Hi, I wanted to make this post before Native American Heritage month is over with (primarily) directed towards the Natives that aren’t “Native Enough”. Though, that doesn't mean you can't read this if you aren't Native.
Being “Native Enough” isn’t, never will be, and never has been a real thing. Clinging onto this idea (Native or not) is a white colonial idea, even if you aren’t visibly Native, even if you didn’t grow up in the community, if you make the effort to connect, to learn, to take criticism, etc makes you as Native as the next one. To educate yourself and to become a part of it is what makes you Native.
If you’re the palest person in the room with pin straight blonde hair and blue eyes, you’re Native enough. If you’re the darkest person in the room with an afro, you’re Native enough. If you have green, hazel, light brown, dark brown, grey, or blue eyes, you’re Native enough. If you have blonde, red, black, brown, curly, straight, coiled, braided, natural, dyed, short, long, mid-length or shaved hair, you’re Native enough. If you have a nubian, greek, roman, snub, bulbous, hawk, fleshy, bumpy, straight, downturned or other nose, you’re Native enough. There is no look to being Native.
Blood Quantity is a white idea to deny, to restrict and to bar, even coming from other Natives. Because Natives (as much as the next) can cling onto white Colonial ideas, tribal superiority and the likes because one is “purer” than the rest isn’t a valid argument. It never has been, never will be, it’s hate filled.
And any individuals that read this and say “I’m x% Native, am I Native enough?” Will you educate yourself on that tribe/nation? Or are you just going to use that as a “Gotcha.” or an “I’m so exotic.” feeling? Or will you use it to understand? The practices, the community, the dressage, the food, the language/dialect? Will you stand with landback? Will you fight for other Native voices, including ones not from the same tribe/nation? Will you use the identity of being Native more than some pretty jewelry you can show off at parties?
I ask that Non-Natives don’t add onto this, nor any derailment of this post. Thanks.
Tagging @radiomogai because I know you're Métis.
