IMHO Native Americans are extremely racist and discriminatory.

As an injun, I found it hilarious when another injun asked an injun at a pow wow he thought was a poser, "So, how long have you been an indigenous individual for a living?"

But it is their sense of humor that has sustained them as a people for three thousand years.

Go back to your home planet.

Unamused.

Well, according to the Mormons, American Indians are really a lost tribe of Jews.....

hmm....buffalo come

NOLA? let's get some New Orlean's Mardi GRAS Indians pictures posted. M' Kay?

I'm about to shed a tear over how harshly he's treating native cultures:

I just got home from work at an Indian casino, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies.

I made it through two pages. Do I get a prize?

If you're wondering did I ask for this gift no, sir, I did not, no more than I asked to lose this here limb. But I should've expected it, and I'll tell you why. Because I come from a long line of healing people. I'm a spiritual man, in touch... with the really-real. The - the unseen real. And I... am one 64th Cherokee, and I can summon up my ancestors to bring water to this thirsty land. Yeah!

There's a homeless Cree man threatening people on the street outside my apartment, so I'm getting a kick.....

Well damn! I've actually met Ed, and it wasn't even at the Cherokee Tribal Council of GA; he was performing at the Palatka Crab Festival a decade ago, and selling his CDs. I have one, and it's very relaxing, and also my birds shut the hell up when I play it. Say what you want about his bloodline, but the man is a damn good flute player of the style of the Native Americans.

AbbeySomeone: IMHO Native Americans are extremely racist and discriminatory.

Really? I've never seen that. The ones I've met are incredibly grounded and thoughtful. I've seen some become offended by people that adopt aspects of their culture or spirituality for selfish reasons like windbreaker there. I've also seen offense taken at non-tribal people trying to tell them what to do as though they can't think for themselves.

Karma Curmudgeon: AbbeySomeone: IMHO Native Americans are extremely racist and discriminatory.

Really? I've never seen that. The ones I've met are incredibly grounded and thoughtful. I've seen some become offended by people that adopt aspects of their culture or spirituality for selfish reasons like windbreaker there. I've also seen offense taken at non-tribal people trying to tell them what to do as though they can't think for themselves.

Go call an Apache a Navajo and get back to me.

FTA: "Serbin is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe (Sioux)."

Ass-'n'-bone Sioux? I smell some fabulous diversity coming off this tribe!

I'm 1/32 Penobscot Indian according to family history and don't look it at all.

SharkTrager: Karma Curmudgeon: AbbeySomeone: IMHO Native Americans are extremely racist and discriminatory.

Really? I've never seen that. The ones I've met are incredibly grounded and thoughtful. I've seen some become offended by people that adopt aspects of their culture or spirituality for selfish reasons like windbreaker there. I've also seen offense taken at non-tribal people trying to tell them what to do as though they can't think for themselves.

Go call an Apache a Navajo and get back to me.

Is that like calling a Puerto Rican a Mexican, or a Cuban a Puerto Rican? 'Cause that'll get your ass fed to a 'gator down in Dade County.

That settles it, I'm gonna start protesting Larry the Cable Guy.

SharkTrager: Karma Curmudgeon: AbbeySomeone: IMHO Native Americans are extremely racist and discriminatory.

Really? I've never seen that. The ones I've met are incredibly grounded and thoughtful. I've seen some become offended by people that adopt aspects of their culture or spirituality for selfish reasons like windbreaker there. I've also seen offense taken at non-tribal people trying to tell them what to do as though they can't think for themselves.

Go call an Apache a Navajo and get back to me.

Assume a West Indian is of African heritage and let me know how that works out.

thespindrifter: Is that like calling a Puerto Rican a Mexican, or a Cuban a Puerto Rican? 'Cause that'll get your ass fed to a 'gator down in Dade County.

I read a text being used for a Chicano studies class, where the (Chicano) author stated that all who immigrated from spanish speaking countries should be called Mexicans to emphasize their shared heritage. Not sure how well that goes over...

More FTA fun: ""Who is Sal?" Winddancer asks. "Sal's not my keeper. Sal's never proven anything to me who he is." Serbin brushes off such remarks. "I will show anyone my tribal card at any time," he says. "Or call the tribe. It's a two-minute phone call."

[Yeah, because the Tribe is the be-all, end all of fact and truth. They'll cut off 1/4 or even half-bloods sometimes to keep the Casino profits centralized to a powerful minority.]

"We, as American Indians, are the only people in this country who have to produce an ID card to show race," Winddancer says to a reporter. "Why do I have to prove to you or anyone else my lineage, or my blood?
"Do I ask that of you?""

Yeah, well when you're talking Federal Aid and the like, the White Man's Government kinda likes proof; sorry about that old bean. My wife is 1/16 Native, and she couldn't get shiat if she tried, which she doesn't. Let's face it, neither one of these guys looks like a pureblood; you want a real Native that can't be denied? Go find a Mississippi Choctaw! Their skin is so dark they're almost African-American looking, and the thick, long black hair is really hard to miss. Most North-Eastern Natives and Cherokee look like a pasty WOP.

Enigmamf: thespindrifter: Is that like calling a Puerto Rican a Mexican, or a Cuban a Puerto Rican? 'Cause that'll get your ass fed to a 'gator down in Dade County.

I read a text being used for a Chicano studies class, where the (Chicano) author stated that all who immigrated from spanish speaking countries should be called Mexicans to emphasize their shared heritage. Not sure how well that goes over...

Most Spaniards I have met look down on the Spanish Speakers from the Americas, but it seems like most non-Mexican Spanish speakers from the Americas look down on the Mexicans. I've said for years that Mexican really needs to be classified as its own language, not unlike American English, Australian English, Quebec French, and the like. In a hundred years, all of these tongues will be so different from the parent language that just calling them a dialect won't be good enough. That's how Teutono-Celtic turned into Picto-Scot, Irish Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Breton, German, French, Norvegian, Svedish, and Icelandic.

But culturally? Good Lord does the entire Spanish speaking world hate being identified with Mexico! I seriously would never dare assume where a Spanish speaker is from before I ask, just because the wrong answer could result in a good stabbing.

I got the feeling from the article that the main whiner was really contemplating giving ol' Ed a good shiv too.

Enigmamf: thespindrifter: Is that like calling a Puerto Rican a Mexican, or a Cuban a Puerto Rican? 'Cause that'll get your ass fed to a 'gator down in Dade County.

I read a text being used for a Chicano studies class, where the (Chicano) author stated that all who immigrated from spanish speaking countries should be called Mexicans to emphasize their shared heritage. Not sure how well that goes over...

My grandparents are from Spain, so I guess that makes me half-Mexican.

Sweet.

Yet more fun FTA (as I read more and more pages):
"Current Nanticoke Chief Herman Robbins says it has never been proved that any of Winddancer's relatives were regular members of his tribe, going back to at least 1608 when Captain John Smith discovered it. Family has to be documented for full Nanticoke membership. Blood quantity does not matter.

"To make it simple, he's not Nanticoke," Robbins says. "But does he have Nanticoke blood in him? He may have. Everyone's blood is so mixed up these days it's hard to say."

Ah, that explains it. Yup, not in good standing with the powerful. That tribe has been notorious in the past with screwing over a lot of other people too. He could have married in, lived on the res (if there even is one for this group) and had kids and they'll still cut him off. That's just how they roll. Massachusetts tribes also have similar fallings-out with the peripheral mixed-bloods. In the end, I still say it's less about the DNA and more about the money.

thespindrifter: More FTA fun: ""Who is Sal?" Winddancer asks. "Sal's not my keeper. Sal's never proven anything to me who he is." Serbin brushes off such remarks. "I will show anyone my tribal card at any time," he says. "Or call the tribe. It's a two-minute phone call."

[Yeah, because the Tribe is the be-all, end all of fact and truth. They'll cut off 1/4 or even half-bloods sometimes to keep the Casino profits centralized to a powerful minority.]

"We, as American Indians, are the only people in this country who have to produce an ID card to show race," Winddancer says to a reporter. "Why do I have to prove to you or anyone else my lineage, or my blood?
"Do I ask that of you?""

And he is asking that of windwhatever. I see both sides to it. I'm 1/16, who isn't, and can't trace it for shiat. The person who had the information was embarrassed and died with it.


Yeah, well when you're talking Federal Aid and the like, the White Man's Government kinda likes proof; sorry about that old bean. My wife is 1/16 Native, and she couldn't get shiat if she tried, which she doesn't. Let's face it, neither one of these guys looks like a pureblood; you want a real Native that can't be denied? Go find a Mississippi Choctaw! Their skin is so dark they're almost African-American looking, and the thick, long black hair is really hard to miss. Most North-Eastern Natives and Cherokee look like a pasty WOP.

thespindrifter: Current Nanticoke Chief Herman Robbins says it has never been proved that any of Winddancer's relatives were regular members of his tribe, going back to at least 1608 when Captain John Smith discovered it. Family has to be documented for full Nanticoke membership. Blood quantity does not matter.

"To make it simple, he's not Nanticoke," Robbins says. "But does he have Nanticoke blood in him? He may have. Everyone's blood is so mixed up these days it's hard to say."


Indians have Jim Crow Laws too?

These two guys should just relax and talk it out over a nice cold glass of firewater.

Mayhem of the Black Underclass: I'm about to shed a tear over how harshly he's treating native cultures:
[struckbyenlightning.files.wordpress.com image 310x266]

You do know Iron Eyes Cody was Italian right?

oh hell, that will teach me to post on a Saturday night.

What I meant to quote, and then say, was, I am 1/16th. As are the majority of people my age. But the person who had the proof was embarrassed and died with the knowldege. So, I can say, yeah, I'm part whatever, but I can't prove it.

/American Mutt

Ed Winddancer sounds like a guy who is on the level.

ReapTheChaos: Mayhem of the Black Underclass: I'm about to shed a tear over how harshly he's treating native cultures:
[struckbyenlightning.files.wordpress.com image 310x266]

You do know Iron Eyes Cody was Italian right?

You have ruined my childhood. I didn't know.

/how about santa?
//the easter bunny

thespindrifter: FTA: "Serbin is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe (Sioux)."

Ass-'n'-bone Sioux? I smell some fabulous diversity coming off this tribe!

what are you, 12?


Also, just because you don't look native, doesn't mean you aren't. I live in the "city" that has the most natives per capita in all of canada. At least 5 percent you can't even tell are native, with their blond hair and blue eyes

We are also the child poverty capital of Canada.

Not a coincedence

I remember taking a class on Native American identity in college, and since the school I attended was very, very close to a reservation we had a teacher who was a full blooded Indian and knew what the hell he was talking about. I'm not going to claim by any measure to know it all on the subject, but the vibe I got from him and all of our guest speakers (which included a particularly fascinating presentation by native author Eric Gansworth) is that modern Natives struggle a lot with their cultural identity. On the one hand, they celebrate their rich cultural heritage, but on the other hand they don't want to get caught up in that "good Indian" role with whitey expecting them to do rain dances for him at his will. They deal with a great deal of racism still and they are STILL getting shafted by the US Government at every freaking turn. Say what you will about the casinos, but it's the way they get by. Do you think they like being associated with nothing but gambling, cheap gas and cigarettes? No, but they need to survive as a community. That's one of the reasons it's so insulting to them when guys like this come around. Sure, you can learn the history and the war dances all day long and claim to be an Indian, but until you've lived with the REAL modern Indian experience, including the bigotry and poverty or having your house burned to the ground because if they were to allow the fire hydrants to be put in, they'll lose their independence as a community... the fact is it's not all feathered hats and flute solos. All I can say for sure is that cultural identity is a huge sore point with most natives these days, and they REALLY hate non-natives stealing from their culture and peddling it as entertainment.

Red Shirt Blues: Sleazy Rider: I just got home from work at an Indian casino, so I'm really getting a kick out of these replies.

Did you help people with their reservations? Maybe gather up their bags and totem to their rooms?

Nah. Security. Dealing with drunk crazy indians all night.

Last quote: "Says Serbin: "Ed is just one of 10 million people who claim they are Native American. If all these people were actually Native American we would have easily outnumbered the Calvary in the American Indian Wars and this country would have been run by different tribes."

AH HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!

Nice. Yeah, because it's impossible for a population to grow exponentially over 130+ years, and because current numbers are = to the original population? What a dumbfark. Do you know why so many of these @ 10 Million people claiming native blood are all mixed race? Because they were forced to hide who they were to avoid racism for close to two centuries. Just being a 1/4 Native would get you run out of town a little over a century ago, or worse. So yeah, they did the Jewish thing and diversified, and now you have people like my wife, whose parents are both bi-racial native descendants, but because she had a German great-grandmother on her Father's side, the blonde hair and blue eyes skipped a few generations, and lo and behold my high-cheekboned, proud-nosed, extremely tan goddess and her red-haired brother look absolutely nothing like their black-haired, brown-eyed parents and grandparents. She would never pass for native from a distance, but her blood still carries the heritage. If we ever have children my Vik DNA will possibly kill off any hope of another throwback, but I've seen crazier shiat happen. I know a couple who both had about 1/64 Cherokee in them, white as white can be, but damn if their kid didn't come out brown! And he stayed that way too. If it wasn't for the fact that he looks like a 50/50 hybrid between the parents' faces, I'd think he was adopted. So what happens to kids like him? He's clearly a throwback to the old blood, and could pass for a Choctaw if he tried. But according to his 'bloodline', he's as "White" as me.

So now what? Race based solely on appearance and spotty paperwork is crap, because who you really are is about not only some code passed down in your cells over the generations, but also who you are in your heart. I never saw Ed Winddancer do dancing or painted up, but if he does a better job of giving an accurate portrayal of Native American customs than some fatass whiner sitting behind a desk complaining about a heritage he defends but cannot reproduce or pass along, who is the better "Indian"?

Also, that bullshiat law about posessing Bald Eagle feathers has GOT to go! I live in Florida, the seeming capital of the resurrected Eagle population in America; if I merely bring home a feather I found on the ground and take it home, and some jackass spots it and turns me in and it tests DNA positive for eagle, I get to go to prison and have a felony on my record! FOR. A. DAMNED. LOOSE. FREE-RANGE. FEATHER!!
That is total crap right there.

It's the same here in Western NC... everyone claims Cherokee descent and a few obnoxious white people with no connection to Native American culture whatsoever decide to walk around pretending to be native, even though their ancestry includes like one Cherokee five or six generations ago. It really annoys the natives, and I can see why. It would be like an American with Scottish heritage moving to Scotland and walking around in a kilt talking with a bad Scottish accent and playing bagpipes everywhere.

But can any of these "Indians" cook a decent curry?

What if they had a gatling bow? Things could have turned out a lot different.

batcookie: On the one hand, they celebrate their rich cultural heritage, but on the other hand they don't want to get caught up in that "good Indian" role with whitey expecting them to do rain dances for him at his will. They deal with a great deal of racism still and they are STILL getting shafted by the US Government at every freaking turn. Say what you will about the casinos, but it's the way they get by.

Well, that and being highly adaptive. In Mississippi, the casinoes will/used to? gladly take the title to your house if you wanted more chips. That's one way to get your land back: one property at a time :)
Then there is the Niagara Mohawks; when they don't get their way, they just start an awesome tire fire on the NY State Throughway on the section that runs smack-dab through the middle of Seneca land.
So there's that. They just have to be creative, and the rest is details.

No_Good_Name:
/how about santa?
//the easter bunny

There not Native American either.