how can I take pride in my being Native American?

Question

I'm sort of pale and I don't have very dark hair. I think my face looks somewhat Native American, but how can I be more in touch with it? if that makes sense.

Answer 1

I'm half Trini, and I don't look it. I know what it's like to be part of a culture that you are displaced from in one way or another. The best that you can do is to learn the lessons of your culture and heritage from your family, ask questions, do your research, and empower your self with knowledge. Once you have that, maybe you can welcome some of the Native American customs, symbols, or dress into your life and your home. Being more in touch with your nationality occurs with knowledge, and that knowledge is all you need to both understand, accept, and embrace your heritage.

Answer 2

Have you tried to trace your family tree? That usually will bring a form of pride that doesn't come from anything else. Research your family try to find out as much as you can. Be proud I am also of Native American decent though I usually just call myself American but I am very proud of all of my ancestors and that I am of Native American decent. You should be proud the Native Americans are very beautiful people who have very beautiful customs learn all you can that is the best I can give you! Good Luck!

Answer 3

If you want to be proud of your heritage the first thing you need to do is learn about it. And take what you learn and see how it fits into your life. Do the genealogy find out who your Native ancestor was and what tribe or nation he or she was a member of. Then contact that tribe or nation and find out if they have any information about that person that you can't find elsewhere. If for instance you find out they were Cherokee, did they travel the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, or did they escape the removal and remain in the east, or did they leave the east before the forced removal. All of these things have a bearing on what you can find out about them.

Once you start to learn about your heritage, you need to learn as much as you can about the culture, this can be much harder because as a mixed blood you will run into difficulties, both from "whites" and from "skins" too. Attend a Pow Wow in your area, you can find schedules at http://www.powwows.com You don't have to be a member of a tribe to attend a Pow Wow unless it is restricted attendance and the website will tell you if it is. I have a webpage with a few guidelines to attending a Pow Wow for the first time.
http://www.coolrogue.net/native/powwow.html

If you would like to talk to other in the same situation that you are in try this group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tribal_Heritage

Answer 4

I'm part Cherokee and Choctaw. And I grew up with red hair and freckles. Live, breath, and let others be proud of you. Too much pride in yourself can cause problems with who you are in the world. I'm sure that your parents were or are proud of you. Anyone who loves you is proud of you. That is the important pride. Too much pride in yourself means a life of constant conflict with either yourself in who you are, or with others that you try to identify with you as a native American.

Do you feal that you have to carry special ID? Are there people that you have to prove yourself with? Do the native Americans require you to prove yourself? I'll bet the real ones dont. They or maybe I should say, We are a noble people who have never had to prove anything to anybody. If someone doesn't believe you when you tell them that you are a native American, then they are not your friends. Why relate to someone who says that you are a liar. Or at least doesn't believe you when you identify yourself. The ones who believe you, will walk with you. The ones who dont believe you, will walk away. Its better that way. Trust attracts trust. They make better friends.

Answer 5

I think start by learning more about the culture, the history of the native americans, and then go from there. You cant really have pride or embrace something that you dont know much about..

Answer 6

Yes your thoughts make good sense, sad to say too that your words speak of the pain, prejudice and put down that you and your heritage has suffered till this day...
The best way to cure this is to know thyself, your heritage, your people, your acclaims are world wide and you come from a great and proud people celebrate that, and rejoice in the fact that you as is every other race of people has much to be proud of and much to give... when you know and feel the blood of your family's greatness, the Spirit will raise in you, and you will see a new person in the mirror, you will see the endurance and beautiful mixture of peoples in you today as well, in that be proud.

Answer 7

I'm part Cherokee Indian and I don't look one bit Indian. Take pride by being proud. It is not necessary to look Indian to be proud of being Indian. Find out the tribe you are associated with, learn about it, contact them and see what their requirements are to be able to be registered as a member. Some require you to be half Native American for that particular tribe, and others require less. It's all dependent upon the tribe. Be proud of who you are by learning all you can about your tribe and passing this knowledge on to your children.

Answer 8

first LEARN. learn who you came from, what your people surrvived. Learn your herritage. With knowledge you gain respect. With knowledge you can find pride in your people.
Im a mix breed, and hardly look native. Look at my pic. I've got pale skin, med brown/wavy hair, hazel green eyes. But through and through my blood beats TLINGIT blood. I know who my family is. I know where we came from. Im passin on to my children what I know, and we are currently heading back home so my children can learn more of my people.
Looks has nothing to do with how native you are. my daughter is a throw back to our white side, and has blond hair and blue eyes, but she see's herself as a proud lil native chicka, you couldnt tell her otherwise!

Answer 9

Your question makes a lot of sense.
Become active in your tribal community, volunteer at Pow Wows, learn who your tribal leaders are and what direction your tribe is going,become a registered voter within your tribe and VOTE.
Make your tribe proud of YOU!

Answer 10

Your physical appearence has very little to do with it.With knowledge comes awareness,as suggested by many others whose words hold more wisdom than mine ever can,begin to know yourself first,than seek out your people and try to measure up to them.They will help you remember who you are.