Do you know what makes a Native American?

Question

How do Native Americans know they are Native Americans?

Answer 1

A Native American is the son or daughter of someone who is Native American. That doesn't mean the parent has to be FBI (Full-Blooded Indian), but there has to be some Native ancestry and the family has to have maintained some Native indentity. Some people will say that being Native is about having a CDIB card or being tribally enrolled, but there are Indian people who have no paperwork, but they are accepted as Indian by the community. That's another part of it. You're Indian when you are accepted by the Indian community.

Answer 2

I prefer the term American Indian or better than that, to describe the nation one is from. I think Native American applies to anyone born in the United States. Being an American Indian is a way of life - every single day, it's not about pow wows and regalia or is there any "certain way" an American Indian "looks." I am tsalagi - Cherokee. All Nations have their own special songs, ceremonies, dances and prayers. While there may be some differences in nations, the basics to your answer would be: Someone who is and has always been connected to the natural world and who lives for the Great Spirit, his nation, his people and his Ancestors. It's a way of life that has been passed down through the generations. We are suppose to live our lives with honesty, humility, loyalty, integrity and to protect our nations, our people and to protect our Earth Mother; to respect all of creation.
However, we are people too and we make mistakes, some of us are not living the lifestyle we know we should be, etc. Too many non-natives think we have all the answers, but we don't. Our lives are also a walk of learning and giving and when we cross over, to hopefully have tried our best in life to live every day as our Ancestors have lived for generations.

Answer 3

Some Native Americans know they are Native Americans because they know their family history, their traditions where kept alive and passed on directly to them from their families, and so they know what they are.

But some don't, (or some who are mostly Native American don't) because of the slow merging and cultural genocide of Native Americans that took place in history over time. So some have to do their genealogy to know for sure.

I have Native American in me, I always knew this, but I was raised as black. I always thought it was just a tad bit. But since I've done my family tree, I think it may be much more than what I originally thought. Many of my little "family traditions" may have Native roots. I'm still researching.

Back in the day, my great grandfather was listed as mulatto. All of his children were listed as mulatto. Really they were Native. Later on, they changed the listings to "person of color" and then from "colored" to "black/*****" on the old census reports.

Sometimes native ancestry was kept secret because that served as a protection. If a person was part native and part white, and looked more white, they could often "pass" as white, because they were treated better back then. Had word got out that they were not totally white, they would not have been treated very well.

If the mixture was black and native, often times everyone was eventually lumped together under "persons of color" and eventually just became "black". A lot of times, those native ancestry roots were not discussed with children or talked about, so they were forgotten.

You really have to do your family tree and learn a little bit about genealogy to know for sure what you have in your background.

Answer 4

a native American was born here so they say..but a true native American is the native Indian......there are people who are of no heritage but feel the native feelings of land ,creator, preserving in a good way the native Indian heritage.....i am of heritage and i think that is what makes me do the things of the above and i feel at peace...i just need my powwows to dance and learn more.....i am and elder and clan mother and since i can remember i do better in this than trying to live the fast lane...

Answer 5

I once asked my grandfather who I was. I asked him the same question you ask. He told me, each race has a different gift and way of contributing to the Earth as a whole.
He said, our people were given the gift of Caring. Caring towards the people, the spirits, and the earth.

Seven Grandfather Teachings,....with love and care, you begin to feel and show respect, with resepct you feel humility, you feel courage, with courage you feel honest and show honesty, and then get a deep sense of belonging truth and start to see wisdom.
He did not write these things down, but only drew a circle on a peice of birch bark. He told me not to write it down but only in pictures.

I always remember what he said. I may write and speak a different language, but I feel Care for people, animals, land, earth, and know that It is where I belong and why I am here.

As for the term "native american", I could never understand. I may have red skin but I belong to Anishnabek, meaning the people as a whole, people of the Earth.

Answer 6

Under federal law,they would have to have at least one grandparent who was full-blooded,in which case you are legally Native American,and qualify for all sorts of goodies like free college. As to how you would know your ancestry,I suppose since vital records go back 100 years or more,that should do the trick.

Answer 7

A native American is one who is born in America, regardless of ethnicity, creed, or color. Most American Indians know of the Nation or tribe to which they belong.

Answer 8

by blood or by deed.

you can be born Native by blood. you can be accepted to any nation if your heart and actions are acceptable and you wish to learn from ant to help the people.

i am 1/64 Blackfoot by DNA.

but i am probably more native than many half blood or more by spirit.

i was told by a direct blood discendent of Gerinomo

"white is a frame of mind. your skin is white but your spirit is red"

Answer 9

Their parents make them and they know by looking at and talking to them about their family's background.

Answer 10

I'm Native
I just am but I'm mixed blood though