Judging by the skin color

[AnishinabeIkwe]

I have been going to powwows since the age of 5 and have enjoyed myslef greatly. never had i had any complaints. I am also really light skined as well. I am now 21 and am married to a man of the bad river ojibwa tribe. He is also light skinned. Recently me and him have gone to 3 powwows. He likes to support me in my dancing and he's wanting to learn more himself. Anyways, the three powwows we have gone, everyone people have made racist remarks to him, or how he doenst belong at a powwow because of his skin color. He got called a "honkey" by "fellow" native americans. we've also had belonging taken from our campsite as well. in result my love for powwows has gone down because of that. He doesnt even really want to go to powows anymore because of that. and if he does, he'll sit at the campsite the whole time to avoid that. How can we aproach this? I think it's very wrong to judge a person by their skin color. I want to enjoy my powwow time. Please help.

[quicksilverwade]

You and your husband need to stand up for yourselves. Don't let the snide remarks get to you and if it does, just pump your fist in the air and get ready to rumble but I'd wait until the powwow was over. Just follow them home and fight on the lawn. Really what you should do is ignore them and if possible just make a remark back to them such as:

Ve te para carajo!

[CandaePrincess]

Yeah, that's tough. But all I can say is welcome to our world! (Those of us who get judged on a daily basis by our skin color) You're preaching to the choir girl b/c we deal with that all the time. You just take the slap in the face, and move on, or start sh*t about it and get in all kinds of drama. *L* Just don't let people get to you.

[busy]

Sorry to hear you guys are getting called names. The sad truth is people judge all the time, it just seems these people don't have a problem saying it. I wouldn't snake away though. I agree with the above posters, I mean, no don't fight, but say something. Tell they where you are from and who you are. If they don't believe you that is their problem. It doesn't change who you are. They can either except it or not, but it doesn't make you any less of an Indian either way. Indians come in all shades, just like blacks and asians. Not every Indian is brown. It just shows closed minds.

[quicksilverwade]

I remember when this white girl called me a Chinese looking ba$tard.

[kiyaanii mom]

It isn't going to end or go away. So the best thing you can do is resolve the issue within yourself and with your husband. If you all let it keep you from going to powwows, then they win and you lose.

[kiyaanii mom]

I remember when this white girl called me a Chinese looking ba$tard.

Did you say, "Hey, I ain't Chinese!" Kidding

[CandaePrincess]

I remember when this white girl called me a Chinese looking ba$tard.

I know right. I mean, if you're going to insult my azz...do it with the right damn nationality.

[Kiwehnzii]

I not Chinese!!!! Why you call me Chinese? Do I look Chinese? I Korean!!!!

[*Mystic*]

Wow, thats pretty upsetting. I've been called names once before mainly because of my skin color. I'm part African-American so I'm like a light brown skin & this evil lady told me that I didn't belong because I wasn't light enough. I was really hurt by that. But I learned to ignore stupid & obnoxious remarks like that & keep going on with my life. Ever since then, I haven't been called any names.

[busy]

I know your guys are joking and it is all in good fun

but

My daughter is 1/4 Korean.

So where as I don't like to be called names or made fun of (as none of you do), I don't like her to either.

[quicksilverwade]

I not Chinese!!!! Why you call me Chinese? Do I look Chinese? I Korean!!!!

And then one time this hispanic co-worker thought I was Iranian.

[Singing Otter]

There are alot of ignorant people in the world... and the really sad thing is... they're breeding. (passing the ignorance/stupidity/moronistic tendencies to the kids) I've seen prejudice because I am dark skinned (chocolate Black and Cherokee... I'm a Chocolate Cherokee... wow. ).... I've never been called a name to my face at powwows (cowards) but I know exactly who and what I am. When you have that, you don't need anyone to validate you. I think the key is knowing when to fight that battle. Sometimes it's best to stand up and fight, then other times it's better to let folks wallow in their own misery...

[badmaninc]

I remember when this white girl called me a Chinese looking ba$tard.

If its any consolation, dude, I think your a ba$tard.

[shyeagle]

in the heart

you know walking the red road is in the heart, its spiritual, its not about color of skin, its about , what we know, to people to judge you, shows were their at spritually,infants, we were all created by one creator, who loves us all, and its easy to hate the white race for what they have done, but we have to be bigger than that and lead by example the owl taugt this. any way get out of here pale face! lol joking