Should I Become A Native American

[Sprayber]

Although I may not look it, I have a sinificant about of Native American blood in me. In fact, I have enough to become a member of the Cherokee tribe. I got to thinking about some of the free stuff I should be entitled to. Even though only half of my ancestors were oppressed. And I more closely resemble someone from Ireland than someone from the reservation. Anyway, I think I deserve my portion of the gambling money.


What would you do?

[Lord Merciless]

I consider everyone born in the US a native american.

[chequita guevara]

Go for it.

[Sprayber]

I've always been intrested since my mom showed me pictures of her grandmother. When I found out my fathers side had it too, it made me think. My aunt always spent time tracing our family from our Irish and English roots but kind of never thought about the native american side.

[chequita guevara]

You're entitled to a peice of what was stolen from your ancestors.

[JohnT]

Especially if you use your new found status as a minority to get a SBA 8(a) certification, and go into business dealing with the government as a "minority-owned business."

Is that what you meant, Che?

[JohnT]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
You're entitled to a peice of what was stolen from your ancestors.

Well, shiite, if I wanted to I'm sure I can dig back far enough into my geneology to make a case against those Godless Normans who invaded my country and took my home 'back in ought-66!

[orange]

Normans aren't Shiites, and neither is Che to the best of my knowledge

[chequita guevara]

[Japher]

nd I more closely resemble someone from Ireland than someone from the reservation.

My God! A Irish/Indian?! Take what you can, 'cause you are going to have a REAL drinking problem

[JohnT]

Uh... you know, I'm sending you a PM Sprayber.

[Arrian]

Originally posted by Sprayber
Although I may not look it, I have a sinificant about of Native American blood in me. In fact, I have enough to become a member of the Cherokee tribe. I got to thinking about some of the free stuff I should be entitled to. Even though only half of my ancestors were oppressed. And I more closely resemble someone from Ireland than someone from the reservation. Anyway, I think I deserve my portion of the gambling money.


What would you do?

I can't say for sure what I'd do if I were in your shoes. In mine, but magically given NA ancestry (so all else equal to my present situation), I would *not* try and get anything out of the government.

-Arrian

[Verto]

How can they be considered to be Native Americans, or more native than say, the early Spanish settlers? Did the Indians NOT migrate here, the same as the rest? Certainly, they had settled centuries before the Europeans, but they are no more native than I am.

[mrmitchell]

How can they be considered to be Native Americans, or more native than say, the early Spanish settlers? Did the Indians NOT migrate here, the same as the rest? Certainly, they had settled centuries before the Europeans, but they are no more native than I am.

Then everyone is native African?

[Sprayber]

I was just joking about bleeding the goverment. But I am interested in learning more about my family. For years my mom and aunt have been looking into our faimlies history and have found a lot of interesting things. I have always known I had native american blood (like many in my state) But perhaps I'll be a member of the tribe soon.

[reds4ever]

Go for it! Whats one more mongrel Yank in search of a heritage gonna matter? :O)

I hear Celt is quite fashionable at the moment if you ever fancy a change!

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by JohnT
Especially if you use your new found status as a minority to get a SBA 8(a) certification, and go into business dealing with the government as a "minority-owned business."

Is that what you meant, Che?

"Sprayber's Casino". I can see it now

[JohnT]

Hell, he can sell them cleaning services, plastics, nuclear weapons, whatever he wants to at a slight advantage over other competing firms if he's legally recognized as a minority, and owns and operates his own business.

[PeteH]

How can they be considered to be Native Americans, or more native than say, the early Spanish settlers? Did the Indians NOT migrate here, the same as the rest? Certainly, they had settled centuries before the Europeans, but they are no more native than I am.

Hmm perhaps a sense of perspective for you first:

From the evidence of the mammals which the first arrivals hunted and the geological background of the time when they arrived we may date the entry of humans, the Paleo-Indian, into America around 40,000 years ago.

from http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum...0.02.07.x.html

So if nothing else, they certainly have a much longer relationship with the land than any european colonists.

Second, if the europeans had come to live alongside the indians, things would have probably adjusted over time. But that was never an option, due to a multitude of factors, but primarily stemming form the fact that the europeans were 'civilized' and therefore not interested in living alongside the 'savages'. It was just a question of how fast could they wipe them out to make use of the space they occupied.


So there is a bit of a difference. As to the original post, it is a very personal decision. Personally, however, I would want to find out and become a part of the tribe in the hope of learning some of the things that are going to be lost in a generation or so if things aren't changed, as the last people to have known any Native Americans who lived before the reservations die out without anyone to carry on the stories. To try to just firther expand the conquest by getting on the inside would just make you part of the genocide

[chequita guevara]

If you join a tribe ou can join the Navtive American Church and partake of the peyote ritual, though I doubt Cherokee do that.

[reds4ever]

Survival of the fittest, we were, they wern't. End of story

No one b!tches about the giant Sloth?

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison


"Sprayber's Casino". I can see it now

I will offer a special Poly package

[Immortal Wombat]

Originally posted by reds4ever
No one b!tches about the giant Sloth?

I b!tch about the dodo, great auk and passenger pigeon. Does that count?

[st_swithin]

Dude, this is America - take what you can get. Free money is free money.

[Imran Siddiqui]

If you join a tribe ou can join the Navtive American Church and partake of the peyote ritual

In most states that's illegal . And that has been upheld by the SCOTUS as well.

[SpencerH]

Go for it.

[Space05us]

My God! A Irish/Indian?! Take what you can, 'cause you are going to have a REAL drinking problem

You're entitled to a peice of what was stolen from your ancestors.

Alright Im moving back to Italy and taking that boat building company back! I dont care if my ancestor slept around with blue bloods and got ran out for it!

[Tingkai]

Originally posted by reds4ever
Survival of the fittest, we were, they wern't. End of story

No one b!tches about the giant Sloth?

Hitler would be proud of you.

[General Ludd]

Are you going to move to a reservation aswell?

[Space05us]

Are you going to move to a reservation aswell?

after hearing first hand stories about them I would suggest against it.