How long must an immigrant race live in a land to be considered a native? 1 year

1. 79

   Harlan Coltposted 13 years ago

   How long must an immigrant race live in a land to be considered a native? 1 year? 10? 1000?
   
   There is a deep respect for aboriginal people in most countries. That's fine. However, science and religion both tell us mankind originated in Iraq and migrated across the earth. No race is a native to the America's. None. Thus, how long must a race live upon the land to be considered a Native? Be born there maybe? I find it interesting.
   
   

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2. 60

   alderinosposted 13 years ago

   Fascinating question. We are all immigrants, invaders, settlers and colonialists of some sort. I don't think there's one answer. In a country like our's (Australia), white settlement only took place in 1788, so anyone here before that is regarded as a native. On the Caribbean islands, a native would have been anyone there before the Spanish invaded - but that's academic, because the Spanish wiped them out.

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3. 79

   Harlan Coltposted 13 years ago

   Alderinos,
   
   The simple anthropological fact is that all mankind came from Mesopotamia (Iraq).
   
   So how can one claim to be a native anywhere outside of the "Cradle of Civilization?"
   
   Thus my contention, if you are born there - you are a native of that land. It has nothing to do with who got there first. I mean, if that be the standard, what then shall we say about the moon?
   American's were there first...
   - Harlan

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4. 61

   johnyjaneposted 13 years ago

   In my views a race can be considered native only if they are found original dwellers of that piece of land like aboriginals. So people coming afterward them never avail the status of NATIVES.

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5. 59

   Matt in Jaxposted 13 years ago

   Well here in the 'States you are basically called a Floridian or whatever state you are related to if you either grew up there or have been there for about 10 years, give or take. I think that makes you native to the land.

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6. 53

   bobo70posted 13 years ago

   There are many communities that will never accept you even if you, your parents, grandparents and ancestors were born in their land as a native. In some communities in Africa I know of tribes that won't accept people whose ancestors settled in the community 300 - 400 years ago. Its a bit crazy and sometimes it is probably one of the major causes of war

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7. 61

   Roger Rabbitposted 13 years ago

   Long enough that no one knows how or when they got there.

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8. 66

   Tusitala Tomposted 13 years ago

   In Australia it's about one generation.  The kids born here are deemed to be Australians.   Of course, there is some racial prejudice here - where isn't there?    If you've got an Aussie accent it assumed you're native-born in this place. 
   
   I was born in the United Kingdom but arrived early enough in life (fourteen nearly fifteen) to lose my English accent and take on the Australian way of speaking.   So I'm a native.   Oh, and I have a piece of paper to prove it.  It's called a citizenship certificate.   Took me 29 years of living here before I applied for it...but the way things are in the world today, it pays to have something that actually states you're a citizen.

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9. 0

   DJ Kleenposted 13 years ago

   Great question and read some really good answers - but - I have to ask myself...... are we confusing "Native" with "Ancestry"?
   
   per Dictionary.com:
   
   Native - noun - 20. a person born in a particular place or country: a native of Ohio.

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10. 49

    submarinoposted 13 years ago

    listen closely my friend... there are no immigrants    we are all people of equal status no matter where we reside on this planet this is our home  our inherited birthright  drop that other idea  please................

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11. 81

    Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

    This is a great question!!!!!!!!!  I like the "if you were born there, you are a native" idea.

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12. 54

    Animeauposted 13 years ago

    Hi,
    I think that a person is native considering his roots. Of course a person who is born and grew up at a place is a native too even if he had no prior root. In my opinion born is to be considered in the sense that the person was given birth and in the sense that the person settled to live at the place of his choice (it is a birth too), Where you feel at ease is your place. The question behind is the one of acceptance. Are we ready to accept each other without prejudice?

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