Dispelling Common Myths about Indian Country

Are you interested in understanding and debunking misconceptions surrounding Indian Country? Watch a panel discussion with Ian Teller (Dine) and Nina O’Leary (Cherokee) that will challenge common myths by uplifting the realities and lived experiences of Native leaders!
Special thanks to our sponsors for supporting our work! Photo by Nicholas Galanin.

[@omggiiirl2077]

Just say many native americans dont look native american and leave it there. What really irks me about the indigenous community is that everyone fights for the inclusion of their white citizens but turns their backs to their Black relatives because we look Black. Most indigenous communities use the white mands standard that 1/32 indigenous blood is considered native American, and i am 1/32 by blood quantum and verified by dna ancestry test, and by family history and, but because my ancestors were enslaved we weren't included with the tribe. My fathers whole generation is 1/16 and people have higher and higher blood quantums the farther back in generation we go! all my granfathers family is gullah geechee people and were sold into Tennessee during slavery, and after the trail of tears came to Oklahoma settling outside of okmulgee. Our last name appears on three registreos, but because the information isnt highly specific i cant get reliable info. So not all hidden i digenous people look white. Many of us look Black, or were labled as Black people during the census because of racism. And once indigenous people have kids with Black people. Most times the kids look black only. So maybe stop making it only about them. We matter too. And we feel overlooked invisible even hated sometimes. Especially when other indigenous people tell us that we aren't really nativd americans. Well i beg to differ. DNA DOESNT LIE REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE SAY. YOU CANT HAVE THINGS BOTH WAYS. How do have a kid that belings to you with dna proof, but because that child doesnt have paperwork they cant belong to the family. How does that make sense? The child is genetically related to the family. And because of that must take responsibility for its family member. Well, that's what im stating here. Its very different from the relationship europeans have with indigenous people. Europeans genocided colonized raped and stole from both of us, enslaving both of us, and som indigenous tribes even enslaved Black people as well, so it looks crazy that you guys rejext us but will fight so hard to accept them when they probably got those relatives during colonialism by ways of white men preying on the situation and desperation of many indigenous women just trying to survive as their way of life was being destroyed by uninvited disease spreading colonists, or men who chose to procreate with the new captive or tribe member. It will always never sit right with me this bias i see in native america. And its worse in the south and midwest. Some tribes are just straight racist. And it should stop. Just because we are Black Africans in the Americas doesn't mean we aren't indigenous at all. We have been here for 500 years starting with the spanish. My ancestors have been documented to be here at least sincd the 1700s. Many of us have more blood quantum than many tribe members. We just want to know who we are. To know our origins because this country has kept our records from us, and has even allowed us to pay for them. And many tribes sit there and withhold the information all because they dont want to share tribal resources. For us, we're not worried about tribal resources, we want to know the people we come from. We want to know our origins. And here you guys are sucking up and catering to your white members. Shameful.