The Huron people, Iroquoian-speaking North American Indians, were contacted by French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1534. They lived along the St. Lawrence River and had similar aspects to other Northeast Indians. Huron society was composed of exogamous matrilineal sibs, called “grouped family stocks”, which played a crucial role as intermediaries in the fur trade during French exploration in North America.
In Huron society, men who engaged in agricultural and herding activities were considered lazy or good for nothing. Instead of taboos against multiple sexual partners, the Huron frowned on public expression of jealousy or restriction of sexual freedom. Young men and women were required to participate in a democratic decision-making process.
The Huron government system was very different from that in Europe, with individuals belonging to a matrilineage. In Sainte-Marie, all French men lived, except for one Italian priest, who did not accompany them. The Hurons have long been considered a matrilineal-matri local society, but their economy was radically altered.
One Jesuit missionary, Jean de Brébeuf, left a vivid description of the lives and customs of the Native peoples he encountered there. Women played an important role in a democratic decision-making process among the Hurons.
The Huron people were also known for their strong kinship relationships with French traders and indigenous women, sometimes forming lifelong relationships. The Huron government system was based on a matrilineal line, with women playing a significant role in Huron affairs.
In conclusion, the Huron people’s gender and family relations differ significantly from those of Europeans, with women playing an important role in a democratic decision-making process and a strong kinship relationship.
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| Chapter 1, 2, 3, and 4 Voices Of Freedom Questions | They were also very lazy when it came to performing certain tasks. How do Huron gender and family relations seem to differ from those of Europeans?. | quizlet.com |
| How do huron gender and family relations seem to differ … | In Huron, men who do this kind of activities are considered as lazy/good for nothing in the society because farmers are considered as the lowest in their … | brainly.com |
| Wendat (Huron) | Traditionally, the Wendat traced descent and inheritance through the female line. As among all the Iroquoian nations, the fundamental socioeconomic group was … | thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |
📹 The Problem with DNA Testing for Native American Heritage w/Shannon O’Loughlin Joe Rogan
Taken from JRE #1442 w/Shannon O’Loughlin: https://youtu.be/UL3RvjhFu_s.
What Was The Huron Culture Like?
The Huron culture, situated in the St. Lawrence Valley, was rich in history and diversity, marked by its unique customs, craftsmanship, and social structures. The Huron, part of a confederation of four Iroquoian tribes, shared many traits with other Northeast indigenous groups, including a matrilineal society where lineage and inheritance were traced through women. They traditionally lived in villages composed of large, bark-covered longhouses that housed extended families, often protected by palisades against Iroquois incursions.
Predominantly farmers, the Huron supplemented their diets through hunting and fishing, leveraging their agricultural expertise and position as trade middlemen for various Eastern U. S. Indian nations. Their society was grounded in cooperation and harmony, with spiritual beliefs emphasizing respect for nature and the spirits in their surroundings. The culture celebrated the importance of children as the future of the tribe, and physical punishment was frowned upon.
In addition to their agriculture, the Huron were renowned for their involvement in the fur trade, which significantly influenced their economy. Their intricate arts, including pottery and clothing, reflected both functionality and aesthetic principles. Through its history and evolving traditions, the Huron culture remains a compelling narrative of indigenous life in northeastern North America.
What Role Did Women Play In The Huron Dynasty?
Women held significant influence in Huron society, primarily responsible for selecting civil leaders within their clans. They played essential roles in various activities including agriculture, cooking, and child-rearing, which were vital to the community's sustenance and well-being. A notable aspect of Huron culture was their openness regarding sexuality, with premarital relations being encouraged. Women also participated in important ceremonies, marking the comings and goings of men in their lives, which demonstrated their central role within familial and societal structures.
Huron society, described by historian James Axtell as a "gynecocracy," allowed women substantial authority in governance and decision-making processes. This matrilineal system meant that lineage and inheritance were traced through the female line, granting women a unique form of power and influence. Despite facing challenges from the Iroquois Confederacy and later European settlers, Huron women maintained their rights and responsibilities within their society.
The migration to Indian Territory brought additional hardships, but the foundational role of women in Huron culture remained vital throughout these changes. Overall, Huron women not only shaped their tribes socially and politically but also contributed significantly to the agricultural economy and cultural heritage.
What Did The Hurons Have In Common With Other Tribes?
The Huron, part of a confederation of Iroquoian tribes, resided in the St. Lawrence Valley and were contacted by Jacques Cartier in 1534. Their culture shared similarities with other Northeast Indians, notably a system of pictorial communication. Traditionally, the Huron lived in bark-covered longhouses accommodating matrilineal extended families, often within palisaded villages, and they were known for their artistry and craftsmanship. They were engaged in agriculture, hunting, and fishing, and had established extensive trade networks with neighboring tribes, exchanging goods such as furs and corn.
Socially, the Huron were divided into clans, including Bear, Deer, and Rock clans, and maintained a governance system with chiefs representing different clans. The Huron were bitter rivals of the Iroquois Confederacy, leading to conflicts over resources like the fur trade. After suffering defeats, some Huron allied with Jesuit missionaries and integrated into other tribes. The Hurons practiced monogamy and discouraged inter-clan marriages, emphasizing their matrilineal lineage.
In the 17th century, they grew various crops, including tobacco, and were familiar with agricultural practices independently developed from European influence. Overall, the Huron culture was characterized by community living, skilled trading, and resilient social structures amidst external pressures.
Why Did The Huron People Call Themselves Wendat?
The Huron people, known as the Wendat, lived in a region surrounded by lakes and bays, which influenced their name meaning "inhabitants of the island" or "inhabitants of the peninsula." This name, Wendat (Ouendat), reflects their geographical context. The term "Huron," given by the French, translates to "boar's head," possibly referencing the distinctive hairstyles of Wendat men. The Wendat Confederacy included four bands: Attinniaoenten (people of the bear), Hatingeennonniahak (makers of cords for nets), Arendaenronnon (people of the lying rock), and Ata, collaborating to form a political league.
The population of the Wendat, estimated between 20, 000 to 30, 000, resided densely between Hudson Bay and the St. Lawrence River, within an area referred to as Huronia. Before European contact, various Indigenous nations inhabited this territory, routinely utilizing its resources. With the onset of the fur trade, the Wendat allied with the French against the Haudenosaunee. The Iroquoian-speaking Wendat called themselves Wendat, and their name signifies "island dwellers." Today, the Huron-Wendat Nation represents this northern Iroquoian group, residing on a peninsula in Georgian Bay, known historically as Wendake. The Wendat maintain a rich cultural legacy rooted in their history and geographical identity.
How Did Huron Culture Differ From Other Northeast Indians?
The Huron, also known as the Wyandot, were a Native American tribe from Quebec, sharing cultural traits with other Northeast Indians. They lived in large bark-covered longhouses within matrilineal extended families and often constructed villages surrounded by palisades. Estimated to have numbered between 20, 000 to 40, 000 in the seventeenth century, the Huron inhabited a region characterized by diverse temperate forests, wetlands, and waterways. While similar to the Erie tribe in customs, the Huron's distinct identity was shaped by their language and matrilineal structure.
The name "Huron" is believed to have been derogatorily assigned by the French, translating to "wild boar." The Huron Confederacy consisted of several tribes, including the Attignawantan, and played a significant role in the history of the northeastern U. S. and southeastern Canada through trade, acting as intermediaries among various indigenous nations and European colonizers.
The Huron people engaged in traditional practices like crafting homes, tools, and engaging in artistry influenced by European styles. Their diet included locally sourced fish and shellfish, complemented by the trade of tobacco, a crucial economic resource. While the cultural landscape of the Huron has evolved, remnants of their identity persist, particularly within the Wyandotte Nation, which traces its lineage back to the Huron Confederacy.
What Do You Think Las Casas Hoped To Accomplish By Writing So Critically?
Bartolomé de Las Casas, in his writings such as A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1552), critiqued the brutalities inflicted by Spaniards on indigenous peoples, hoping to reform the colonial system and improve native lives. By exposing the harsh realities of Spanish treatment, including slavery and starvation, Las Casas aimed to shed light on the inhumane practices justified by claims of Christian superiority. He sought to free enslaved individuals, even though he had once owned slaves himself.
His critical perspective resonated with contemporaries, particularly during the rise of liberation theology, which emphasized the plight of the marginalized and advocated for equality. Las Casas directed his appeals to the Spanish monarchy, hoping to influence policy changes that would protect the rights of indigenous populations. He articulated a comprehensive plan for reform alongside religious reformer Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros, although significant change in colonial attitudes proved difficult.
His works, including History of the Indies and The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies, provided robust accounts of the atrocities committed, garnering attention in Europe and prompting humanitarian discourse. Ultimately, Las Casas aimed to ignite awareness and legally empower the indigenous people through legislative reforms, contributing to the eventual implementation of the New Laws of 1542 that sought to curtail abuses.
Why Does He Write That The Indians Lead A Freer Life Than Europeans?
Thomas Morton asserts that Native Americans lead a "freer life" than Europeans due to their simplicity and connection to nature. Unlike Europeans, who are burdened by material concerns and societal pressures, Native Indians live guided by what he describes as the "light of nature." This natural living results in a happier, more carefree existence that stands in contrast to the worries faced by many Christians.
Morton's perspective implies that the Indigenous peoples prioritize practical, useful aspects of life over material distractions, demonstrating a sense of satisfaction with their resources and surroundings. They construct their homes from natural materials and sustain themselves through familiar food sources.
Morton's observations suggest admiration for the sustainable lifestyle of Native Americans, which he views as morally and culturally superior to that of European settlers. He notes that while initial interactions began with mutual respect and a shared dedication to spirituality, the arrival of Europeans ultimately disrupted this balance, leading to conflict and disease. In his writing, Morton highlights not only the simplicity but also the richness of Indigenous culture and technology, presenting the Indians as more attuned to their environment.
He critiques European civilization for its excess and complexity, implying that the Native way of life embodies a deeper understanding of happiness and fulfillment. Overall, Morton's reflections on Indigenous life reveal a tension between the values of the two societies, framing Native Americans as a model of virtue and sustainability.
Why Does The Poet Want Freedom For His Country?
In "Where the Mind Is Without Fear," Rabindranath Tagore passionately expresses his desire for his country to attain true freedom, liberating itself from ignorance and narrow-mindedness. He believes that such emancipation is essential for the nation's progress and success on the global stage. Tagore envisions a future where his compatriots are fearless, knowledgeable, truthful, rational, hard-working, and broad-minded, fostering an environment conducive to growth.
The poem shifts focus from a religious to a patriotic theme, where the poet earnestly prays for his country's liberation from oppressive colonial rule. His longing culminates in a plea for an ideal freedom that encompasses both intellectual and moral awakening. Tagore’s vision illustrates a world free from superstition and social evils, urging his nation to rise into a "heaven of freedom." He highlights the bleak realities faced under British rule, lamenting the lost dignity of his people.
Ultimately, Tagore’s poem not only serves as a declaration of hope but also embodies his profound wish for a harmonious society where individuals can live without fear, proudly and with purpose. His fervent prayer directs attention to the potential of a liberated nation, emphasizing the transformative power of freedom in securing a better future for India.
📹 The word Indigenous — explained l CBC Kids News
Indigenous people are the first people to live in a place. In Canada, Indigenous people belong to a number of different …
Every chance I get I like to thank descendants of the Choctaw tribe for raising money and supplies for my ancestors in Ireland during the potato famine. On March 23rd, 1847, a group of Choctaw leaders and others met in eastern Oklahoma to raise money for the starving and poor in Ireland,170 dollars were raised. This was a time in which the English crown exported MILLIONS of tonnes of produce from Ireland but refused to provide for its people.
Lol I’m Mexican. Most of us are mestizo(European and Native mixed) for one real mixed people show much more indigenous features. I did a test and I have about 40% native blood but I’m brown/short. The rest was 60% European (Spanish and French). And the tests where able to track down what regions of Mexico my indigenous blood were from and I can tell you it was pretty damn accurate. I just don’t understand the point of claiming any racial/ethnic background unless you really do have daily real life connection to it. In reality I don’t consider myself “native” or “european” but more of a culture that is a byproduct of both being mixed.
Seems a little odd that she talks about the governments “purity” test but each Native group has their own purity test. Just because they dont use DNA as a single form of requirement they all create their own purity tests. Joe gives her an example of other groups that use their own purity test and she moves quickly past it. Kinda seems like everyone has their own purity test for their groups.
Through DNA testing a long lost cousin found my family. He had been given up for adoption because my aunt had a teen pregnancy. 50 years later he takes a 23 and me and reunites with my family, and proceeds to call the tribal office to see if he’s in for some long lost money. Our tribe happens to be one of the more “traditional” ones and uses old school government (clan mothers/no casino/no natural resources) and is pretty broke -no one gets “free money” but man what a rich culture he should have been proud to find out about. Being Native has never been about what you can get.
The last comment Joe Rogan made was interesting about Native Americans and Hunting Seasons and game laws. I took a guy I used to work with fishing a number of years ago and he was Native American and had an ID card. We went striper fishing (striped bass) in the lower Chesapeake Bay. He was allowed to catch and keep as many as he wanted, unlike me who’s white, where the limit was 2 fish per day. We ended up getting a citation by a Game Warden who was unfamiliar with the rules concerning Native Persons. I ended up going to court over it because I was looking at a fine of $4000.00. The court looked up the rule and dismissed the fine, but the prosecution then tried to argue that it was on my boat and therefore the fish were in my possession. I had been smart enough to take photos of the two fish I was allowed to keep in the boat’s built in fish box and my Native friend’s fish were in his cooler that he had brought on board with his name on it, plainly showing which fish were mine and which were his, the same as the photos the Game Warden presented in court. Anyway, they dismissed it and I got out of the fine.
When I was a kid, I thought my family was from Mexico… My dad spoke Spanish…. and it was strange cause the kids at my school would look at me and tap their mouths and mock me… and they said I was too dark, or my dad was dark, and my mom was light skinned…then I met my great grandmother…and I was BLOWN AWAY…my whole family was there and she said…”Look at all these Cherokee!” She looked like the Native American women I would see in photos… and I asked her…”Great grandma, are you from Mexico? Why did you call us Cherokee?” She said…”Because you’re Cherokee, that blood is in you.” It turned out, we had a better shot at being accepted if we were “Hispanic” and not “Native American”…. This was back in the 70’s…Later I found out that my dad was from the Lipan Apache tribe of Texas…he took me aside and told me that my great great aunt was taken by Mexicans, and sold into slavery in Mexico… that my great great grandfather, walked on foot, from Texas to Mexico…and brought her home. He said at one time our family lived in Mexico, cause the Army was coming through Texas and killing Apache…so they fled to Mexico.
Looked up my ancestry. My grandmother and her siblings were always clear about where they came from and who they were and passed the info down to all of their children and grands. They were always clear to us about them being indigenous and who their father and grandfather were and where they were born. When i looked it up myself it confirmed to me her stories were true. My great great grandfather is santee indian. Born in santee, south carolina. I never doubted her stories but growing up telling people my ancestry it was common for them to laugh and say no your not. So naturally; constantly having that reaction, I began questioning who I really was. Which was a big mistake. Because my grandmother never lied. Just because you dont fit people’s stereotypical view doesnt mean that you are not who you say you are.
Blood quantum can be a double edge sword sometimes. As a Native Hawaiian in order to qualify for homestead lands you have to be 50%. Unfortunately my people are a dying race, so they “blood” drops and becomes more rare to meet Hawaiians who are even 50%. Issues like these, regarding blood quantum, hinders and hurts a community as a whole as requirements such as these splits a native nation where BLOOD determines your native worth. Although blood quantum can protect the rights of Natives (due to outsiders trying to claim benefits), it can cause damage and a sense of ostracizing too. Loved this article. ❤️❤️
This is heartbreaking for those of us who’s ancestors were 100 0/0 Cherokee we’re not added to the Rolls and could not openly claim their heritage for fear of being driven out or murdered. Now, we are not accepted among our people because the $5 indians are the leaders and powers on the reservations and will deny us, only granting ID with none of the benefits owed to our ancestors.
My grandmother was full blood. I’m Native/German. I consider myself the most conflicted man on earth. My Grandmother was a very well established artist throughout Colorado, New Mexico and Oklahoma. But she refused to take a govt check, and, she hated taking pictures. Said it robbed her of pieces of her spirit……miss that woman. She died a starving artist, but lived like she was wealthy beyond belief.
People dont realize you get a random 50% of genes from ec parent, its not distributed proportionally. If your parent is 50% or less of something, there is a real chance you will get few to none of those gene markers. But you are still 25% that ethnicity by birth. This is why DNA is not used to determine ethnic ancestry, but rather geneology with historical documentation such as identification documents of specific people or Dawes rolls.
I’m a nurse and my great grandmother was Choctaw. Her family was removed from Mississippi. I was taking care of an old man and he asked me what tribe I was from. It shocked me b/c I don’t feel like I look native American. I said Choctaw. He told me he was Choctaw and said native people knew who were native. I have brown hair hazel eyes and freckles.
My sister in law is Peruvian, her grandmother was full-blooded Quechuan and didn’t speak Spanish. Her mother spoke both languages. My sister in law’s ancestry results show something like 60% Native American! So the ‘native’ really applies to the Americas of the western hemisphere….not just indian tribes of the USA territories.
I am reading the story about the Parkers. My mother’s maiden name is Parker. Both her parents were part Native American. So, I am Norwegian, Scottish, Irish and Native American. I know my grandfather is from the Paiute tribe. My grandmother we still don’t know. She never spoke of it. I actually met someone I worked with that is related to the actual Parker clan that Joe Rogan is talking about. Such an interesting story and very violent one.
This is very ironic for me. My entire life I was raised native from Iroquois nation, Traditional dancer, Singer, spoke the language as well as traditions etc. etc. I always questioned it because I have exceptionally Blue eyes and blond hair. Long story short at 45 years old I get a DNA test…53% German, as well as Scandinavian and Irish!! This was something that was very hard for me to except especially since this is how I was brought up my entire life. I was very proud to be native and in a lot of senses had to fight for the right to be native because this is what I was always told by my family! I learned so many lessons in my life and it helped me in so many ways Only to have my world crash in the end. I have since studied and researched a lot about my true family ancestry in consideration to Germanic and Viking influences as well as Irish and the struggles that they all have overcome to give me the life that I live now. In so many ways I am honored and proud but again ironically in this time and age… i’m just looked at as another racist white boy…
Uncle Sam used his usually M.O. when they determined that to qualify for Hawaiian homestead land we had to have 50% Hawaiian blood as proven by parents and grandparents. Given over time, through mixed marriages, that 50% blood will be diluted to zero overtime. So, they just have to wait it out until we are extinct.
United Nations Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. There is no argument anymore. People will hate, ignore and move on. My own mother one time didn’t believe I was native, even though my father is Cree. She called my Aunty on the Rez one time to ask her if I was Metis, in order to verify I was a liar or not, even though she and my father have no French heritage…if you can believe it, My Aunty told her “of course not”…my own mother doesn’t believe what she created. I am Grand son of Elder Chief Jim Tobacco of Mosakahiken Cree Nation and second mother grandson of Hazel Peterson (Perry) of Opaskwayak Cree Nation, which is where both my mother and myself were born…
She’s going off appearance to say that she is an Indian/Native American. When asked for deeper proof such as your DNA, and to what percentage of Indian/Native American she is she goes off tangent. She may just be culturally Indian, though she may not be traditionally culturally Indian as well as DNA Indian. p.s. DNA matters it speaks volumes about your actual biological history.
I grew up on a reservation as a child. Always believed I was approximately 60% “Indian” b/c I knew my father was white or mostly white as we liked to say. I was shocked to find out a couple of years ago that I am only 25% Indian and my one older sister is 27% and a younger sister is 23%. Which I didn’t realize you can have the same mom and dad and be a different percentage of racial identity. Anyway, I felt like the run had been ripped from beneath me. All my life, I’m 62 now, I grew up believing I was something I’m not. Hard to fathom since the census has my maternal grandmother listed as 100% Oneida and my maternal grandfather as 75% Stockbridge Munsee. And we erroneously believed my dad was part Cherokee. He’s all white. But in my heart I am 100% Native because that’s how I grew up. Then I met a young woman who is 75% Native and never knew it. Thought she had darker skin b/c she was Italian or something. Race is such a fluid thing.
My father is from South Eastern El Salvador, Usulutan. From what I researched, Southeastern ES was Lenca territory. My mother is Mexican from the state of Guerrero, I’m not aware of what native tribe is there but I do know that her paternal grandfather was a man from Spain. I’m trying to find a way to see what’s the best test to find out my detailed ethnic background
I’m iyeska. I grew up outside of the rez. I think my father had a level of embarrassment associating with his people and wanted better opportunities for him and his children… Integration is easy if you focus on your own worth instead of focusing on your peoples hardships. I have many people. Not many of them are native but, they’re mine none the less.
Bottom line, it’s a pick-and-choose. 50-50 Polish-Indian, pick whichever depending on who you talk to? Her face showed hesitation when she mentioned Polish. Joe said “so you are half-and-half” and she said “something like that”… When asked what does Legal term of Art” means, she said “sorry I’m a lawyer, it’s a federal term” meaning she really knows what it means and yet she didn’t give an explanation on what it actually means. Be proud of who you are 100%.
I come from the White Mountain Apache Tribe. My grandfather’s family were missionaries of German decent. He grew up on the Rez and spoke the language and lived the culture better than most. Eventually he was recognized as a tribal member. I left the Rez and lived in Japan for 15 years. Married and had a family. My son identifies as Japanese.
My great aunt tried to get papers from the Creek Nation so that way my cousins and I could get registered but she always had issues talking to people from there. She told us that it always just seems so shady when talking to the tribe. She’s a documented member, my dad and all his cousins are too. I don’t go out of my way to tell people that I have native blood in me because if I said that they’d look at my blue eyes and white skin and probably roll their eyes. It is pretty cool though knowing what tribe you’re from because most my people say they have Native blood in them but don’t actually have an exact idea of where it comes from or don’t even have enough to legally say they’re native.
There are actually huge numbers of people in the United States that have a portion of indian blood. Most of us don’t know much about that. Because it was looked down upon to have any Indian heritage. My my family is Norwegian and has one person of full or nearly full Indian heritage. The children of the first generation hid their indian heritage. The second generation didn’t know very many details and didn’t dare ask. They all moved to a predominantly German community, and they were second class citizens because they were Norwegians. The third generation became more interested in that Indian heritage because people were more open minded about that. But it was still a dark family secret. I am fourth generation and look Norwegian. But in my family here and there there are people who obviously look very Indian. When we go to various Indian activities, they are immediately accepted. I am viewed as an outsider.
I work with a woman whose great great great grandfather is Standing Bear who was a Ponca Chief. She’s red hair Caucasian looking as can be. I can tell by her nose she is indigenous, but only when she told me about her history. I tell everyone at work because it’s so cool and historical. I watched documentaries about him on PBS. Her roots come from her mother’s side.
I’m tribal member from west Texas Pueblo native, we our a federal recognized tribe however we our the last 3 tribes still recognized in Texas however they’re more than 500 tribes of Texas sadly over the years the government have been trying to weed us out like she says, a quote from Chief red cloud from the northern plains once said what makes you a native is not by blood but the traditions you carry from the tribe and way of life and that’s what I follow, you must also remember a lot of native tribes were forced not to identify with their nation because of fear they were forced not to practice the traditions of the culture and faced many battles to keep the traditions going I’m so proud of my heritage but also the elders of the tribe and my ancestors who paved the way for us to be proud of who we are and the traditions that make us
While many African-Americans claim they are Indian descendants, DNA testing shows ‘that fewer than 10% of NA black people are of Native American ancestry. Only 5% of African Americans have at least 12.5% Native American ancestry, meaning at least one great-grand parent. In contrast, 58% of African Americans have at least 12.5% white ancestry.’ -david a. love, thegrio. 1:45
Being Native American and being proud and honored this is something that is a very big problem in our community. A close friend of mine and fellow clan member actually had a deep discussion with me one day and we had gotten into this topic about the DNA testing and how much percentage you are or measuring it by some form of measurement or scale which shouldn’t be appropriate and he had actually told me that it is actually a way for the government to actually secretly eliminate us which is a really strong and dark concept to grasp. Is it outside the realm of impossibility though That’s what you got to ask yourself So I think when it comes to percentage a lot of us natives we really don’t try to talk about how much we are anymore That’s becoming a thing in the past Me being about 75% if you want to get technical my dad is full and my mom is little under half and in my children are about 35%, 40%. We all say now that if your Native American your Native American and there’s a new stronger statement that says I may not be full-blooded native but you better believe that I’m full by heart. So this article definitely is a very strong and truthful article that I think needs to be discussed more with the world because I don’t think anybody has a really good understanding about our people.
I’m Shawnee and French and the only white-presenting person in my maternal family, which is where my native ancestry comes from. Everyone else in my maternal family have darker skin, dark brown/black hair, dark brown/black eyes, and “look the part”. I’m white-presenting (abnormally pale from a health issue too) and I have grey eyes. My hair was blonde when I was born, but became naturally dark brown, almost black, when I was about 12. I grew up on a REZ, I was raised as a native and yet I get forced to hide/ignore that part of my identity and background because non-natives somehow get triggered if I ever share my heritage or culture with them. It’s sad.
Don’t say your half this or quarter that, especially through your mothers line. It depends how long your very distant ancestors lived in a particular region for, that will show in your DNA. DNA results evolve over time as more samples are submitted. At first my mother’s DNA showed over half-Irish. Over subsequent months as more samples were gathered and analysed, it showed Scotland and Nova Scotia. Then most recently and specifically, the county Ross and Cromarty in the Scottish highlands. You could have a parent from Italy and call yourself half-Italian, but your parent may have been a first generation immigrant there and thus your DNA result won’t reflect it.
Thanks for addressing these questions regarding American Indians. I have a cousin by marriage who is a member of an Oklahoma tribe and participates in the tribes functions and benefits. Interestingly, I saw a article by an Indian from Wyoming who had his DNA tested and it showed origins in South America. I suppose this supports a theory of Thor Heyerdahl regarding the arrival of the tribes.
I’m almost half Black Foot Native American. So i worked at my uncles collision repair shop & we didn’t do full restorations because unless that’s all you do there’s no money in it. But we did restorations for friends. One guy we were doing one for was a 67 fast back mustang & his name was Jack & he was Native American. He came in every few months to see his car, we only worked on it when the shop was slow cause we did 35-40 cars a week. He knew that because we told him up front. So one day im out back & im working on a car & he comes out there to say hi & i had known him for about 2 years at this point. But again only seen him every 4-6 months. So he says…can i ask you a personal question, I’ve been meaning to ask you this? I said sure, he said are you Native American? I said yeah i am & he said Black Foot….? I said how the hell did you know that & he said because im 100% Black Foot & i can see it in your eyes & a little in your face. Isn’t that crazy?
I’m multi-racial. People often ask me what I am and they are never satisfied with the answer. But if you ask me what percentage I am I can certainly tell you- 30% Japanese, 50% Irish, under 5% Native Hawaiian, rest mix of Western Europe. People may not look like what we’re expecting, but I can give a straight answer. Other people believing it is on them.
“You see the one thing I’ve always maintained is that I’m an American Indian. I’m not a Native American. I’m not politically correct. Everyone who’s born in the Western Hemisphere is a Native American. We are all Native Americans. And if you notice, I put American before my ethnicity. I’m not a hyphenated African-American or Irish-American or Jewish-American or Mexican-American.” —Russell Means
If any recorded evidence is ever found of ‘Native American’ ancestors moving to America from anywhere else in the world, Native Americans would lose their native status by definition. Fossil records prove that the ‘Clovis’ people were here before ‘Native Americans’. DNA records prove overwhelmingly that most ‘Native American’ tribes originate in Asia and migrated here as immigrants most likely fleeing devastation in their homeland. Sounds eerily familiar to the southern border thing going on right now. My question has always been: What happened to the Clovis people? They went on for thousands of years hunting mammoths until they suddenly disappeared about the same time Asian DNA started showing up on American soil. Well, at least there is a good written record for when the ‘white’ man arrived whose native heritage had already been erased 10 times over. One thing that we all share in common is our Neanderthal DNA. Fossil records indicate that Neanderthal’s were cannibalistic. They hunted homo sapiens and used our females as breeding vessels until they, themselves went extinct, leaving stronger, faster, and more intelligent Homo Sapien Neanderthal hybrids to the future. We all come from a cruel heritage. It is up to us to shed the differences that time has put between us. I guess what I am saying is, it is time to invade another world and assert ourselves as natives there. It is kind of our thing.
My mother would never admit to being a Native American (Chickasaw). I only found out from one of her sisters when I was in my late 30s when she spilled the beans over lunch. My mother’s reluctance to admit to her heritage was not without cause. They had their reasons. As one example, the American Government had the authority to take private property away from the natives all the way up to the 50s. The Indian Child Protection Act of 1978 denied equal protection under state and federal law otherwise guaranteed to all others under the Constitution. Between 1869 and the 1960s hundreds of thousands of Native American children were forcibly removed from their homes and families and placed in boarding schools under terrible conditions. That’s right I said the 1960’s. Those of you that want to give the government even more power better be careful what you wish for.
A lot of the difficulty in gaining recognition for being Native American goes back to the original rolls… If you can show direct lineage to a specific person on the original roll, the battle is over… My grandmother was diligent in registering her children and grandchildren with the Choctaw Nation when each was born. I have the same Choctaw percentage as my siblings but I have additional Cherokee that they don’t have (different mothers). My siblings have dark hair, olive complexion, deep dark eyes. I, on the other hand with more NA, am blonde haired, blue-green eyes, and light complexion with freckles during the summer… my siblings and I do have fantastic hair that grows like crazy and the facial cheekbone structure of our ancestors. Registering nowt would be difficult if not for trackable lineage..
I am Choctaw / Chickasaw, born and raised in Oklahoma, and my wife is Muscogee Creek. I love this woman’s comment “It’s not about race”. Also we do not get a monetary check every month. We do have a lot of benefits and programs that are offered to us that we do utilize. There are too many to name. I have a friend who is Comanche, and she gets what is called a “per capita” check every month, and the amount is is different from month to month depending on the tribes gaming revenue.
My mother is native and her grandma live in a res. in az. My mom is mixed but she still has 61% native DNA and it shows the exact area her native is from. Which is the Navajo, Apache area. My great grandma said she was full blood apache and she was right. I have 56% because my dad is also part native. Me and my parents even though we do have some European none of us look white, you could tell we are native. I think white people are just trying to hide the fact that they have lied about being native. Me and my parents did not grow up in native res. but we still consider our selves native. So I don’t agree or believe just because you didn’t grow up with the tribe you are no longer native.
My grandchild said he was Mexican, i laughed and said, where you born in Mexico, he replied “no”, I said where were you born? He said America, I said. That makes you American,,, lol he looked so confused, but said its about were your born, not where you think you came from. Be proud to be an American…
This is a sensitive subject. My stepmother was 1/2 Native. She looked Mexican. She had three children with an Irish guy before she met my father. One looks Native, but two could pass for Irish. You really can’t look at people and tell how Indian they are. I knew a blonde haired, blue-eyed girl in college who was fully 1/4th Native, but she looked German or Northern European. She received money for being Native American.
We have copies from the Dawes Commission from the Trail of Tears with one of my great great grandmother’s name on it and identified her as Cherokee. Verified by the reservation office in Oklahoma. She was very old when I was little girl and she sang lullabies and run her finger down the bridge of my nose to get me to fall asleep. She sang in her native language. I had always thought she was just senile and singing jibberish or nonsensical words. It wasn’t till I was older when my grandmother told me she was singing to me in her native tongue. That she wasn’t senile. Just old. 🥰
I’m an enrolled INDIGENOUS native and will never question my heritage because I already know it. The problem with this interview is she only speaking from research not from experience. “Legal term of art” no no no, that’s mistaken identity. Find someone who actually knows what they’re talking about
My ancestors came from accomack va dating back to early 1600s. All up and down the Chesapeake. Its amazing to see the va maps where you see how close accomack is to jamestown fort. All i know is my greatgrandparents were indian. The northam and scott names can be found in accomack. Im related to both.
In my dad dna test it said he was Peruvian, completely ignoring what percentage was spanish and Japanese. If you didn’t know there was a huge migration if Japanese people to peru, in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. If you really wanna know what you’re made of, take a dna test, then do reacher about the genetics of whatever heritage they give you.
Wow!! Finally an actual discussion about First Nation history from a First Nation member/citizen!! The meeting was too short!! Plz, have a longer one….I have soo many questions! ! I had no idea there were over 300 unrecognized tribes by the government. …and I had no idea what the blood quantum was really about until she explained it…..American history books didn’t cover this and I’m so glad she spoke up about it…..so thank you! ! And Plz bring her back again! !!
At 0:35 when Joe asked Shannon O’Loughlin what percentage of Native American she is she immediately changed the subject and never answered the question until she finally admitted her ancestry is part Polish and part Native American about half and half, but she gave no precise percentages. Instead she launched into her rehearsed talking points about the federal government abusing and trying to rid themselves of Native Americans. Her rejection of a “blood quantum” test used by the federal government appears to mirror a statement by the UN years ago that relied instead as “self-identification” as a member of an indigenous group. This is very similar to the current “self identification” subjective perception used for gender identification rather than an objective biological fact. According to a 2015 article in INSIDE HIGHER ED entitled PREVENTING ETHNIC FRAUD: “According to the United Nations’ Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues statement on indigenous identity, the association says, the ethnicity “test” is “self-identification as indigenous peoples at the individual level and accepted by the community as their member.” “It’s not one of “enrollment, or blood quantum, or recognition by the state, or meeting any particular set of criteria for defining ‘proper’ or ‘authentic’ indigenous identity.” The statement seems to reject a 2003 recommendation from the Association of American Indian and Native Alaskan Professors that colleges and universities prevent ethnic fraud by requiring documentation of enrollment in a state or federally recognized nation or tribe, with preference given to those who meet the criteria.
As someone who was adopted I completely understand that heritage is not only about DNA. Heritage is how and by who you were raised. Additionally most people have various dna… only recently have we learned how varied because of testing. And genes are tricky… they like to play genetic whack-a-mole… for instance I have a friend from a very dark island family… all his family is the color of dark chocolate and yet he is the color of light milk chocolate with a flaming red Afro and green eyes. Turned out he had a Red headed pirate as a great great great grandfather and it took that long for the gene to pop up. 80% of Mexicans have indigenous dna… my brothers wife is Mexican, Native American and Polish. She is an official tribal member and gets annual casino money even though the percent of indigenous dna is low. I’m adopted and have no idea what my dna would show, but I was raised in a “cowbilly” home… half of my family being from the Midwest and the other half from near Appalachia. I love steak, potatos and cornbread. I wish I could claim to be more exotic… maybe one day I’ll do a dna test with my fingers crossed. But for all I know my dna might show me to be Irish, Russian or any of the lighter skinned races.
Actually, she’s correct. In anthropology these studies have been verified. My professor who was 100% american indian said the same thing about blood quantum and the problems that arose from these regulations enforced by the US government to weed out people from getting any kind of benefits. When I say benefits, I mean tribal benefits and being apart of the tribe and reservation.
My grandfather on my mother’s side was half 1/2 Cherokee. And my mother was 1/4 Cherokee with red hair. I’m of course 1/8 Cherokee with red hair,now that I’ve gotten old it’s gray, red, and brown . A DNA test does prove that I’m related to the Cherokee,because of distant relatives. Just in case you were wondering it depends on who you are,every case is not the same.
I took a DNA test and found out I’m over half “Native American” 1/3 Spanish and the rest is mixed up African, Jewish, Arab. I always just considered myself a hispanic. Since my ancestry comes from the nation of Mexico, but I found out that my ancestry had been in the americas for hundreds or even thousands of years. Pretty neat
If you’re African American there is the one drop rule. For people like me who have 1st Nation and European blood no one claims you. I am part Shoshone yet I don’t know my people, my Great Grandmother was cut off from her people for one reason or another. More than likely just by marriage and moving away. All my life I’ve had a heavy heart and a sense of not belonging and I’m 50 now. I don’t look into it because of the reasons she says, people think you just want something, I just want to know where I come from and belong.
I’m Cherokee, Shawnee and Ojibwa and about 1/4 Welsh. I did a DNA test (mostly for health reasons but also some curiosity). It said I was mostly Asian!! I guess because of ancient Mongolians crossing the Bering Strait or something? I remember my Grandparents taking me to the Tribal Council office somewhere in North Carolina (?) when I was about 5 or 6, going over family pictures and telling stories of family and where they lived, clan names. They were recently retired and trying to find more of our relatives to visit not “enroll”. They never took a check for being Indian. They were hard working people. Sidenote: We traveled in an RV all across the Appalachian mountains meeting cousins after that and we all had a great time. It was something that they planned to do after retirement. It wasn’t to get a BIA card and open a casino lol..
Also, something that she did not bring up was that according to the federal government, you have to pick a tribe if you are more then 1. Someone I knew years ago was 1/2 Cherokee and 1/2 Sioux. He was registered as half, because he could not be both. He chose Sioux, which I am a small % on my mom’s side. I’m also Osage and Potawatomi on my dad’s side.
It is really complicated. Especially in Texas. I have been told my family has been here before it was owned by the U.S., before it was owned by Mexico, before it was owned by Spain, before it was owned by France. I don’t know how much truth there is to that, but it does bring up some interesting questions. I am something like 20% Native American, but I don’t consider myself Native American. My great grandmother grew up on a reservation, if you see a picture of her you would think she is definitely 100% Native American. On my grandfathers side, he is from Mexico. Of course, they say that they are descendants of Native Americans, too. Which is true. Since Mexico is part of America, but I’ll get into that more. At some point, most of both sides of my family spoke Spanish or English. At what point do you stop being Native and start being American or Mexican. If it is true that my family was in Texas for that long then at some point they were all Mexican since Mexican owned Texas. …and New Mexico, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, etc. How do you differentiate between which group is from where? The simply answer is that once you leave the tribe, once you leave the reservation, you’re losing that connection for country. It’s not an answer that people like to hear, but it is one indicator. I still have family on reservations, but I don’t know them, they don’t know me. How can I claim any of that? I can’t. I get Latino, at best. I still have family in Mexico, but I am not considered Mexican to them.
This was great. I have done the testing and it came out that my grandfather that i do not know – he travelled with a circus in 1933 was part NorthernAmerica indigenous + canadian First nation and scandinavian. Sadly i do not know who he is – but our dns tests ( my sibblings) all comes out with the same : Scandinavian, N.A + First N. I have tried to find out more about him but it was hushed down and we are only told a few things..I know my grandmother ( Norweigan) married a norweigan man to stop the rumors… My dad did not look like them at all and he was the only child with an American middle name. Charles. He had black hair, dark skin… the only thing different was the blue eyes.. We all have inherited traits the cheekbones, the strange stuff with our teeth, hands and feet, the tan color – my brothers does not have facial hair ( just a few straws.. Lol) .. i just wish i could find my family – i might have uncles and aunts out there.. I am not out for money or anything – just want to learn more about a culture i feel i have the right to know about. After some reserach we think it most be Sioux – because they traveled with buffalo Bill to Europe and scandinavia in the late 1800.. Some of the guys had children with other women.. One of the guys was a real ladies man – or actually notorious for his escapades with the ladies and were actually sent back to USA.. So that is the most plausible since grandfather came via the circus world. Espec. since we know my dad wasthe son of one of the artists during a month of love in sept.
I’m enrolled Cherokee and I’m 1/4 blood quantum which means I have a full blood grandparent. Holidays are filled with card carrying Cherokees from full blood to 1/1064 Cherokee. Thing is we can all trace our roots to the same people and can provide documentation. The chief who many see as The Cherokee people’s Moses that fought for his people before and after removal with everything he had was only 1/8 Cherokee by blood. Chief WW Keeler and Bill John Baker were 1/32 by blood. We have the descendants of the formerly enslaved Cherokee freedmen, some with no actual Cherokee blood and yet still fully Cherokee. The Choctaw are similar in this way. There’s no other race of people that we scrutinize the amount of non white blood they have down to the fraction. The Cherokee and Choctaw didn’t practice for this naturally but it was instead forced upon them and other tribes to eventually erase them entirely and they’ve done a decent job in that way.
the saddest part is that most of the people who self identify as indians, don’t look much like actual indians because they have been so assimilated or actually aren’t even indians lol, but you need to understand that there are actual indians still alive on reserves. Joe needs to get guests who have that experience, there are a lot of us out here who grew up speaking our languages, on reserves and settlements, and some of us are capable of conversing lol
I’m mixed “Native American” and through the Dawes Roll have ancestors to more than one Nation but I am only allowed to be a citizen in one of those Nations, and I am. I grew up speaking American Indian languages, etc. So I’m culturally “Native” and White since I grew up mixed and also have US citizenship. I have great-nieces and nephews who are blond, blue, etc., and only about 1/8th “Native” blood but they have LINEAL descent citizenship to a Nation and I teach them an American Indian language, etc. as well as English, Spanish, and Italian. Other tribal nations have blood quantum requirements. I don’t like the Dawes Roll lineal descent completely, because there are cases where some individuals have the bloodline, but an ancestor did not sign the Roll, and therefore they cannot be citizens of the Nation even the ones who are dark and speak the language, etc. I know a case where the ancestor who should have signed the Roll for his descendants had left Oklahoma and traveled to California (having many children everywhere he went as has been discovered) then somehow turned up in Spain, France, Italy, and more all the while having children where he went but none can be citizens of the Nation because he was not there to sign the Roll because he left after his mother and other family was murdered by the US government.
Get a person from one of the the hundreds of Indigenous nations that haven’t been wiped out that can demonstrate what a modern Indigenous person that has kept the ancient ways of spirituality, healing, living, being, speaking, raising children, governance. Not someone who has been assimilated. This is a troubling representation of “Indian” that you chose. NOT Native American – we predate the concept of America. We want to be called by our names for our people that we say in our language not the names white colonizers gave us. Speak to a real representative
In Australia, the biggest issue is there is no accepted proof of Aboriginality. Important when 3% of the population get 40 billion in annual funding, but there is no discernible improvement as the city activists live highly, constantly complaining about how bad it is but they never level city limits.
We can keep moving forward and we can keep finding our empowerment, but what we can’t do is rewrite history. We are AMERICAN INDIANS!! The British new arrival Indians from India can get over it. This is our country and we are American Indians. They can use what they have prescribed for themselves as Indian Americans. This generation has no business questioning what generations many years before ours did. We just have to travel down our prescribed paths and add beauty by building on the foundations we have been handed.
An American Indian tribal member, as in a status Indian, is different to a white American of Amerindian heritage. She is an American Indian tribal citizen of both Indian and European descent. There are also non-citizens of both Indian and European descent, they’re called Americans, Mexicans, and Canadians. For those who have it.
One of the largest requests genealogy and DNA testing to confirm trial affiliation started with the growing number of casinos and the money it brings in. This is by no means the only reason, but tribes started seeing a large number of people trying to make claims to their native American heritage. So many tribes started cleaning up their records and challenging many current members of their status in the tribe.
The “Indian check” really depends on what tribe you’re dealing with. I have a Yurok friend that I have cashed checks for from her tribal organization. She doesn’t have me do it but maybe once a year. One of our regional tribes doesn’t really do the checks, as far as I know, but they do pretty much guarantee jobs to tribal members at their casino and truck stops.
I am Puerto Rican. Both my parents were the first generation to leave the island. My grandfather, my mother, and as a result, me and my siblings, are as white as snow. This is a result of the colonization from the Spanish over 500 years ago against the indigenous Taino, and the west African slaves brought to the Caribbean. Does that make me any less Puerto Rican? Many ignorant people have told me so, but I know in my heart what is true: people are not a monolith, we have changed so so much in our 5 million years of existence. Did you know there was a time when most humans looked like the Australian indigenous?? Or that most migrating groups were out of Asia?? Or that there is a popular theory that there were already people in North America that came from South America by the time the Bering strait migrations occurred? There is so much ignorance simply because the modern fool is too preoccupied with social media and comfortable (for you, def not for people like me!) preconceptions about what people “””should””” look like. My existence, and others like me, is meant to make you uncomfortable, because it is a reminder of a history you would like to discount or forget. I will not let it be forgotten, no matter how much the modern fool would like to slurp their vape and turn their nose up at it. We are as old as time, don’t you forget it.
For everyone stating on here that DNA or blood quantum is the main thing in determining if you are a part of a tribe then they need to read the history books. For example a lot of the southeastern tribes took slaves to Oklahoma with them and when the Dawes commission came around and divied up the land before Oklahoma statehood in 1907 a lot of African descended people were counted amongst the native population regardless of marriage status etc. They were the slaves of the southeastern tribes and lived there ways so they were counted amongst them if they wanted. And this is just one example, there are many from different areas of the country.
My blood has been watered down . I don’t think my kin folk wanted to be natives themselves. They kept so much from family members. Now, toward the end of my life, I am finding parts of myself just lost. I have an instinct that calls me home. I know of the greed about the land and that part scares me. I am alone with my quest. I will return home whether I can prove anything or not. You can not stop a calling. It’s too strong.
First Nations in Canada cannot do whatever they want; hunting rights are complicated but there are a number of restrictions on Indigenous hunting rights depending on community (First Nations roughly translates to what people think of when they hear “Indian” (also a legal term in Canada); other large communities include the Metis and Inuit, each of these consists of smaller communities/collective identities)
Jews and Native Americans have a parallel experiencing in this world and it’s important both groups work together to combat the stereotypes and the chronic miseducations of our people and who we are. Both indigenous groups have been systematically whitewashed and pushed out of lands which spiritually connect them to the world. It’s impossible to heal the indigenous people without acknowledging their profound connection to land and their rights to care for it.
From a genetics standpoint, it makes sense why Native American Heritage and genes are a nuanced topic. They are a small minority in their own country. Pure Native American people are rare and getting rarer as they have assimilated and married into the rest of the American population. Over time, the pure genes get diluted. After 5 generations or 100 years or so, it’ll like 1%. Just like Joe said, he identified as Italian as he grew up around it but he’s mixed with Irish and probably more. His kids are likely less Italian than him. I’m full Filipino, my kids are half. Very likely generation after generation, it’ll less and less Filipino and more everything other things.
I just want to point out that even a low percent (%2)is still a fourth great grandparent. That’s one of 16 grandparents who as I understand would have been a very high percent of that ethnicity, close to full if not full. I wouldn’t let anyone diminish my Native American ancestry based off a percentage that they have no concept of and do not fully understand. Henry Louis Gates has spoken about how significant a small percentage is. That’s YOUR history, that’s OUR history.
I live in Northern Canada (West Coast) and as a person who works and plays with people of various cultures, we hear about abuses, which is always hard, but then we also hear from science that the predators are often part of a close circle. Whether true or or not, because i truly do not know, Why does it “Seem” like we cant discuss the abuse going on within small, medium or large communities? by the neighbour or family member right next to them? Are we to suppose it is always a non-indigenous who commits the crime? There are evil people in all races, but I’ve not yet heard of a native male apologizing for something they may have perpetuated whether ideas or stereotypes; not even due to their own dysfunctional upbringing . These men need some healing too, but the women and young girls who fall prey to these men, (uncles, boyfriends or hook-ups) are made to feel okay. AND! Maybe, I have just not been exposed to the teachers who are out there
Alaska handles Native Americans differently than the Lower 48. They have land, but it’s not called a “reservation,” and they have their corporations. Not all tribes here get money (it depends on the corporation), but they do get health care. Dental care is ending this year, though. Alaska Natives are not stopped from living their way of life, including whale hunts. Subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska is not limited to Alaska Natives, either.
As far as the quote unqoute “Indian problem” goes, I would just be like, “Look, here’s the deal, all this land that you swear up and down belongs to one tribe or another has only belonged to whichever tribe for no more than a handful of generations before that land was taken by another more powerful tribe. So, we (European settlers/American colonists) are simply the next tribe that has come to take the land that you took from others. As such, you have lost by strength of arms and will now be forced to capitulate. You can either surrender to the ways and laws of the American people and assimilate, being able to purchase land form communities, etc, or you will be wiped out and there will be nothing left of your people or your heritage other than folk tales. The choice now lays before you. Choose wisely because the offer will not be made again.”
Supposedly, I’m a black foot Indian, buy my family ripped apparel, their card, or whatever they used to identify it, and honestly, when I look at their reservation, I don’t blame them, to go out and live for the American dream is better than drinking your life away because you have to stay within legal requirements to live off the government
I think a lot of Americans want to be Indians because they want to have some legitimacy for being there. Only ignorant people would not feel deep sadness and shame for the way European immigrants treated Indian Americans. (I live in the UK. French and Swiss passport, so no skin in that game, just observing). Personally, I like the term first nation, because it refers to the fact native Americans were already there when European invaded.
Although mt great grandmother was all native American…she was also a medicine woman…from onadoga tribe…I am considered not ! It is because I was adopted as a baby in 66! That’s right the paper reads that I’m am my parents daughter in every way! So I’m court I m french Canadian and german! It is very difficult for kids born under this law to even figure out their heritage. I was lucky I had a wonderful aunt and she cared .and tried to help me get my head rights. I’m 58 now and still no closer to that goal!!
It’s not a government idea or issue. The American population believe a certain percentage of blood heritage is required to get tax payer funds or preferential treatment . Look at Elizibeth Warren. And THAT is really what she is setting up. “My grandma said we look like Indians.” Well, my dad said we were part Indian, so where is my teaching job?
Blood quantum ought to be used to a degree as in DNA, for internal purposes to determine are they actually indigenous American peoples. I too am Choctaw, and DNA does establish blood linage, just not defined today to a tribal specific thing. Not that the DNA test can’t define down to tribes, there are specific studies that do define down to a narrow range to say you of one tribe or another, however the accuracy is only as good as, the area defined by the originating test. Determining with it was taken from a specific tribe in a X time period is difficult, as the Americas was inhabited by many tribes at different times through history.
My Grandmother was a 100% Kiowa. My Aunt, her Daughter, used to say “she weren’t one of those blond haired, blue eyed Cherokee princesses. She was a big, dark, rawboned Kiowa hag that would do anything to get off that damned reservation and away from them federal. Including marrying my drunk assed Irish Daddy. She died in 49.
I grew up knowing I was native on both sides full🩸people. Segregation kept our genes specifically native. I was taught natives are black globally. so Movies like the mummy would come on with black native Egyptians digging for Egyptian artifacts for the white man. There were 2 families in our neighborhood who knew their genealogy. The problem was the school book only showed half🩸 white American natives or tv Indians and white Egyptian. Today you can find pictures that were painted of the Pure🩸natives by early paintings who came here. But because of school books I thought maybe granny was so old that she forgot that maybe we were Mexican because at that time Mexican were still mainly black. And we look just like them . Granny’s siblings all looked like little Mexicans and all had Mexican names