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"indians"
There are several other names by which "Indians" are known. Native American is the most common one, First Americans is another. "Indian" is a misnomer, coined by Columbus. He was thousands of miles off course when he landed in the Carribean Islands, thinking he had reached India. However, most Indians call themselves Indian anyway. It may be technically wrong, but it's not widely perceived as derogatory.
DON'T call an Indian person "Chief" or "squaw" or "redskin". It is improper to use a revered title like Chief in a casual manner, and squaw and redskin are considered insults by just about every Indian I know.
INDIAN MONEY
There are some widely-held misconceptions that Indians get money from the government for being Indian, or that Indians don’t pay taxes. With few exceptions, this is simply not true. Unless you belong to one of the very few tribes who have highly-successful business or casino operations, there is little or no money to be gained by being Indian.
Oklahoma has one of the largest Indian populations in the United States, and many thousands here live in poverty. There are no reservations left in Oklahoma, however some areas are still largely populated by Indians. Adair county, in the Cherokee Nation, has a 43% Indian population, and a median household income of just $16,886 (source: 2001 Cherokee National Holiday program).
Tribal monies are used to provide basic services such as water lines, pre-schools, healthcare, and job training. The truth is, an Indian card and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee just about anywhere.
:Chatter
FAKES & FRAUDS
Legitimate Indian spiritual leaders don’t have business cards calling themselves shamans, or have websites soliciting money for their "services". They don't conduct seminars, sweatlodges, or sun dances and charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend, nor do they openly talk about spiritual ceremonies to non-Indians. In fact, outsiders rarely know who these spiritual leaders are, even though they may have regular contact with them.
The stereotype image of an old holy man sequestered on a mountaintop, chanting rituals and existing on spirituality is fantasy. The truth is that many of these people have regular jobs in their pre-retirement years, because true spiritual leaders NEVER charge for their help. It is customary for the person or family requesting the services of a spiritual leader or healer to present them with a monetary or material gifts.
But there are numerous "fake Indians" (and undoubtedly a few real ones) who are distorting Indian spirituality to make money. Real Indian ceremonies generally take place on Indian land, owned by a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, and are never open to outsiders, not even for money. Don't get ripped off by these frauds. They are just the new-age version of greedy, insincere televangelists.
INDIAN PRINCESSES
NEVER tell an Indian that your great-great-great-grandmother was an Indian princess. There was never such a thing until tribes and clubs began choosing young ladies as their ambassadors in the middle and later part of the 1900‘s.
Good or bad, it doesn’t matter WHO you are descended from, you are still judged on your OWN character, not your ancestors. And you can bet your paycheck that the real chief’s descendants know the name of the chief(s) that they descend from.
:chief:
DON'T call an Indian person "Chief" or "squaw" or "redskin". It is improper to use a revered title like Chief in a casual manner, and squaw and redskin are considered insults by just about every Indian I know.
INDIAN MONEY
There are some widely-held misconceptions that Indians get money from the government for being Indian, or that Indians don’t pay taxes. With few exceptions, this is simply not true. Unless you belong to one of the very few tribes who have highly-successful business or casino operations, there is little or no money to be gained by being Indian.
Oklahoma has one of the largest Indian populations in the United States, and many thousands here live in poverty. There are no reservations left in Oklahoma, however some areas are still largely populated by Indians. Adair county, in the Cherokee Nation, has a 43% Indian population, and a median household income of just $16,886 (source: 2001 Cherokee National Holiday program).
Tribal monies are used to provide basic services such as water lines, pre-schools, healthcare, and job training. The truth is, an Indian card and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee just about anywhere.
:Chatter
FAKES & FRAUDS
Legitimate Indian spiritual leaders don’t have business cards calling themselves shamans, or have websites soliciting money for their "services". They don't conduct seminars, sweatlodges, or sun dances and charge hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend, nor do they openly talk about spiritual ceremonies to non-Indians. In fact, outsiders rarely know who these spiritual leaders are, even though they may have regular contact with them.
The stereotype image of an old holy man sequestered on a mountaintop, chanting rituals and existing on spirituality is fantasy. The truth is that many of these people have regular jobs in their pre-retirement years, because true spiritual leaders NEVER charge for their help. It is customary for the person or family requesting the services of a spiritual leader or healer to present them with a monetary or material gifts.
But there are numerous "fake Indians" (and undoubtedly a few real ones) who are distorting Indian spirituality to make money. Real Indian ceremonies generally take place on Indian land, owned by a Federally-recognized Indian Tribe, and are never open to outsiders, not even for money. Don't get ripped off by these frauds. They are just the new-age version of greedy, insincere televangelists.
INDIAN PRINCESSES
NEVER tell an Indian that your great-great-great-grandmother was an Indian princess. There was never such a thing until tribes and clubs began choosing young ladies as their ambassadors in the middle and later part of the 1900‘s.
Good or bad, it doesn’t matter WHO you are descended from, you are still judged on your OWN character, not your ancestors. And you can bet your paycheck that the real chief’s descendants know the name of the chief(s) that they descend from.
:chief:
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