I asked a question earlier about U.S native Americans denying a relation to Mexican Native Americans?

Question

My qeustin is why do U.S Native Americans attempt to distance themselves from Mexicans and Mexican Native Americans?

The answer is still the same, I see no difference in the 2 full blooded Native Americans from Mexico and the U.S, with the Mexicans Mestizos carrying half of the bloodline.

Both groups lifestyles were practically identical with the exeption of some Mexican Native Americans building pyramids. Look at their ceremonial clothing and the things they traded, the foods they ate.

look at this link and tell me otherwise, and tell the Apaches or Navajos and Yaquis that they are Mexican or American, you cant because they were the Native Americans from Mexico and the U.S, and their neighboors to the south and north were no diffrent from them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas

Oglala Loco-ta

I know you wil see this; at least this U.S Native American Woman (RedPowerWoman) can see past racist and is not a "turncoat" against her own people, not illegals but for denial of your roots, I say this. She has the balls to be real and I have so much respect for her. On the other hand you, you cant even fathom having a relationship with Mexicans, Mexican Native Americans or Mestisos because of your ignorance and racism.

Here are here words;

It seems to me that you are overgeneralizing. I was a co-director of a Native student union on a University campus. We made a Strong effort to include Mexican people in our organization because we recognize our common roots.

Before colonization the Indigenous people of the U.S. , Canada, and Mexico didn't have borders to seperate them. They would trade and have contact with one another. Even now there are tribes that cross both borders.

Why do some people prefer to as you say "deny their roots" or believe another version of events? Because of oppression. The history of oppression is brutal and disgusting, it is not suprising that some people wouldn't want to connect with that. I don't necessarily think that's the right way to go but it is still understandable. And oppression still does exist today.

Oglala, if your still scared to admit it, look up pictures and faces of Native Americans from the U.S and Mexico and see if you find any diffrence in their facial characteristics.

budlows,

I'm not saying their not diffrent of course they are, just like people from California and people from the South. What I'm saying is that there is no distinction between the "Race" as a whole.

Yet some U.S Native Americans try to distinguish the Race, and seperate it, thats all, nothing important. I'm just trying to make them realize they are not diffrent at all, just the location.

Oglala,

By the way, what a terrible name you have, and are you scared an illegal alien from an Indigenous state of Mexico like Chiapas or Oaxaca might be residing in your nick of the woods, and resemble you in appearance to an almost 100% degree and people might confuse you with her?

Answer 1

*laughs*

RedPower is correct, some people are oppressed. RedPower doesn't have Mexican coyotes with guns aimed at her husband (if she's married) like I do.

I am not going to answer the whiny Meztiso part of your question again, because it is a repeat. I will address the statement you made to me in your "question". I am not bothered by your racist labeling because you are hung up on race, and I am an Anti. If you walked in my shoes only then would you understand why I am against illegal immigration. It was made clear to you that cultural differences have nothing to do with why I am an Anti. You are nobody to me so I won't lose sleep over your identity crisis. Meztisos and Lakota Sioux share DNA but that is it.

Thanks Drew. ;-)

I am looking forward to a reply from Shoshone, if he (or she) manages to see this question.


Added: What an uneducated and idiotic comment. Oglala Lakota is the name of my tribe, it is the name of Crazy Horse's tribe. It is the name of Red Cloud's tribe. You insult the Oglala Lakota Oyate, more reason not to have anything to do with you--and you alone.

RedPower: Over half of the people who have been employed by my husband, are legal Mexicans and Mexican-Americans who are more opposed to the illegal smugglers and eager to confront the coyotes than he is. We have dealt with two decades of bad experiences. Illegals don't have anyone's interests in mind but their own when they smuggle their cargo across the border. Illegals were not thinking about "family", when they stole my sister-in-law's identity two years ago. The illegal problem is my family's past, present, and future. It can not be simplified with "bitterness", it is a problem greater than me, one that is bad for this country, and needs to be stopped.

Answer 2

I am tempted to leave this alone but since i'm already in this I guess I might throw in my two cents.

Just to add to the discussion.
- First of all to Slew (whoever you are). Please do not speak for all Native people. If you are not Native then don't speak for Native people at all! What you are saying is incorrect and spreads culturally ignorance.
"Native AMerican Indians do not get along with Mexicans, because there is a difference in culture"
- This is simply not true. You cannot overgeneralize, that is the definition of predjudice. Yes there are differences of culture and yes maybe some Natives and Mexicans don't get along. However, There are many more Natives and Mexicans who do get along. We help each other out, we are alllies in each other's struggles, after all we are cousins!!!

"Native Americans in the U.S. sees Mexicans as an economic threat. Most Native Americans are poor and illegal immigrants has been none to tresspas in Indian land and damage their property."
- Once again, not generally true. This may be true in some circumstances but is not generally true. I don't see Mexicans as an economic threat, No Native I know does either. Why? Because I am educated about immigration. Illegal residents from Mexico don't post an economic threat to anyone in the U.S., read up on the facts of this. And there may be some land damage, by why not undergo a little pain to help out an ally?

Now: Oglala I know is Native. For this reason I choose to respect her opinion even though I don't agree with it. I think she is more concerned about safety, property damage, and drugs than anything else. Unfortunately these experiences have bittered her. Sorry Oglala but I think you can agree that is true.
Maybe if you help out with some organization that educates Mexican history and culture or some organization that helps immigrants you will become more open hearted. It is true that they are your family. And as Native people we need all the allies we can get. I am sorry you have had bad experiences but that doesn't justify having negative feelings towards all people who are illegal. Let us support each other as Indigenous people!

Now back to the issue:
Whatever the historical issues we need to remember to spread cultural acceptance and understanding. We cannot heal if we do not support each other. We are cousins Natives and Mexicans. We should work together! Forget about the politics that the government has introduced, they've been playing these tactics since the begining of colonization to seperate our people. And it works, sadly it works. We can fight against it!

Answer 3

I got mad at a person who was from Kansas because I was talking to a Mexican American who's Family lived in California longer than California was part of the U.S.. My Mexican AMerican friend was the only person I knew who had similar heritage in California, since most Angelenos are relatively recent immigrants. The Person from Kansas started acting like she belonged here more than either. I figured she was racist by her attitude. I got sore, because my friend was part Apache. She was more American than most American. Just because her skin is dark does not make her less of an American and her roots in California dates back well over a century. There are Mexicans who's bloodline comes from Indians north of the border. They are the minority, but APache does make up a significant number. This is partly due to APache Land straddle the border. There is really no such thing as Mexican Apache really since they are nomads and there home is not a single location, but a broad area that include land in both country. My friend also knows a Mexican AMerican who is part Paiute. A tribe that is in Nevada and California. SInce Mexico held California for a while, a few did intermarry. This is a small percentage, since the Spanish did not develop this part of the country very well.
That said, Native AMerican Indians do not get along with Mexicans, because there is a difference in culture. Mexicans are based in Spanish culture more than Indian. Mexico proper is in central and southern Mexico. The culture of these Indians severely differ to those in Western United States and Northern Mexico. Also, Racism is severe in Mexico. There are a lot of people in Mexico who judge people by the skin color. This dates back to Spanish colonization. Mexico is right now undergoing a war in which they are killing Mexican Indians in the south. Mexican Indians are rebelling over the general racist attitude of the Mexican Government and a movement for great er independence in the south is occuring. It is called Zapitista.
Plus Native Americans in the U.S. sees Mexicans as an economic threat. Most Native Americans are poor and illegal immigrants has been none to tresspas in Indian land and damage their property. This has occurred in the lands near the border.

Edit: stop violating Oglala - she may be foul-mouth, but I like here.
I didn't even see what she wrote.

Answer 4

Mexican Native Americans like the Aztecs, Mayas were way more advanced than the cultures of U.S. Native Americans. They had calendars, built great cities, astronomical knowledge, medicinal knowledge, an educational system and the list goes on and on.

Answer 5

I have never distanced myself from Mexican Indians nor has any of my family members. My native language even has a word for Mexican Indians because my tribe most likely encountered Mexican Indians or there would not be a word I could refer to. You can not count me as a Native American who tries to distances myself from Mexicans.

Mestizo is a word describing Spaniard mixed with either Aztec or Maya and there are MILLIONS that did not mix with the Spaniards, even now there are full Aztec and Maya.

Answer 6

French and British are related, too, but they don't consider themselves the same.

Even within the US territory they were distinct from each other and some looked down extremely on others. They killed eachother in wars long before 'the white man' came over with bigger guns.

Why should a distant historic genetic similarity to someone in a different territory have any bearing on today?

They came over the land bridge from Russia to begin with, so the Chinese would have as much of a claim. Fact is, we are likely all related, if you go back far enough. Be that as it may, if my grandparents had left the US and my parents had not gone back, I myself would have no particular right here. The country that built the infrastrucure and pays for education and services has laws and rules about who can be here, as do all countries.

Answer 7

I believe US Native Americans distance themselves from Mexican Natives because the history of Mexican Natives, they were blood thirsty, just brutal killers.Fanatics for blood while Native Americans were more spiritual.

Answer 8

" And oppression still does exist today."

Oppression and even suffering are not bad as long as you yourself do not go thru it. I am using the word "yourself" as an example.This is the main reason I am pro-illegal.Most of the illegals are Mexican Indians or south American Indians. I am seeing very few mestizos. I myself am more Azteca.All Indians from south or North are native Americans whether we like it or not.One of my
grandfathers look exactly like pictures I have seen of Geronimo. Therefore I knew he was not Azteca. One of my grandmothers was full blooded Azteca.

Answer 9

Despite that has been done to them throughout American history, Native Americans have a deep sense of pride in our country. They've fought with distinction in both World Wars, Vietnam, and Iraq. Many of them consider themselves more "American" than the descendants of Europeans who came here. So when you compare them to Mexicans, they probably take it as an insinuation that they aren't real "Americans".

Answer 10

It's not meant to insult Mexican natives...

It has to do with tribal pride. All the native Americans that I have known in my life have all been very proud in their specific tribe's heritage. That is their identity and who they are. It is irrelevant that x 1000s of years ago their ancestors were....