(no subject)

[dolari]

I always feel oogy when someone assumes I'm Native American. I don't feel I'm "entitled" to that label. I'm fairly certain I am by blood, sure. But not by experience or education. It's even more oogy when another Native does it, like yesterday. Happens a lot up here.

When I worked at Swan in Pennsylvania, before I transitioned, but had grown my hair out long, I was called "Chief." I enjoyed the comfortableness my coworkers had in me for giving me the nickname, but the nickname felt....wrong.

Or that one time someone from Tulalip asked me if I was Native and I said "Well, if you think Mexicans are Native." His reply? "Weren't no borders back in the day, brother."

Comments

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

It could be interesting to try tracking down your family tree.. who knows what you might uncover? Though the thought occurs that, hypothetically, perhaps DNA analysis might be able to prove some Native American links. (Me? As far as I know, it's all fairly old Anglo-Saxon on my father's side, and then over into Prussia on my mother's side)

Weren't no borders back in the day, brother.

Very true. And a sentiment I warm to easily - there's so much emphasis on borders these days, especially with some political factions making hay over them, constantly trying to drive wedges between Us and Them, when people all around the world have far more in common with each other than not.