[Gache]

Jibby

I agree with you in principal but the rate of intermarriage is 75% down here in the states. The real issue is why are natives marrying non-natives. AND STOP IT DANG IT!
Stop intermarriage and extinction wont be an issue.

Heck if its hard finding an indian man, dont end up with a white one try polygamy like in the old days lol. yeah right.

Most tribes in the US no longer have full bloods except for the strongholds of indian country like oklahoma, arizona and south dakota.

I encourage all men and women to wear chasity belts when entering white towns.

[ojibwaysweetie]

Originally Posted by Jibby™

The people on here who advocate lowering the blood quantum are obviously thin bloods. And who's stupid, ignorant a$$ idea was it to make the 1/8ths do community service in order to "earn" their percap?!?! That's ridiculous.

To become a member of my band, you have to be 1/2. And our percap is like $8/year. That's not even enough to take my snag out to McDonalds. The council will consider 1/4 breeds who bonk their snag over the head with cast iron frying pans tho.

On the real. The issue at hand is not tribal population but the dilution of our bloodlines. Hopefully, enforcing strict membership regulations will inspire members to breed with our own kind.

Absolutely Jibby. And I dang wish our rez had our own membership code. I can see many of our young marrying white and having half breed and even less blood quantum children. That is depletion and dilution of our bloodlines, as you say. In my generation there are strong ndn bloodlines, but in the next generation is is sadly diluting.

Come on people something has to be done in order to bring back that bloodline and make it whole again.

[ojibwaysweetie]

Originally Posted by Burberrilish

BAck to the subject at hand, i'm glad our council members finally passed something that was very meaningful!!! Its great to see that the blood quantum will not be lowered any time soon!! :blow: My kids are all full bloods and all my family are as well. :) I think it all depends on how the family and extended family raise and talk to their kids in how to keep our bloodlines full and strong... but I was not happy to hear talk of lowering the blood quantum levels... but i'm glad that our tribal council made a wise decision :D :Thumbs

Thats right Burbs!

*spreads good rep to your council members* :D

[ojibwaysweetie]

*LMAO @ getting all geedy......hahahaa

Huge typo there Azhe'ni *LOL*

[Mr Bo Jangles]

....actually, I think the whole discussion of Blood Quantum in the Navajo Tribe was just "tabled" for review by some committee.

It's a messy, sordid topic, but, just so folks know where I stand on the subject. I say leave it at 1/4 th and wait until we're so strapped for blood, THEN lower it!! Heck, the vast majority of the Navajo Nation is all full blood, with a smattering of quarters and less here and there.

I do think it was a bit off to bring up the subject in the Council....I don't think it had any real bearing on anything relevant to the Navajo Nation at this time. Perhaps, say, in one hundred years or less, it might become a topic of great importance, but, I don't think it should be left up to the Council to decide something like that. I say let the people vote on it and let the vote stand.

Then again........that could drum up problems.....think back to the whole thing on gambling (which i was all for, and voted for accordingly).....it got messy, split families, communities. The blood quantum thing will do the same or worse.

But, the council is saddled with a tough decision, as are the Navajo people if this ever comes to a vote......you've got to think ahead....generations from now, your grandkids or great grandkids. Where are they going to be in a lifetime from now after we're all gone? Will the dominance of the full bloods still be present or have such a commanding presence as it does today? ...with the advance of the dominant culture over our own, and with the constant influx of ideas and other cultures from other parts of the World or from other regions of the country or state......'non-natives'. You get alot more half and quarter and one eighth and one sixteenth's popping up. Do we want to deny them the privelages, however few and feeble they are, that we enjoy or benefit from? Land and Tribal Resources come into play....heck, it's bad enough as it is dividing up a 180 acre allotment in my family as it is!! Heck, you're lucky if you come out with half an acre!!! My own family is experiencing the whole interacial issue now.....we've got kids or neices/nephews that are half Navajo and half something else.

Heck, if you drive around the rez today....sure, you see the tons and tons of Navajo's around........but, you're also seeing ALOT more African-Americans and Hispanics/Mexicans coming up from Phoenix and from other parts of the Country. I for one don't approve of it.......of course, that just my "ethno-centric" azz talkin smack. We're all for racial purity......irregardless of who we are or what we say, or no matter how hard we try to deny it. At some point....you want to try to maintain something of a culture, or at least a race of people that "look" the part.

...so, think hard about it before you vote......if it ever comes to a vote my fellow Navajos!!
aye!!

.....I think Gallup, Page, Farmington, Flagstaff, Winslow and Holbrook would just LOVE to see a boom on the Tribal Roster if the blood quantum was lowered to one eighth!!!

....WOO HOO!!! I got some more bad rep from someone too!!!

...thanks!!! It means I'm reaching people!!!

ayyyyye!!!

[Kakeeya]

Most of you all have really good words to say and I agree so I've just been reading and shaking my head, *yeah* lol..

I don't want to go off topic but something is making me a lil curious and I wanted to ask Ojibway Sweetie (I hope I don't regret asking) but what is geedy? I saw Kiwehnzii cracking up over it so I know it must be something crazy, pm me if you must. lol, PS: I'll give you some good green rep points if you tell me, lol... :p

[ojibwaysweetie]

I pm'd ya ..... lmao

[fansty_angel]

dfgdfgdfgdfgfdgundefined
well me myself I don't believe in blood quantum and I hate the fact the the us govt. is making us go by it! do they use blood quantum....no! but we sure have to the reason why I don't approve of blood quantum is because ONLY HORSES AND DOGS HAVE BOOLD QUANTUM!!!!!

[BurBz]

Originally Posted by Kakeeya

PS: I'll give you some good green rep points if you tell me, lol... :p

*LMAO* Kakeeya!! :rofl2: all bribing :p *L* good one!! :Chatter :Chatter

[BurBz]

Originally Posted by ojibwaysweetie

Thats right Burbs!

*spreads good rep to your council members* :D

*LMAO*

:Thinking noooowww only if i could figure out their pws.com handles!! *LMAO* :rofl2: jk HEHE

[Azhe'ni]

Whoever gave me a bad rep saying what about the hobbyists. When I said it's not the blood it's the heart. I meant it doesn't matter if ya have a 1/8 or 1/4. I know a lot of full bloods that don't know anything bout being native and the ones that are 1/8 do.

AND YES I AM ONLY ONE QUATER AND A EIGHTH!!

So I guess to ya'll in here ya don't think I'm native. I could give a f***. We don't have a casino in our tribe. But when they talk about it. Guess who comes to the meeting wanting blood qut.? Yep all the full bloods that dont have kids.

[Azhe'ni]

To all the full bloods and their kids. It's good. Keep it that way. That's the way it should start to be. You should be proud that your family kept that up. I will stress to my children to marry natives to keep up that line. Before it disapears.

[SBZ4life]

well a lot of times, its not about whats in your heart to a lot of natives. its about color...and thats the hard truth, I got a few friends who are native BUT look white...and everyone considers them to be white.

[SBZ4life]

the govt put blood quantums on us so they would know when to stop giving natives benefits from the govt. They knew we were going to mix with other ethnic groups. So by saying, you have to be 1/4 native to recieve benefits they promised us in treaties, you would be left out if you were below...so NOW a lot of tribes have lowered their standards to keep their numbers up. I say keep it at the lowest 1/4. stay with your own kind.

[Azhe'ni]

Your right. I believe to stay with our own kind. I don't think I would approve of my kids coming home with a non native. But I have years yet to worry bout that. People do look at skin. I don't see it that much up north. There is a lot of light skins. I really don't gotta worry bout looking white anyway. Well ya can tell I'm mixed. But my fiances sister is only a 1/3 white he said and the rest indian. She is light. But looks native.

My son is really light skin. Blonde hair. But my daughter is really really dark. Black in some places. But I don't think my sons realitives would down him. His dad won't let them.

[Truth Hurts]

I agree.

I'm also light a skinned native. But around where I'm from I am considered 100% native because of the way I look. You can't mistake some native qualities. I also have relatives that are blond and have very light eyes, and they are looked as white off reserve. Sometimes around the rez but seems to be just when an arguement is in effect.

[navajowmn]

Wow, this thread has been busy since I have been out. LOTS of interesting view points in here. Both views of keeping blood quantum the same as well as changing it are interesting.

Yes, it is a problem with those that are wanting recognition for some sort of gain. But what about those who are not looking for any gain... just a sense of identity. I have family who are not full bloods... who were also raised to be independent and take care of themselves... they are not looking for assistance or handouts. They are not looking to the tribe to give/help them with anything. I mean look at our state with the tribe helping our people get through school. It's crazy.

Take my sister for example. I am proud of her. She's 1/2 blood and is out on her own... not looking to get anything from the tribe and also instills traditional values on her kids. She is not married to a navajo... but she does keep those values in her children. She can't help who she falls in love with. Can anyone?

I respect those that are keeping the blood "strong". I just don't see why people have to look down on or think negatively of those who are not full blood. Not ALL 1/2, 1/4, 1/8th... what-have-you breeds are looking to be recognized in order to get something out of it... but to be a part of "family" and to just be able to say "I'm Navajo".

And if you look at it from their point of view... who's to say that keeping it at 1/4 is going to keep the blood strong. The trend of natives moving off the reservation is increasing. INCREASING. Which increases the likelihood of natives meeting and marrying non-natives. I'm not saying its bad or its good. I am just making an observation.

And there was a statement about women not being able to find a native guy?? *LOL* It works both ways... you also see native guys getting with non natives as well * LOL*.

So to those keeping the blood "strong"... good job!! And to everyone else... good job too... for keeping up the culture!! And for those doing both... good job!! Hee hee.

I am not of any partial blood quantum... I am full blood... for those who are curious *L* Keep up the posts! :Thumbs

Oh, I gave everyone good reps for posting on this thread :clap:

Originally Posted by potawatomi_azhe'ni

Whoever gave me a bad rep saying what about the hobbyists. When I said it's not the blood it's the heart. I meant it doesn't matter if ya have a 1/8 or 1/4. I know a lot of full bloods that don't know anything bout being native and the ones that are 1/8 do.

AND YES I AM ONLY ONE QUATER AND A EIGHTH!!

So I guess to ya'll in here ya don't think I'm native. I could give a f***. We don't have a casino in our tribe. But when they talk about it. Guess who comes to the meeting wanting blood qut.? Yep all the full bloods that dont have kids.

thats so true...take for example my ex-fiance duke...yay hes full blooded cree but dang he knows nada about being native and he was even born on the cree rez too..and my nephew hes 1/8 but the reason why he knows nada is cuz my sister married a white supremisist...i guess she didnt know that he was that way until she married him..but now something really good is happening outta a messy situation... their getting divorced and brendon is asking more question...she hes starting to learn...my gramps is a great big deal of help to brendon..so thats good...and now my sister doesnt have to hide the fact that shes native anymore...-becca

Originally Posted by SBZ4life

well a lot of times, its not about whats in your heart to a lot of natives. its about color...and thats the hard truth, I got a few friends who are native BUT look white...and everyone considers them to be white.

i totally disagree with ya...wut does looks have anything to do with wether yar raised native or not? so wut does that make us any less native than those who do (im talking in the heart wise)? ya know wut i may have lighter skin tone than a full blood and yay im lesser blood quantem (1/4) but i was raised as just the same as any native..

[Smeshigaud]

We just had our Council Elections here on my rez on Monday and one of the topics on the agenda was to have a referendum vote to change our constitution. There was a few other topics under that referendum but the topic that everyone knew about was the lowering of our blood quantum to 1/4. They needed 80 votes out of the 152 people who voted. The referendum did not pass, it only got 68. We had 61 people who wanted to be adopted into our tribe. Five people were accepted. They needed 80 votes to get in. 3 of the people/children who were voted in were 1/4. Two of the people voted in were 3/8. One of the children who wanted to be adopted was 5/256.

I agree there are some people who want to be members because of the recognition and to have the identity of being a community member but there are people are only in it for the "benefits". One of the people who got adopted this year made a comment in front of me at work one day. She said well hopefully I get adopted this year, so I can the benefits. I bit my tongue (which for those who know me..is VERY hard for me to do) but I wanted to ask her, is that all you want from here? And sadly for some it's true.

@ geedy and Sweetie...hey that rhymes! LOL