tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post1905722690135111601..comments2023-04-12T03:37:06.402-07:00Comments on Indigenous Nationhood: Mohawks or Canada's Disappearing Indians?Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-49063194778762888442010-07-03T21:11:32.565-07:002010-07-03T21:11:32.565-07:00I take my Ojibway heritage seriously enough to wan...I take my Ojibway heritage seriously enough to want to teach my young son about the history, culture and traditions. But I find it very difficult to have conversations on such subjects with some of the people I meet, spedifically some "status" natives; they look at me like I am from another planet (I am fair skinned) and some actually dismiss my interest. <br>I don't get it. On St Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, if I had any Italian or Jewish cousins I'd be embraced. <br>My mom went to great lengths to hand down stories about our ancestors, and with the internet we've been thrilled to find books, records and articles confirming what she taught us. <br>Our family has no modern connection with any foreign country or nationality, yet my efforts to teach my son that there's more to us than what the dominant culture offers are sometimes thwarted by a pattern of exclusion and elitism from the very nation we identify with. <br><br>What's up with that?Hank98http://www.blogger.com/profile/16699282216357410521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-69561663094693347272010-07-17T13:52:36.395-07:002010-07-17T13:52:36.395-07:00I have had exactly the same experience, Hank. Even...I have had exactly the same experience, Hank. Even my cousins from my mother's sister treat me as though I am "lesser than" simply because I'm "the white girl". My brothers are all accepted though (they all "look Indian").<br>On reserve, when my Gran was in the Elder's home, I had a nurse try to refuse me entrance on the basis that "There's no way your grandmother's here." Until my brother walked in and said "Is there a problem? Why aren't you in the room yet?"<br>I cannot even tell you how many tears I have shed over this. The saddest part of it all is that, of all the grandchildren, *I* am the one who knows the stories. They never bothered to listen or learn.Jacquelinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09143230538538704526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-31898688061106771722010-09-02T03:05:46.199-07:002010-09-02T03:05:46.199-07:00So at what point do we become Canadian. When will ...So at what point do we become Canadian. When will we look at ourselves as equals not greater than or less than the rest of the people in this Country. 25 percent is not enough how about 10 percent or maybe 1 percent or how about just claiming to be first Nations, at what point do we become Canadian Nations.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17453792546830579802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8917573032949953963.post-81129279226513169762010-09-03T06:59:41.476-07:002010-09-03T06:59:41.476-07:00Thank you for your comment - it is an important qu...Thank you for your comment - it is an important question. By law, the majority of First Nations peoples in Canada are also Canadian citizens. However, this does not detract from their status as First Nations people. At the same time, First Nations are NOT races of people that can be measured by blood quantum, hair colour or by the size of their skulls (phrenology). THey are Nations, and as Nations, their connections are social, political, legal, historical, and cultural. THere is no way to stop inter-marriage, nor should we. That being the case, would First Nations want a definition of citizenship that guarantees their extinction or one which guarantees their existence as Nations?Pam Palmaterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16471187916007866228noreply@blogger.com