Why are there so many wannabe American Indians?

Question

There is a difference between a person who seeks to learn about american Indian Culture or looking for their ancestry...Im talking about a person who wants to be involved in the culture whether they have blood ties or not...they mimic what they see in the movies and television and read white-washed books that explain things from a NON-INDIAN point of few...He/she thinks all his gained knowledge is all he/she needs to be indian when in fact they know little or nothing at all about being Indian.....In most cases they have never even been around REAL Indians...they also belong to twink tribes and own trinkets from gas stations..... to Sitting Bull shirts made in Korea...I doubt if anyone would actually admit to being one....lol ...I think many watched "Dances with Wolves" too many damn times.....another word I dislike is Shaman....alot of them will use that word also.....

Answer 1

Yes, what you say is definitely true.. but do you think perhaps it might be because they are trying to find a spiritual connection and they find it within the native american indian stories and beliefs? not all of them, I'm sure.. but maybe some?
I am sure that it has to do with this mixing of cultures and so many of them being lost that they want some kind of roots.. the native nations have those here. No one else does.

Answer 2

Well, you run into them everywhere you go. But some I think would like to learn about our "harmony" with Mother earth. And now that it's "cool" to go green (we've been trying to tell them for years?), I think even more are jumping on the bandwagon...LOL!

What exactly is a Shaman? Is it like a Medicine Man or a Sachem? Sometimes I am really offended with the way some say INDIAN, as if it was a dirty word.

Answer 3

I know lots of negroes pretended to be Indian 'freedmen' so they could leech benefits off the Cherokee tribe. The Cherokees voted them out but now the Congressional Black Caucus is, of course, crying "racism", and trying to cut the federal funding to the Cherokee tribe.

Answer 4

Its called "BAND-WAGONISM" people want to be something they are not.

Being an American Indian, NO I do not look it thanks to my Dad, I do not live the life, try to or even pretend to. In High school I joined the Native games, I grew up in Alaska, I had to prove my heritage to compete ... I was the ONLY blond in a room full of Alaska Natives, they have the most beautiful black hair ... I just wanted to pass out!

Answer 5

I KNOWWW. So many whote people i talk too ALWAYS say that they are mixed with Native American, and always say cherokee. I know a few percent do, but not all of them!! whats wrong with just being white..or even to a few of the black people who claim it. at oleast black people can think of different tribe names except for the old cherokee.

Answer 6

Fine, but what exactly is your question? You want to know why some people seek to emulate American Indian culture? The same reason they seek to emulate African American Culture, or any OTHER aspect of culture to which they do not themselves belong. Because other cultures SEEM interesting. Is this really news to you?

Answer 7

I don't know.....
There are folks who do this with other cultures as well - cultural misappropriation. I believe it may be a misguided attempt to display a true admiration for the culture in some cases...and ignorance in others.

Answer 8

Perhaps they highly admire their culture. I would find it a compliment and not an insult. Also, in regards to some comments from other answers: Many people do have Cherokee in them, especially if they have ancestors from the Appalachians.

Answer 9

Because they felt sorry for your population. You are too small and too little, therefore they try to be you to show a high percentage of population.

Answer 10

So true. its cause we're so darn cool.