What is wrong with the many white people on 360 playing native? Passing themselves off as 'teachers of our people'? Recently I discovered one such person...a white woman....from the UK...her 360 page is filled with new age garbage etc....today she sent me a mail beginning with 'Osiyo'....the greeting from my own people...so I replied...here are our mails....this womans page is:
http://uk.360.yahoo.com/profile-A2QOKiEmYrI8XRgiTxddZrcZZyU-?cq=1NativeAmericanUnity wrote:
Forgive my question...I am simply wondering your heritage as you use the language of my people (Keetoowah Band Of Tsalagi) ie: Osiyo...but I see you are from the United Kingdom?
¥«Wyte°l|l°Dove»¥ responded:
Osiyo my friend ..no need to forgive you for what ? it is only a question !..in answer as they say im not of native blood ! but "Native American isn't blood. It is what is in the heart. The love for the land, the respect for it, those who inhabit it, and the respect and acknowledgement of the spirits and elders. That is what it is to be Indian." And in my heart i am ! if i were to be of a certain tribe i suppose then it would be of the langauge of my soul which is cherokee !..however i speak many tounges as they say as i learn so as to comunicate to my friends of different tribes and cultures this is my respect to them !...does this offend you that i am not of native blood ?...i do hope not for we are all one and all related !...have a blessed day my friend ~peace~
NativeAmericanUnity wrote:
Having a respect for the land and for people...does not make a person Native American, nor does adopting the language of Native peoples.
We as Native Americans have to daily fight to prove who we are as a people...in the form of Blood Quantum cards...Band Numbers...Heritage..family line etc...we are the only race of people on this earth who have to PROVE who we are on a daily basis...yet many non-natives find it..'respectful' to use our language and adopt our ways?...when we ourselves struggle for the right to do so?...We were and still are branded 'heathens' and 'savages'...we had our rights taken away by non native people and still today we fight to regain those rights...yet we seem to live with a generation of people who feel it necessary to 'play' native?
Being respectful of the earth...is something ALL people must be...that does not make a person Native American...being respectful of other people in this world...is something we ALL have a duty to be...that too does not make a person Native American. People should be blessed to be who THEY are...they should be proud of their OWN heritage, and not try to adopt the ways of others and play at being something they are not.
I would not adopt the white mans ways...I am Native American! I am proud of my culture and heritage...it would be disrespectful for me to adopt the ways of other people. How is it therefore you find it 'respectful'? I mean no offense...I am simply trying to understand.
Please understand...I am a traditionalist..I work hard to preserve our peoples culture and heritage...and to put a stop to the mis-use and abuse of of language and ways by non-natives.
¥«Wyte°l|l°Dove»¥ responded:
I do not profess to be native it does not say anywer that i am !and i dont think creator would like that no one is allowed to teach other than "what you call a true native"..i see this offends you that i try to teach of granfathers ways and ways of the peoples ..to try bring peace to people and heal mother earth...i dont think ure creator would like you not allowing others in because of skin or blood ..im offended !..
NativeAmericanUnity wrote:
What rights do you have as a white woman to teach the ways of native american people?
¥«Wyte°l|l°Dove»¥ responded:
why use term white woman
?? i dont like the way this is going i hear hatred in ure words and not that of love ..ok so you are offended as am i ..i wasnt aware you felt like this now i am i shall leave ure site as i do not have the blood requirements or as you so loudly say skin colour this is not godly...is there different gates into heaven because of skin or blood i think not ...ieave ure site as im not welcome...
UI shall publish on my posts ure replies see what others think ...
NativeAmericanUnity wrote:
excellent idea...as too will I alert NAFPS and other groups to a non native claiming the right to teach native ways. Your offended? You have no idea of our people. Do you live on a reservation? Do you have to fight for your rights to just 'be'? No...Native people have the right to teach native people...not non natives who use it simply as a means to be 'different' or to fit into the 'new age' ideals of playing ndn.
Why do these people feel it necessary to do this??
With respect Tsisqua (NAU)