The Wannabe Tribe!

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   klarawieckposted 12 years ago

   How many of you are blond, blue-eyed, pale skin, yet claim to have Native American roots? I'm interested because I've gone to a lot of Powwows where most "natives" seem suspiciously caucasian. Is it wrong to claim a Native American heritage that's barely noticeable?

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      Jeff Berndtposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think it's wrong for someone to claim their native heritage simply because they don't "look the part."
      
      I can understand how someone who looks like a Native American (and has been discriminated against because of it) might resent the guy who looks like a white guy (and presumably hasn't been discriminated against) getting the benefits of membership in the tribe, but really, it's not (or shouldn't be) about what someone looks like.
      
      Of course, I'm totally White, so my opinion doesn't really mean much.

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      hottopicsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Not if they are truly native american

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   Rochelle Frankposted 12 years ago

   It is not always apparent.
   At a powow near us, one of the best dancers was a redheaded freckled guy. The other dancers seem to hold him in high regard.
   
   On the other hand, people from all over Europe, South America and other places came to the US early in its history.
   
   During the California Gold Rush beginning in 1849, tens of thousands of young men came to the west coast. The international migration was about 98% males between the ages of 15 to 35. There were more than a few who took Indian wives.

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   psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

   Heritage is about culture not physical features.

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      Julie2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      

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   klarawieckposted 12 years ago

   Yeah, but I don't see any natives trying to pass for Norwegian! One thing is to feel akin to a specific culture, love it, admire it, and another thing is to lie about where you come from. I have some NA friends who find this ridiculous. It has gotten to the point where they don't even want to attend the Powwows because it's a joke.

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      Jeff Berndtposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      "another thing is to lie about where you come from."
      How do you know they're lying? I mean, is it completely impossible to have NA ancestors and not look like you do?
      
      Shouldn't it be up to the various NA nations whether they accept a person as part of their nation or not?
      
      How much NA ancestry is enough?

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         klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         That's a good question. I don't think it's right to fall into percentages of blood when it comes to ethnicity. There are, however, a lot of powwows that are open to non-members of tribes. The Indian joke is that these people who claim to be Natives but are in fact only fans of the culture, are from the Wannabe tribe.

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   John Holdenposted 12 years ago

   It's a bit like the person who, out of his eight great grand parents has one with Irish blood and on the strength of that declaring themselves thoroughly Irish.

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      klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In that case, I claim my great-great-grandmother's Russian heritage!!! Don't I look a bit Russian to you?

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   Julie2posted 12 years ago

   I am Puerto Rican and I look more Spaniard then African or Indian.
   
   For those that didn't know Puerto Rican is a mix of three races, Spanish, African and Taino Indian. My daughter looks Taino Indian with the tan skin and dark straight hair and both my sons have spanish features as I with the Olive complexion and wavy hair. It doesn't mean that I am going to say that I am not part African or Indian because I have Olive skin.
   
   I have family members that look Indian like my ancestors and I have many that look black. Does it make a difference to me, not at all.
   
   I really don't care what anyone claims to be.
   
   What I do care about is how people can be ignorant in saying that being Puerto Rican is the same as being Mexican. Latinos are not all the same or look the same, we do not all eat the same foods! AHHH
   
   TRUE STORY:
   Someone asked if I was going to celebrate Cinco De Mayo and I said no. They looked at me as if I had two heads. Then they said, "Aren't you Mexican?" I said, "No, I'm Puerto Rican." So they say, "Well isn't that the same thing?" So there I was with that WTF look on my face and just said, "Google it." and walked away. Seriously...

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      klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ha! That's funny! I'm on the same boat as you. I'm Cuban, so we have pretty much the same ethnic background.
      I'll tell you what happened to me on May 5th... I'm a public school music teacher and on May 5th it looked like it was going to rain, so to prevent the instruments from getting wet, I put a Mexican wool blanket I have for emergencies. Everyone thought I was celebrating Cinco de Mayo and asked me if I was Mexican. What's worse, is that in Mexico they don't celebrate 5 de Mayo. It's a small town celebration that transferred to the US. Most people in Mexico don't even know about this date!
      
      Julie, we are at a worse place than the Wannabe tribe people. They pushed us all into a drawer that reads HISPANIC without realizing that that's not an ethnic group, and it's not even a cultural group since every "hispanic" country has its own culture!

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         Julie2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you! That is too funny
         Don't get me wrong I celebrated anyway with my husband at home even though we're not Mexican. You know how we are we find any reason to party! LOL

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            klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Bring on those margaritaaaaaas!!!!

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   Lady Luvposted 12 years ago

   My stepfather sits here besides me and laughs at this post. He is 75% Native American, and has the wide nose, black hair, and red skin to prove it...he told me to tell you he said you look more like an Italian/Portuguese woman than a native american yourself, and to stop calling the kettle black. The Native Americans have never been about bias, or looks. If they had been, the white man would not have gotten the foothold they did. They are about acceptance and peace. You are making a shameful display here. You seem to be acting like less of a native american than those blonde haired, blue eyed people you are displeased with. Peace and acceptance. You should practice it.

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      klarawieckposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ooooops... sorry sweetheart, but I never said I was Native American. Why don't you take the time to read what everyone wrote before you start typing away?

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