In my heart over the years, I have grown more to accept the wisdom that it does seem foolish to say I am part this and part that. It is a mindset that we have become accustomed to though....to compartmentalize all our pieces and parts....ignoring the whole of who we are. In my previous way of thinking, I would have most likely introduced myself as that 1/4 Indian and 3/4 Caucasion man. Nowadays, I see myself as a man with Indian and Caucasion heritage OR simply a Caucasian and Indian man...a whole person....who in his heart and mind, tends to walk in both worlds.
So, in saying this, the roll call here acknowledges anyone with American Indian descent.
my great-grandfather and mother (maternal) were of the chickasaw nation, located in oklahoma. my grandma always reminded me to be proud of who i was and where i came from. on my fathers side my great grandparents were missionaries to the native tribes in oklahoma!
i am not a cardholder..and i dont often mention my heritage since i live in a native community...and all of them are cardholders, so it would seem silly to mention it....lol.
my great-grandfather and mother (maternal) were of the chickasaw nation, located in oklahoma. my grandma always reminded me to be proud of who i was and where i came from. on my fathers side my great grandparents were missionaries to the native tribes in oklahoma!
i am not a cardholder..and i dont often mention my heritage since i live in a native community...and all of them are cardholders, so it would seem silly to mention it....lol.
hi,
the cdib is a personal or tribal choice and it is not one that i have chosen either.
to me it seems to be an arbitrary measure to "disseminate" the "amount" of legitimacy towards na blood, (just as the allotment disseminated the amount of land until it was nil). it is an arbitrary measure for certain.
gen-who is 50% native and 50% euro descent yet, none total more than 1/8th each...we are whole people from whole people with cultures and affilitaitons, not slices of a pie...
I didnt know this growing up but I am 1/16th native, I assume Anishinabe First Nations from Ontario. Our geneology research tells us that my Great grandfathers father was from quebec, and after moving to ontario near where the Anishanabe reservation is located married a native wife. There is no birth certificate to be found for her and she had a white name. So we can only assume she was local, though that is not neccesarily so. We think my great grandfater (who I knew very well) was actually born in Canada, his Birth certificate says minnesota, but it was not issued till he was 3 yo. Not the best record keeping in those days.
We have several reservations nearby and I have spent alot of time on the Lummi Rez and have always really identified with their culture. Several of my friends my age (40) from the rez have been getting to their roots and I have had the opportunity to participate a couple times. Really moving experiences.
Anyway I am going to school now am focused on being Mental Health nurse. I would like to work with the Native populations, eventually locally, but I want to do some more traveling and will probably go to the SE or the gulf coast for awhile and am really considering Hawaii or Saipan before I return home. I know native populations throughout our country have epedemic issues with suicide and alcohol/substance abuse, and I really think I can help.
I am a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I currently live where the trail of tears came through and we have a trail of tears marker tree near our property.
I am Metis and Mohawk. My husband is Oneida/ Onondaga. We are part of a First Nations Dance Team. I am currently working as an LPN in an office and in school to get my RN.
Nemhain
483 Posts
What? No other Lakota?
Well, I guess I'll be the first! My great grandma was Lakota.
Dad's side is French-Canadian and I think the mix is Micmac and Abenaki, but it's a very very small percentage.