q.

southern cheyenne ancestry, in the process of undoing the colonialism in my family history. white & native. they/them

[entheognosis]

Daughter of Big Horse. Northern Cheyenne. circa 1885. Photo by Heyn Photo

[reconnectingnative]

If you are an active indigenous blogger, pls interact so i can follow you <3

OR if you are a reconnecting native, pls interact. it’s hard to find other people online because of the variety of circumstances for reconnecters!

[cedar-maw]

Sometimes I think my stepdad is right and I should stop identifying with/trying to reconnect to my culture since its not like im even a quarter ndn by DNA percentage

But then i remember that blood quantum is a fucking colonialist lie and my great great great grandfather didn't fight in a fucking battle for me to throw away my heritage

[v0iddr0id]

As a native American who didn't get to grow up surrounded by my own culture I feel fucking robbed.

I don't even personally know any other natives outside my immediate family.

I never got to appreciate traditional food made by my people. I never got to experience live music written and performed by people like me.

Never knew the folklore.

Never got to wear the clothes.

I got almost nothing.

In these awful times I don't even feel like I fit in in this awful country.

[dogberryrowan]

To anyone trying to reconnect with their ancestral heritage and culture: please don't feel ashamed for not knowing things or for not learning "fast enough". It's big work, and you will invariably always find more information, nuance, and stories among your people. I don't think I'll ever stop, even after I'm lnui'site'waq and know all the stories and history I can find. Our cultures are alive and growing and adapting, as all cultures do.

To anyone interacting with someone trying to reconnect with their ancestral heritage and culture: please don't shame or tease or make fun of people trying. Unlike the ancestors of we who are disconnected, we are not hiding or spurning who we are anymore. I understand my ancestors reasons, and I do not fault them for it. Regardless of that, isn't it a joyful thing to see our communities reconnect? To see lost cousins found? The see languages revived? To see knowledge kept alive? To see how we'll grow into the future?