Well, my either or statement was probably wrong to say. I'm sure there's people who are just interested in their family ancestry.
I have Russian/Lithuanian on one side, and German on the other. I find myself more drawn to the Russian/Lith side, however, that is a psychological thing. The German side is there and just as relevant to who I am dna/blood wise. I've never met either of my grandfathers. I did meet both of my grandmothers. My Lith grandmother sat with my father one day and described where she came from, how they lived in a hut with the ground as the floor, and chickens and pigs were brought in at night so they wouldn't be stolen/eaten by wild animals or other peoples. As a child, that story was more interesting to me. Naturally, I grew up with a more 'interested' draw to that side of the family history. Someone could say it's my 'blood' and I should go and hunt down these folks and join them and be one of them. It's not. It's my childhood fancy of living in a hut with animals. The German side could have just as interesting stories, but they were not told to me.
All I'm trying to say in my posts above is that I don't believe having a bit of blood from one ancestor or another is the 'driving' factor. Most people living in America know something of ndn's. Have heard, read, told interesting stories that create a childhood fancy.. a romanticism perhaps. Then, finding out you have the blood.. well, it drives people. It even drives people who do not have any ndn blood.
Now, I'm not talking about people who really did have grandparents or great grandparents who were ndn and as children, then as adults feel kinship and wish to open and learn that side of their family history and be part of it. But I do see as I see myself, one side playing more importance than the other simply due to the psychological effect. So, I was trying to say why don't.. or if.. these people also go after the other 'blood' in their ancestry? And if not... why not? It's not any less than the ndn blood imo. No one group/set of peoples is more or less than another. All come from somewhere down the line, a tribe of some kind, culture, belief.
The fascination and obsessions some people place on one group or another is psychological in nature, and can be detrimental, or can be a blessing. Just depends really.
I see tons of people wanting ndn spirituality. I perceive that way back when, the Europeans came and tried to decimate the ndn populations by converting them by trying to beat their culture/spirituality out of them.. and now a days, well, it's unlawful to do such, so instead, they try to decimate them by diluting their culture and spiritual ways. I don't believe they do so consciously and intently. But every time I see a new age sweat lodge or books on the topic or any other new age pseudo ndn BS, I can't help but think that the 'enemy' is still at it, still trying to decimate the Native culture and spirituality of this (and other) lands.
So, I think that having a flood of peoples coming into native culture based on a drop or two of ndn blood is a serious situation. And needs to be looked at very closely. I commend the tribes that have a limitation to such descendants. It helps to keep their culture and spirituality 'safe'.
I think if you are a descendant, no matter how distant, there is a right way to approach it, and simply signing up and claiming it as your own is not a 'right' and 'respectful' way. And I think if a person were truly concerned, they would know this, and help to prevent the dilution of such cultures and spirituality. And perhaps even forgo the signing up, as a respectful way of keeping such culture/tribe intact.
Edited: I forgot to say Thanks Moma P.
