Blood percentage

[Cheryl Hodgson]

I understand

I myself am not Native American,but i can understand where you are coming from.When i was younger i had quite a hard time the reason for this is i am part romanian gypsey.I've grown to be proud of my heritage now,it's just annoying that other people (some) can't accept that,maybe never will!!But who cares eh..You have the luck and oppertunity to be part of two different cultures so enjoy!!!Chin up and look forward sweets.....

[2 Trails]

Blood Percentage

This is my thoughts. Whether you want to admit it or not this is us, the non full bloods.

The In-Between People



The Old Ones, of many paths on this Earth,
say that the in-between places are those of power,
the veiling of twilight, the glimmering of dawn,
the challenge of the river, the crossing of paths.
Here, they say, is where the greatest Medicine
can be worked.

Why then, do some say that we, of in-between blood,
Walk apart from the power, and are not truly of the People,
No matter how strongly our heartbeat matches the drum?
We are the in-between places of the heart,
We are the power of that which is not only two,
but also the horizon of things yet unseen.


Bring your hearts to us, for ours are seared with waiting,
Bring your dreams to us, for we have long been dreaming,
We are the gates, woven of willow and thorns, to new worlds
In ways we ourselves do not understand without you.
When you come to us, the in-between ones, look beyond
The traces of more than one People's blood, look!
And see, see how our souls stretch, and arch to the sky,
Making a sacred hoop for you, for all our Peoples,
Woven of our love, our pain, our pride, and our need,
To know that you, who are the true color of Mother Earth,
Can accept the other pigments blended into Earth's ochre,
We pray to hear you call to us, in the old ways,
with flute and smoke, knowing that we,
the in-between, dance a new song of power.

@Patricia Phillips
Taken from her book "Freddie Came Home and Other Coyote Tales"

[Cherie]

Here's my 2 cents worth.

From the time I was first concieved I was who I am. And I will be who I am when I'm put in the ground. Blood percentage is just a label that our wonderful government used.

Whether I'm accepted or not by either race I don't care anymore. I've learned to live with it. Unfortunately I wasn't able to grow up with the traditions but it doesn't make me any less then who I am.

I know who I am in my heart and that's all that matters.


This is my story and I'm sticking to it. Crying in my beer isn't going to change a thing.

[musicedu77]

Boozhoo niji,

This is my attitude. I have a lot of people on both sides that criticize the way I look, brown hair tan skin grey eyes. They tell me I should just act white and quit worrying about trying to be native or whatever, dont worry about learning my traditions.

I tell them that I am what I am. I dont have to prove anything to anyone except the Creator. And finally, if they do or do not like me, they cant do a lot to affect the outcome of my life.

I know that sounds extreme, but when you get as much abuse as I do, then you get really tired of it after awhile. Some of these people you cannot argue with, they made up their mind what they think about you when they first laid eyes on you and there is not anthing you can do or say to change their mind. So dont waste your time trying. You have more important things to concentrate on, teaching your kids and learning all you can. Then you will realize these other people that think you have to impress dont really matter.

Derek

thats very well said..

[musicedu77]

I was told that being Indian is not in your blood, but in your hart . It is who you are. In what you belive, your teachings,the way you live your life. It is the Gov. that has put numbers into what determans who is native american and who is not. I too am not full blood, but still I am proud of my native background . I live as an Native American in my every day life. In my hart. I am Native American Indian !
John Twofeathers
Cherokee

..but you have to have some lineag to be ndn...what im talking about is if you have no native blood at all you cant go ahead and say well your ndn because its in your heart and just because its a kewl thing to be...if your trying to find your heritage thats all fine and dandy...i dont believe you even need to be registered to be considereed ndn...theres full bloods who aint even registered and still take part in their community and reguardless there ndn...in matter of fact theres alot of those whos families who were never registered because either not enough in their tribe or the family went into hiding
i think when ppl say well you have to have a card to prove it dont consider those reasons..

[musicedu77]

okay heres my point of view...if you have blood then youre ndn that cant be taken away its something that stays with ya...but i know lotta ndns especially in my family who dont follow traditional ways to me all they got is there blood and should be ashamed of themselves for not taking part of their culture...to me all they are are apples...if ya know in yar heart and have the blood(doesnt matter blood quantem) yar ndn then ya are its not something to be doubting... alot of ppl will say things like ya aint full blood so ya aint native...those ppl just let what they have to say go through one ear out the other...i guess yay im saying this from a personal view cuz im mixed blood as well but no matter what my auntes and uncles say to me it doesnt matter...with me im ndn and im proud of it and when i get married ill pass on my family traditions to my kids...thats whats important...i hope these words are a form of encouragement to you ..i knwo this is going to sounds lame but dont worry be happy ..* tee hee*

[Blackbear]

So if your people are mexican and native and the native side is from a canadian reserve dos this mean that you can not be a member of a federal tribe?

Not in the USA.....

[Dweick]

Grandmom married a Native from the USA
My mom was born here in Michigan but spent many years on the island during her childhood.
We are going to get my link to my biological family first and go from there.
If I never get any farther I am happy to know what I know now.
My mother has paperwork as Native listed

[crazydazy]

I too have gone throught the hassles of the Racsism in the world.
I had always known I was native American.
I am half Native from mother and half mexican from father
but was raised in a white family due to adoption in the 1960s
Over the years I have tried to learn all I can bout my heritage.
And there always was the what if questions of doubt.
not knowing my particular tribes was always a stumbling block.
in Dealing with other Native americans.
It has been a blessing in all ways. they knew and always acepted me without question.
I was hard living in those times of the 60s and 70s in a white town being raised by a white english family
but I got through it all right.
I had three kids with a man who was part native
My family has been to some powwows and they are some of the greatest people I could ever describe.
Instead of the usual questions of what was my tribe, they wanted to know who my family was.
We would get into discussion about my adoption and before you knew it I would have a circle of people giving me adivce on where to look Etc. hoping to hear that I was farther in my search the next time they see me.
this last summer My searching has paid off and all the questions were answered.
I have met my biological mother and all my siblings, they all look white in many ways even though they have dark hair and skin the features are mostly white
but their fathers are of white descent.
My mom stopped attending powows many years ago because in those earlier years she too felt the stares as well when she had all those kids that didn't look like her
I have met aunts uncles cousins Etc.
and they have filled me in one where our family comes from
My mom and grandmother is from Wapole Island ( canada)
and My granfather is from Isabella county MI
they met at Indian Boarding school
My biological family is listed as Potowatomee and chippewa( spelling off)
And as an added bonus
the one powow that I have gone to for years is the same one that my cousin attended regularly.
when I met him it was like looking at my son in about twenty years.
I thought no wonder the welcome was so perfect.
it was like they knew who I was searching for.
We are now going to court to connect my self with my biological mother
for all paperwork to be complete

I have never felt unaccepted by natives from any tribe
and I have noticed that some of the dancers don't look ethnic all the time but I have learned from them, and look forward to seeing them every year.

I wish you luck in your quest for answers
I wish the race issue wasn't still a tool used by so many people in differnt cultures.
I have raised my kids to accept the differences in all people.
If we all do this to our kids one day the world will accept people just for what they are.
I hope

So if your people are mexican and native and the native side is from a canadian reserve dos this mean that you can not be a member of a federal tribe?

[clm]

I am polish and My son is half ojibwe he is dark skinned dark haired and everything he knows both of his cultures and im teaching him to be proud of them. he loves to dance and drum. My son sometimes gets made fron of because of his long hair and all but he is proud of who he is and so should you be

[Dweick]

I too have gone throught the hassles of the Racsism in the world.
I had always known I was native American.
I am half Native from mother and half mexican from father
but was raised in a white family due to adoption in the 1960s
Over the years I have tried to learn all I can bout my heritage.
And there always was the what if questions of doubt.
not knowing my particular tribes was always a stumbling block.
in Dealing with other Native americans.
It has been a blessing in all ways. they knew and always acepted me without question.
I was hard living in those times of the 60s and 70s in a white town being raised by a white english family
but I got through it all right.
I had three kids with a man who was part native
My family has been to some powwows and they are some of the greatest people I could ever describe.
Instead of the usual questions of what was my tribe, they wanted to know who my family was.
We would get into discussion about my adoption and before you knew it I would have a circle of people giving me adivce on where to look Etc. hoping to hear that I was farther in my search the next time they see me.
this last summer My searching has paid off and all the questions were answered.
I have met my biological mother and all my siblings, they all look white in many ways even though they have dark hair and skin the features are mostly white
but their fathers are of white descent.
My mom stopped attending powows many years ago because in those earlier years she too felt the stares as well when she had all those kids that didn't look like her
I have met aunts uncles cousins Etc.
and they have filled me in one where our family comes from
My mom and grandmother is from Wapole Island ( canada)
and My granfather is from Isabella county MI
they met at Indian Boarding school
My biological family is listed as Potowatomee and chippewa( spelling off)
And as an added bonus
the one powow that I have gone to for years is the same one that my cousin attended regularly.
when I met him it was like looking at my son in about twenty years.
I thought no wonder the welcome was so perfect.
it was like they knew who I was searching for.
We are now going to court to connect my self with my biological mother
for all paperwork to be complete

I have never felt unaccepted by natives from any tribe
and I have noticed that some of the dancers don't look ethnic all the time but I have learned from them, and look forward to seeing them every year.

I wish you luck in your quest for answers
I wish the race issue wasn't still a tool used by so many people in differnt cultures.
I have raised my kids to accept the differences in all people.
If we all do this to our kids one day the world will accept people just for what they are.
I hope

[John two feathers]

I was told that being Indian is not in your blood, but in your hart . It is who you are. In what you belive, your teachings,the way you live your life. It is the Gov. that has put numbers into what determans who is native american and who is not. I too am not full blood, but still I am proud of my native background . I live as an Native American in my every day life. In my hart. I am Native American Indian !
John Twofeathers
Cherokee

[crazywolf]

Boozhoo niji,

This is my attitude. I have a lot of people on both sides that criticize the way I look, brown hair tan skin grey eyes. They tell me I should just act white and quit worrying about trying to be native or whatever, dont worry about learning my traditions.

I tell them that I am what I am. I dont have to prove anything to anyone except the Creator. And finally, if they do or do not like me, they cant do a lot to affect the outcome of my life.

I know that sounds extreme, but when you get as much abuse as I do, then you get really tired of it after awhile. Some of these people you cannot argue with, they made up their mind what they think about you when they first laid eyes on you and there is not anthing you can do or say to change their mind. So dont waste your time trying. You have more important things to concentrate on, teaching your kids and learning all you can. Then you will realize these other people that think you have to impress dont really matter.

Derek

[k9soldier]

which drop of water is it that quenches your thirst, individual but one.... which drop of blood gives you life, which would you deny? Holy men of all cultures understood we are all one people. Sadly balance means that for good there will be evil.... choose which side you wish to stand on.... then do so, tall and proud. If you do so in a Wakan manner the decision is clear and you honor those that came before you.

[wannabeUrNo1Snag]

people will make a stink only if u do...n personally...i think u need to lose the whole i wish i wuz full blood attitude...i know when people come out like that, for me its jus a turn off...if u were raised cheyenne, more power to u...no one can call u a wannabe then...
i used to knock the breeds too at one time...acted like i thought us full bloods were better...i wuz young and arrogant...but i had to eat those words cuz my daughter is 1/2 ndn..i think she wuz given to me to make me see that my way of thinking wuz wrong...and it wuz...i always try n make sure that she knows she is jus as equal to anyone...and tell her that if she acts different about it then people will act different towards her...i tell her to be confident in who she is...people will respect her more for it...i think newayz....
so be confident in who u are...and that means in ur mixed heritage...
now its the 1/234555654334th "ndnz" i rag on now...lol jokez