If You are Indian and You Know It

[walksalone11]

2010 is the year of the US Census. Every ten years a count is made of all inhabitants of this country for a number of reasons. One reason is to keep count of ethnic groups and their growth and trends. In the case of American Indians, tribal officials and government representatives take the results of the census to estimate the number of Indians living in certain areas. The results of the Census affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. Tribal officials and Census workers are out spreading the word to stand up and be counted. When the census allowed people to choose more than one ethnic group in 2000 as their identity, there was a huge jump in the reported American Indian population. When American Indians are glamorized in books or movies the result is also a jump upward in those claiming to be Indians. But are all those who self profess to be an Indian really an Indian?

One of the ways of claiming Indian is through self identification. As said the problem with this method is that when American Indians are popular those claiming this identity soars. The most popular refrain is “My great grandmother was a Cherokee princess”. They do not realize there was no such thing as royalty (kings or queens) in the American Indian culture of past. Mama’s high cheekbones and jet black hair as proof of having “Cherokee” blood is a familiar song and dance as well. Grandma always told them they were Cherokee but hid out in the hills when the rest of the Cherokees were rounded up and moved to Indian Territory. Yes Indians have heard it all…..

Then there are those who identify as American Indian through an enrollment with a state or federally recognized tribe. As a member of a tribe one has been formally screened through an official process adopted by a group of people who have set up a system to review one’s application for enrollment or citizenship. Once a tribe approves someone’s enrollment or citizenship they have been accepted as a member of that community. Many in the American Indian community will accept one that is enrolled as more legitimate than someone who is not enrolled.
Blood quantum is another form of identifying as an Indian. Many tribal entities have adopted blood quantum as a criteria for enrollment or citizenship in their tribe. Others have adopted the proof of lineage to an American Indian ancestor for enrollment or citizenship purposes. Blood quantum refers to the system initiated by the US Government to quantify American Indians as either human as savage. At one time anyone that was 4/4 or full blood Indian was a savage. One’s blood quantum is a compilation of one’s parent’s amount of Indian or non Indian blood. The more non-Indian a person was at one time in history, the more human they were in the eyes of the government. The more Indian blood one had the less able they were to manage their own affairs, thus the trust system of the Bureau of Indian Affairs was established.
The problem with self identification on the US Census is that one can claim to be an Indian whether they have lived as one or not.  Typically one is acknowledged as an American Indian if they know their tribal culture, language, customs, and traditions and are accepted in their tribal community.......READ MORE@.....

http://www.examiner.com/x-4316-Native-American-Community-Examiner~y2010m1d18-If-You-are-Indian-and-You-Know-It?cid=examiner-email

[walksalone11]

UMMM HUMMM.......

[Azanne07]

My fiance is 2/4 and my daughter is 1/4 and from what i can figure i am 1/32. hahaha

[mgrandison]

My fiance is 1/2 Indian - last name Singh......

[debraleesparks]

 :thumbsup:I'm part Blackfoot.. But my friend Many is Wintun, in Yolo county California. She lives on the reservation, and they built a casino there. She gets income from there. She says they are getting revenge from the white man in the best possible way.. through their wallets!!!hahahahahh

[walksalone11]

It is crazy what some tribes are doing with per-caps. Especially some of the Nations there in California.
I know of one tribe where upon an enrolled members 18th birthday, they begin receiving around 20 grand a month, while there are basically no infra structure or adequate social programs on the Rez.

What 18 year old kid is mature enough to handle 20 grand a month?

You go to a powwow there and the lot is packed with hummers and the hummers are full of meth addicts!!!

Mean while the Elders are sitting at home alone and forgotten!!!
When did we stop respecting our Elders?

The tribal council manned of course by the "BIA appointed" puppet government spends all  its time trying to figure out how to dis-enroll more and more people from the tribe so that all the remaining pieces of the pie are a little bigger.

I would only support a casino for a Nation who either pays no per-cap or only a very modest one and instead puts the proceeds into community works infra structure and social programs to address the true needs of the Tribe.

Addiction or no......meth is not a need!!!

[debraleesparks]

Growth plans back on at casino
By ERIN TRACY
Created: 01/20/2010 02:30:35 AM PST

The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribe announced plans Tuesday to begin drafting an Environmental Impact Report for a proposed event center at the Cache Creek Casino Resort.

It has also issued an official Notice of Preparation with the State of California.

The NOP gives notice to the public and to state and local governmental agencies that the Tribe has authorized the analysis of environmental impacts the Event Center Project may have on the Tribe's trust land.

In October the tribe announced it would abandon a similar proposed expansion due to the economic downturn. At the time, the county and tribe were scheduled to enter arbitration within the week, regarding county allegations that the expansion's EIR did not offer sufficient mitigation for its proposed size.

The most recent proposal includes similar attributes, but leaves out the biggest point of contention on the former proposal; an expansion of the hotel.

The Event Center Project most notably includes the addition of a 52,000-square-foot event center, as well as expansion of the gaming and dining area by about 32,000 square feet, the addition of a 29,000-square-foot warehouse, and an additional 900 parking spaces in a parking garage.

Yolo County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Helen Thomson said "Each proposal is an absolutely independent, stand alone, proposal," and she will evaluate the most current version of the expansion as such.

Capay Valley resident Michael Mcdonald disagrees, saying
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the expansion will lead to "an increase in traffic that is detrimental to the valley, an increase in crime that is detrimental to the county, (which is) all to the detriment of society," he said. "But I guess society doesn't count in this scenario."

Thomson added the proposed expansion would certainly have an effect on the Capay Valley, but would not detail her feelings on the proposal until she had more information.

The Event Center Project will enhance the Cache Creek Casino guest experience by offering patrons a wider variety of entertainment, additional meeting space and more dining options, according to a statement from the tribe.

Tribal Spokesman Brent Andrew said the EIR must be drafted within 45 days, after which the public has 90 days to respond. Construction is tentatively slated to begin in mid-2011.

[debraleesparks]

walksalone 11.. You are so right !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[angel379227]

Yeah and you'd better not claim you're black unless you're sportin a 

[cowgirlx]

From what I have been told I have a little bit on my moms side and have been told that my great grandma was 1/2 on my dad side, but that is all I know.  I don't know what she was from, she denied it till the day she died.  It was another family member that told us.  I have expressed interest in finding out more,  but most of my family is too busy, or dead, to get any information from.

[angel379227]

From what I have been told I have a little bit on my moms side and have been told that my great grandma was 1/2 on my dad side, but that is all I know.  I don't know what she was from, she denied it till the day she died.  It was another family member that told us.  I have expressed interest in finding out more,  but most of my family is too busy, or dead, to get any information from.

Try ancestry.com. You'll have to fork over some loot but it may help to satisfy your curiosity.

[cowgirlx]

Thanks I will definately do that.  It would be nice to be able to tell my children more than my parents told me.

[Kymberli0529]

Being of Native American descent myself, Ancestry.com did not help me.  It depends on when and where your NA ancestors were from as to whether Ancestry has records.  I am not saying don't try it out because I am more than happy with my research through that site but the NA side, no luck.

[walksalone11]

are you merely curious?....or do you really want it?

how bad?

here-in lies a clue why I am such an *bleep* some times.....

[angel379227]

are you merely curious?....or do you really want it?

how bad?

here-in lies a clue why I am such an *bleep* some times.....

Because folks think it's "cool" to be Injan?