, I don't believe someone has to look the part to celebrate their heritage. If you had grown up with Scottish traditions in your house and wanted to show your pride of being Scottish, I think you have every right to wear that kilt, blow the bagpipe and play golf (it originated in Scotland) no matter what shade your skin color is! I do think that some people who may only be 1/2, 1/4 or an 1/8 may want to participate in the Native culture because they see it as being a more sprititual and gentler culture than the destructive one that many people in America are participating in.

collegebound · Oct 20, 2006

I am a card carrying member of the Osage Indian tribe. I don't look the part being brown haired and green eyed but being an American indian holds a very dear place in my heart. I have never sought financial gain through grants, scholarships etc. because of my heritage but I am proud to be of Indian descent. I think I feel closer to this heritage (I'm also Italian and Scandanavian) because it was part of the history we were taught growing up--US History. I also feel a great spiritual conection. I think the beliefs of most Indian cultures was very much more spiritual than some other choices today. I regret to admit that I don't know much about my individual tribe but would love to change that. I have looked into some online courses of their culture and language but haven't taken that leap yet. I do very much enjoy reading about any Indian culture though. I have tons of books on the different tribes. My bloodline has thinned considerably. I myself have barely any blood left in me. But in my heart I am an Osage Indian.

scrubsnhugsRN · Jan 10, 2007

This thread really sums up who I am as a person, my belief system. I think since I was raised with such a strong link to my native heritage through my mother, there is a part of me that recognises that my cultural history is one to be proud of. Something I hold dear inside of me and something I carry out in my proffesional relations at work. I do not feel the need to tell people who or what I am culturally, but I certainly treat people I take care of with those native aspects my mother taught me.

I work in IHS, although since I dont have a CIB I was not hired as Native preference.

I work in the northwest where the Native population is mainly Tlingit/Haida. This population is very active in the community, and a big part of the cultural history in this town.

I think because of the way I was raised, I am really able to connect with my patients in ways others might find difficult, if not culturally prepared.

Certainly, it is not the color of skin, the blood quatum I carry, but it is a mannerism, a tone of voice, and a deep respect that is understood from myself to another..this is what makes me who I am.

I am a puzzle made up of many pieces, each unto thier own, that is the whole.....that is me.

Mountain22 · Jan 29, 2007

I'm a quarter Patowatomi. It has always been something that has interested me and for some years I have wanted to know more about my heritage. A couple of weeks ago I went and visited my tribe and took part in the winter ceremonies. This was a very great experience and I learned so much that weekend. It was like the sacred part of our tribe was still alive and I knew and have always known that I have a place there.

I told my brother about it and some of my family do care and some don't really care about that side of being an Indian. But I don't think that it makes them any less Indian. And a lot of what I heard was that some of the Indians think that when an Indian goes and gets and education and works outside of the tribal area that they have left the tribe.

I myself don't think that this is really accurate because we live in a world where education can lead us forward and ensure our survival as human beings. To me its about embracing all parts of life. Being native American to me means that I can always return to those whom I share an ancestral heritage. So can all the other members. To me this heritage is important and should not die out.

What this has to do with being a nursing student and a future nurse-I also think that some of thing things you can learn from cultural heritage you can take with you and apply it to your work.