I joined this group to show my outrage at the narrow-mindedness of some of the posts that I read. However, after reading more I thought that maybe those with more knowledge could explain if a "non-native" has a chance EVER to partake in ceremonies - even when invited, as I've read many say that's not good enough either.
First, let me tell you a little about myself. I am a mutt. I have no idea who I am besides German, English, Irish and native - but the nation we only have stories to go on which say Shawnee. I live in Indiana, which I read that OK shawnee have issue with IN shawnee tribe that seemed to be trying to reclaim a heritage in our own land. I vaguely remember someone mentioning another tribe also, but Shawnee is the predominant one. We cannot trace our ancestry because after four generations for me, there is no record on my papaw's side. My aunt went and traced as far as she could at the time to try and get a grant for college for native blood; however, our history is lost. On top of blood and stories from family, my aunt had a Cherokee man come to the bar that she was working at and he asked her what tribe she was. She told of the story of being Shawnee. He rubbed her nose bone and said, yes that's a Shawnee nose. I sat at a bar when I was of age and got called out by an obnoxious man hollaring, "Hey, injun." This went on and on that night.
From my understanding of most the posts that I read on this site, I would not be welcome to ever do anything in a ceremony as I am not native. In my life, I have met more native souls who were of 100% white blood and 100% natives who had nothing of a native soul. My questions and information that I would like is how does a non-native or non-card carrying person - who doesn't live near or in the areas of the reservations - make it in the world of trying to learn their heritage and gain respect when many's minds and hearts are already closed as they only see an outsider. I would like to learn to become a dancer or something to participate in ceremonies, but reading here gives the impression that this is out for me and/or my daughter.
Hi Rhiannon
I think you're biggest issue isn't necessarily with anyone here, but with yourself. You're trying to find yourself. In one breath you exasperate about how you perceive people thinking that a "non-Native" would never be able to participate in any ceremonies. In the next breath you're talking about your native ancestry.
I don't doubt you're in a difficult place, but first let me say non-Indians participate in tribal events and ceremonies all the time. This happens because of active involvement in some capacity with a family who is part of a Native community or active involvement with the community themselves. Many tribes consider their ways sacred and to mess with them means bringing danger or other harmful forces around, so there's an element of trust that MUST be built before you are invited to be part of that community and participate in their spirituality. There is no prosthelytizing as in Christian religions....it's just not that open. If you think about it in the historical sense...accepting someone from outside as part of the community means another mouth to feed and other considerations. It's not taken lightly.
You would be coming into your ways as a child. When I say that I mean you're starting from scratch...just like kids do. Growing up in your life you've obviously not had your entire family group around you to teach you how to be...teach you your language...teach you how you take a role and contribute to your family group or community. So you're an adult who would be starting from a clean slate and has a LOT to learn. Just to be real with you....it could be YEARS (maybe as much as 15...who knows, can't predict that) before a community accepts you enough to teach you their ways. That's years of active involvement with them....being one of them. So ask yourself....are you ready to commit to that....are you ready to give up the things you've been taught from the family you DO know?? Those are very real considerations.
Being Native isn't being part of a cool club and taking advantage of government programs....let me just tell you...those programs are underfunded and smeared in bureaucracy so the actual monies intended to help communities in the end don't go there. This leaves many Native communities in poor...occasionally third world conditions...for those poorest communities, the ONLY thing that keeps them afloat are the people there that still hold on to their spiritual ways. Sometimes those people are hard to find as well, but it's their sacrifice that keeps the community from folding completely. Dancing at pow-wows is a very very small part of the whole equation...not to mention the Shawnee people don't traditionally participate in pow-wow dancing. Those ways come from other tribes and to learn those ways you'll have to participate in a community that follows that path as well. Pow-wow dancers from outside those communities (if they do it right) are brought into the pow-wow circle in full view of the entire community under the guidance of a family that have taken them in. That family usually dresses them and speaks for them so that everyone recognizes that they are a dancer. It's not just buying an outfit and jumping out and dancing.
I'm gonna agree with you Rhiannon that Native blood isn't a qualification for all things Native. You're right that there are full blood Indians who could care less about their community and run away from their identity. They have their reasons....and sometimes it's not pretty, but when you hear their whole story...sometimes you can understand. We're all just human beings and we all make mistakes. But for those people, their soul is still 100% Native. That's why they struggle....they try to run away from their true selfs....so as far as judging who's soul is Native and who's isn't...I really gotta wonder where you've learned you're able to do that. That line seems more like a justification based out of insecurity....it's the exact thing someone says when they're trying to bring a person down to what they perceive to be their own level.
So maybe a little self-inspection is needed on your part. Why are you struggling? Why do you expect immediate gratification for something you want? Why do you do you see yourself down below others and attempt to shoot them down to your level with judgments?
If you answer all those questions for yourself you may see how your motivations have led you away from being part of a community and only led you to being a part of a community of yourself. From your own words I've only read very selfish reasons for taking part in "ceremonies" (and even there...what are you trying take part in specifically). I haven't read what you would do for your community if you were able to pin down what tribe you're from and began interaction with them. Community involvement and communal spirituality are not about the self....they're about the good of everyone involved. It's also a commitment that you have to make for life. If your'e gonna be identified as part of your tribe then you have be that way 100% of the time. The people in that community don't get a choice, but you do have a choice...so the only way you bond there is to make only 1 choice...that's to be part of them. It isn't easy. Indian communities are full of their own brands of problems and you would have to 100% be willing to take the bad with the good.
After doing all that and showing all that you may find the acceptance that you're looking for. Anything else is a shortcut (i.e. paying for ceremonies, joining fake tribes, etc) and shortcuts leave you immediately gratified, but empty inside. It's kind of like the saying about Chinese food....you'll be hungry very shortly later. So to take the shortcuts means you're gonna be on this search forever....
Don't sell yourself short Rhiannon. If this is what you really want then do the work and you'll find it.
Superdog
