Why do people always claim to be Native American when they are not?

Question

Every time I say I'm Native....People always say "Oh, I have some Indian in me too." Why? I think if you aren't enrolled with a Federally recognized tribe you shouldn't claim Indian, or if you've never lived on the Rez, you can't claim Native status.

Answer 1

EVERYONE WHO IS B*TCHING ABOUT "NATIVE AMERICANS" NOT REALLY BEING "NATIVE AMERICANS", BECAUSE THEY SAY EVERYONES "NATIVE AMERICAN" NEED TO REALIZE THAT MY PEOPLE (S"KLALLAMS) NEVER LABELED THEMSELVES "NATIVE AMERICAN"...IT IS A LABEL THAT WHITE AMERICA IMPOSED UPON US TO BE "POLITICALLY CORRECT" WHEN REFERRING TO PEOPLE OF INDIGENOUS TRIBES OF THIS COUNTRY.

THE FACT THAT PEOPLE RESPOND TO ME THAT WAY SOMETIMES TOO, IRRITATES ME BECAUSE:

IF YOUR INDIGENOUS, THEN YOU KNOW THAT YOUR ARE COMPLETELY, NOT JUST SOME, A LITTLE BIT, BUT COMPLETELY! IF YOU WANT TO BE "NATIVE AMERICAN" THAN BE...DON'T TRY TO TELL PEOPLE THAT YOUR "A LIL' BIT ON YOUR GREAT GRAMAS SIDE"...THAT'S JUST BULL...IF YOU ARE YOU ARE, IF YOUR NOT THAN JUST DON'T SAY IT, ITS NOT GOING TO IMPRESS THE "NATIVE AMERICAN" THAT YOU ARE SPEAKING WITH...BECAUSE MOST NATIVES THAT I KNOW ACCEPT THEIR HERITAGE WITH ALL THEIR HEARTS, NOT JUST SOME OF IT...

Answer 2

Since so called Native Americans actualy migrated here and are Asians, I don't get the big fuss, and that is a fact not a racist remark. There is no such thing as a Native Americans, and that is the beauty of America. The migrated Asias were just the first people here. People saying they are part Indian is just them relating to people, making a connection, and that's normal. It means that they value being part Indian. Living on a Rez, so to speak, doesn't make you any better or worse, just like sittingin agarage doesn't make you a car. Just because I don't live in Ireland or are enrolled in an Irish society or enrolled by the government doesn't make me any more or less Irish. Now, if I drank alot and blamed it on being Irish, well, then, that is just pathetic...get my point I hope. By the way, so called Mative Americans got shafted big time, and it is no secret. So did AfricanAmericans, Mexican Americans, Catholic Americans, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, women, Asian immigrants, well, I guess everybody except for white, male, protestants!
BTW, New York has found a way to tax Indian sales of gas and tobacco. Thought you may want to come out for the inevitable protest, because the Indians are getting screwed again by New York State and the Feds.

Answer 3

There are many people who ARE related to Native Americans, but the connection may not be very strong (eg: Husbands, Brothers,wife). Also alot of Native Americans have choose to leave tribes due to the quality of living (this is a fact unfortunatly) and have choose to live in the "average" world.

Don't critisize so much. If some one says there Native American they have every right too. There's no law saying you can't (wether the claim me true or false). So deal with the fact that not all people with Native American blood in them have to be "Federally recognized" to say there Native American.

Since you feel strongly about this issue, you will probley pick a best answer. Will it be mine? Probley not ... because 90% of this does not agree with what you are saying. In my personal opinion, I find Native Americans can never accept what other people say, especially if it's the truth.

Answer 4

Not all people claim to have native american in their genetics, but it is more common than you think. When white man entered this land, native american tribes were being slaughtered. So, the native americans took white children, adults etc into their tribes to replace the missing persons. Also, there has been alot of documented marriage and breeding between native american woman and white men in the past.

Answer 5

Their blood quantum is too low to be enrolled. That doesn't mean they don't have Native blood in them. I know a guy with blondish hair, blue eyes, white skin, and never lived on a Rez, that is 1/4 Native and enrolled. His buddy is 7/32 short of meeting the blood quantum and he has black hair, brown eyes and is darker than the one that has 1/4. He's lived on Rez's, gone to pow-wows and is very proud of his heritage, but his level is too low to be recognized. To tell him he's not Native is like slapping one of his Native forefathers in the face.

Answer 6

Well many think because they have like 1/18th portion of indian in them that they are indian as well. But see how you are looking at it just because the indians are now on the reservations makes them total indians. But in the past when white settlers came over and brought the slaves over, many of those races came together in those times. My mom says the slaves and the indians had children together to make up for the ppl that they lost when the europeans took their lands. So when they had children they were building up their ranks to go against the europeans. But we know how that went. So bottom line times were different back in the old days when many were having sex and raping and ravaging others.

Answer 7

I agree with you! Yet you will find these blond/blue folks who claim that it's there in their 'high cheekbones' or some other feature.

Admiration for native peoples is a lot stronger among all other Americans than most will admit. I think it comes out in their claims to be related to Native Americans.

Answer 8

so you're saying that being a Native American has nothing to do with blood????

it just depends on which group you belong to, and where you live?

Answer 9

Truthfully... the bottom line is , unless you've moved here from another country recently you are american. I understand that you are happy about your "heritage" but it is just that. "heritage" You arent an indian, you dont live like an indian, hell even indians dont live like indians anymore.... Now why people say they have that in them is beyond me.. perhaps they do? Perhaps you are protecting a culture that has been extinct? Perhaps they are too? Anyway, point is.. we are all americans.. who knows, maybe my grandma banged your uncle smellysky and thats how i have it in me? LoL

Answer 10

I totally agree. Maybe they want to absolve themselves from feeling guilt due to their ancestors taking away the land.