What is a true Indian?

[xTekno]

and no matter how hard you try or how native your heart is......you can never be.......but hey when she was married to an indian i bet she had some indian in her many a night!!!!

This is similar to what [MENTION=9312]lbgood[/MENTION] would say: Indian by Injection

[AmigoKumeyaay]

Following a suggestion to ask this question - let me know your thoughts on this. Thank you.

Wanjica The One would say:

"Its not what YOU claim, its WHO claims YOU"




Ah-HO!

[xTekno]

Wanjica The One would say:

"Its not what YOU claim, its WHO claims YOU"




Ah-HO!

... and [MENTION=10851]WhoMe[/MENTION] would say "Who? Me?"

[Zeke]

Wanjica The One would say:

"Its not what YOU claim, its WHO claims YOU"

But it would be said with fear of who is claimed.

Which is hypocrisy.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

[RestlessN8iv]

A true Indian is accepted as such by an established and recognized Native community.

If you're not, you aren't.

What about the dis-enrolled?

They cease to be accepted as Indian by their own tribe. Do they cease to be a true Indian? I should hope not.

[AmigoKumeyaay]

But it would be said with fear of who is claimed.

Which is hypocrisy.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

When I buy a round of drinks at the bar -

People be claiming me! "Adopted"


2nd Round - "Lightskinned cuz"


3rd Round - "Albino Fullblood"

[Spiritflight]

This is similar to what [MENTION=9312]lbgood[/MENTION] would say: Indian by Injection

Doesn't work -

[Spiritflight]

On the other side I could ask - what is a true German? - Not me -

[neling4]

On the other side I could ask - what is a true German? - Not me -

Arrrgh!

Why can't people just be proud of who and what they are???

Sorry Spiritflight. I'm not angry, just frustrated.

[xTekno]

On the other side I could ask - what is a true German? - Not me -

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

[RDNKJ]

On the other side I could ask - what is a true German? - Not me -

The bigger question is...Is there any one "type" that is the true (insert tribe/race/nationality/etc.)?

My answer to that would be no. Identity can't be reduced to any one thing or type, it is more existential than that. No offense, but I would argue that you are a true German. Your experience as a German woman is no more or less valid or authentic than the people in Bavaria in their lederhosen or the poshest circles in Berlin.

I'm only partially observant, but woe betide the person who tells me I'm not truly Jewish because I eat pork and shellfish. From the ultra-orthodox Hasid in Jerusalem to the most secular, athiest Jewish lawyer in L.A. - we're all "true Jews."

I think that is true, no matter what the identity.

[Spiritflight]

Arrrgh!

Why can't people just be proud of who and what they are???

Sorry Spiritflight. I'm not angry, just frustrated.

Right - no nationality needed. It's the individual that counts and many individuals or better say people, that are alike (feeling - thinking - knowing etc. in the right way) belong to the same kind.

[Spiritflight]

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.

So it is - nice.

[Spiritflight]

The bigger question is...Is there any one "type" that is the true (insert tribe/race/nationality/etc.)?

My answer to that would be no. Identity can't be reduced to any one thing or type, it is more existential than that. No offense, but I would argue that you are a true German. Your experience as a German woman is no more or less valid or authentic than the people in Bavaria in their lederhosen or the poshest circles in Berlin.

I'm only partially observant, but woe betide the person who tells me I'm not truly Jewish because I eat pork and shellfish. From the ultra-orthodox Hasid in Jerusalem to the most secular, athiest Jewish lawyer in L.A. - we're all "true Jews."

I think that is true, no matter what the identity.

Please excuse me that I say - born german - papers say it - but if my ancestors would have stayed where they came from, I would have been russian born. The questions I asked - I just feel neutral about them questions. Either one feels alike or same with certain groups of people and more belonging to their ways - based to what one has experienced - or not. So if you're born to a nationality and do not connect with them since earliest childhood and it always stays that way, then (if you can afford to financially) may move on to find those people on this planet you think you can connect with better.

My mother was befriended with a jewish writer. I can connect with many people that are free spirits, that sounds strange... hmmm... I mean people that get on well with each other no matter where they come from or which culture or nationallity they have.

Ofc - maybe I could connect to germans as well - in a way the upbringing lays a path but it rarely happened - can't remember that I ever felt home within german community.

Being someone just on papers is not the real thing. You are who you are and feel home with. I don't feel offended easily by anyone - only when attacked physically. I am just me like a bird in the wind flying alone which is good. I love being ~alone~ but not 365 days a year. With alone I mean - even though being with many people around you - there can be no connection. And in real life the best connection I ever felt with any kind of people is this one I am having with my real life NDN friends. Not all ofc - people are like this and that. I better stop writing b4 I get lost in my own words.

The question was - what is a true indian - as in NDN - would those people who got adopted out into non NDN Families would still feel the connection to their true roots? I would say yes - they may learn life in a different way rather than having been raised within NDN community - but there is something within the people which is different. I know what it is and then I also found out - they - those I met - are like me and I am not NDN. I never had that feeling with any other people. Diggin' deep into the past... having a feature alike people are having. I do not think my biological roots come from any germanic tribes. A mix of ancient nomadic tribes maybe.

It's not important, only interesting.

[Joe's Dad]

OKay, I'm gonna get in trouble. Here goes.

Spirit...

Has it ever occurred to you maybe it's your anglo pushiness and determination to be accepted into the Native world...that gets you pushed away?

Those anglos that are accepted, are welcomed because of their calm ways who only accept and not demand. Joe Liles comes to mind. Worked putting on a powwow at the School of Science and Math in North Carolina. Worked his butt off, and humbly accepted all the appreciation given to him. Never once did I hear him say he was NDN at heart and didn't belong to his own kind, yet he was accepted into the Native community with respectful arms. Heck, you could say Joe is a true NDN in a white man's body.

I'm sure many on here can repeat this story. We all know many Joe Liles.

I was once told by a preacher, "Black is not a color, but an attitude...and James, I have reason to believe you are black". Did it mean I was Black at heart? No. Did it mean I wanted to be accepted by the black community? No. It meant my way of thinking was like that of a 'Black man'. I always thought my way of thinking was because of my upbringing. Not what I perceived as to what I wanted.

True Indian? I'm not sure you can describe a 'true Indian'. First Nations say they are true Indians, Plains Indians say they are 'true indians, Tarahumra, Yaqui and Huichol say they are 'true Indian. The Aztecs, Mayans, the Ona, the Puelche, the Tuyuca and Totora Indians of Central and South America say they are true Indians.

Are we to argue with them as being True Indians. Never.

Will we dispute anglos who more 'feels comfortable' with the Indigenous People than they do with their 'own' kind? Always.

You see. Those same people have given themselves the acceptance to be something they are not.

We've seen that all our lives.