“Well they don’t look Native.”
Yeah, we all heard that one before.
What are we supposed to look like? Chief Yahoo? Are we supposed to have a pony tail? Is our skin tone supposed to be dark brown along with our stoic facial expressions with or without a feather?
The bottom line is that things are changing. Natives can look like anyone. They can be Black, White, Asian...whatever.
6 comments:
Mr. Walker states "The bottom line is that things are changing. Natives can look like anyone." I beg to differ, my tribe goes by blood quantum, 1/4 as a matter of fact, and when I visit the rez or attend a Tribal meeting I can truly see that we all look alike. Not a blond head in sight! And yes we do recognize each other as native. White people always ask if I'm Asian. I never get that from Indians.
I don't think there is anything wrong or racist wanting Indians to actually have Indian blood.
I can't help but think that if the Cherokee had implemented a blood quantum way back "when" they would not be having these problems today. You know what they say, hindsight is 20/20. As I have said before, my heart goes out to the Cherokee people and I wish them well.
Anonymouse
Writerfella here --
writerfella agrees with Anonymouse, which is rare but not outside the realm of possibility. What Walker actually is saying is that how does one define an American? And by the same illogic, then, how does one define an American Indian? Unfortunately for Rob Schmidt, this is not a political matter, except where certain legalities exist THAT WERE CREATED BY EUROMAN and not by the Native Americans themselves.
writerfella once before has posted this anecdote: in the late 1970s, a high-profile murder case here in Caddo County appeared to be fodder enough for the local District Attorney to feather his own political nest. But because the murder occurred on Indian land, the case was taken out of his hands and placed instead into both tribal and Federal Courts. Outraged, the DA wrote in a published editorial letter both his disapproval and his disgust at such an event. "What is it?" he wrote. "Is there one set of laws for the white man and yet another set of laws for the Indian?"
writerfella immediately answered that editorial letter with one of his own: "District Attorney Burns is quite correct. There is one set of laws for the white man and yet another set of laws for the Indian. The difference is, the Indians did not get to write their set of laws."
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
Since Indians now live in a political system based on laws and the Constitution, everything about them is a political matter.
Writerfella here --
Wow! Spoken like a true politician!!
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
Yes, I'm a veritable Jefferson of a politician.
If you need me to explain how something that doesn't seem political is in fact political, just let me know.
Writerfella here --
Okay, then, Rob, just when is it that you will write the work, NOTES FROM PALOS VERDES?
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
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