As many of you know I am a mixed blood Ojibway/Anishinaabe woman who strongly and proudly identifies with my Native roots. The next time you come across a Native person who you think is not Native before you speak. Do you say this to any other person that you come across? No you don't because the Native population is the invisible minority on Turtle Island. Therefore, you have stereotypes of what a Native is supposed to look like, act like and be. This is wrong and very hurtful to us. We are all different, unique and beautiful!
Random Babble's post also touches on the issues of blood quantum. I have yet to do an in depth post on this but have touched on this issue in this blog. I have written the following posts that touch on my identity: You Can't Display Your Soul to the World, Thoughts On My Ojibway Heritage... and What Are You? You can read my poem called "Sign The Papers," which is about governmental blood quantum standards. Read Jessica Yee's post called "Degrees of Nativeness." There is even a film that is in the works by a First Nations Canadian man called Stupid White Indian. We are the only people in the whole entire world that quantifies our existence by blood. This was set up by the US government for the point of annihilation. I am refusing the annihilation process from the government and even from my own people.
If you have time this is an excellent resource: Native American Spirituality: Freedom Denied. It is pretty insightful and talks about blood quantum through the piece.
I was born the way I am. Like many Natives who are of mixed background who strongly identify with being Native I stand strong! I was born with my heart and my spirit to shine through in these times and do the work in the world that I am called to do. I am who I am, just like you are who you are. I am a human and a spirit in a body at this time on Earth. I radiate the truth of my heart and spirit out into the world. I am authentic, real and Native. I am smiling.
I have gathered together some of my photos from over the years of me. A few of the photos are artsy and earthy, of course. I thought I would show you how strong and proud I am as a Native woman!
"Native American isn't blood. It is what is in the heart. The love for the land, the respect for it, those who inhabit it, and the respect and acknowledgment of the spirits and elders. That is what it is to be Indian"-White Feather-Navajo Medicine Man
9 voices speak:
Great post, I want to check out that film 'Stupid White Indian.' I love the pic with you in braids too - so cute. I started a part of my blog called 'Urban Warrior' which highlights various peeps and showcases Native peoples in today's world to dispel stereotypes- take a look at the latest one: http://www.lisacharleyboy.com/2009/03/urban-warrior-julie-lafreniere.html
In unity,
Lisa
Lisa - I am glad you like this post. I love your blog by the way! On facebook there is a group called Concrete Indians and I am a part of that one. I am sure you may know of this group on facebook.
Inawendiwin!
I get this crap all the time, especially coming out of winter when I'm pale and another shade of pale. I can't possibly be dark enough to be mestizo, so I must be white and lying. The audacity of some people...
Whit - I hear what you are saying. It really is annoying to get stigmatized and judge based on your skin tone and what it is supposed to be according to ones preconceived notions and stereotypes. Indigenous and people of color are in all shades on the spectrum. My skin tone is olive, gets lighter in the winter and by summer I can get really dark. I still can't get darker than my Dad although I try, hehe!
Those are beautiful pictures of you, Cec! ^_^
I think I told you this before, but there are two Native girls in my Chinese class. They don't "look" the part (whatever that's supposed to mean), but since I'm friends with them I know how important their heritage is to them.
The other day, though, one of the white guys in our class was trying to make a joke to our teacher about how he's really a Native American and he made up some stupid tribe name. The only other people in the classroom were me and my friends, and they were both so hurt. We called him out on his joke, and he was so shocked. He said, "But you don't look Native." All my friend said was, "But we are" before turning her back on him and leaving.
That day made me so sad because I saw face-to-face the kind of invisibility Native people like you and my other friends have to face. You're right--being Native isn't about looking the part, it's about being Native and taking pride in that.
Dolly - In that video I posted yesterday one of the Grandmothers said that she did not care how much you were - because it is about the heart and spirit. I also know because of annihilation and genocide our numbers are so small. So if we claim who we are no matter what the blood quantum is then it helps instill pride in us and removes guilt, shame, anger and a loss of identity.
I am very glad you called that guy out. He had no idea what he was talking about and not realizing how hurtful his words are to Native people. The more we stand up and speak the more we remove even the tiniest threads of sadness, anger, grief, shame and guilt for being Native. We begin to pave a new way!
Great post. Love it. And even though I wrote that post out of indignation, I am nonetheless flattered to have you linking to it.
It hits so true for so many of us, like me, raised in my Native family (many of whom had to be on rolls w/ quantum certificates no matter how they felt), but constantly othered by everyone, the "more pure" Natives on one side, and the Europeans in my dad's family on the other (ever been called a Whapaho? That was a nickname I had growing up).
It strikes so true, that no matter what card you carry in your wallet, or where you call your home, your Nativeness is what is living in your heart. While I am on a roll, I wasn't raised w/ half the love that you have for our shared ancestry. It makes me proud to know you.
I wrote that piece while working on a longer one way b/f I was bothered by the linked post b/c of the frustration I feel about my ancestry. I am not sure where I will ever publish it, but I am fleshing it all out.
Blessings to you. And great pictures!
Random Babble - Glad you like this post. You really did inspire me to write about this. I have kind of pushed writing about this under. I write what feels right at the time so it seemed like this was perfect for the time.
It seems like if you are mixed you get "othered." I am wondering this whole part of claiming our identity which is not only our physical body but spiritual is a part of returning to wholeness and complete decolonization - I feel it is.
I also write a lot of pieces to just get stuff out of my system. I would be interested in reading your piece even if you don't publish it on your blog. :)
hey there,
i love this post and the pics. i would love to post this at raven's eye. please. if you are interested please email us
ravenseyeblog@gmail.com
thank you
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