Let’s Talk About Blood Quantum

This is a video essay about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls where I talk about statistics, legal issues, psychology and sociology, and relation to other movements.
.::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::.
.::L I N K S::.
- "How does DNA testing work (Complete guide)" by Every Cell a Universe: • How does DNA testing w...
- "The myth of race, debunked in 3 minutes" by Vox: • The myth of race, debu...
- "Race & Ethnicity: Crash Course Sociology #34" by Crash Course: • Race & Ethnicity: Cras...
- Twitter thread by Chelsey Moon: / 1280308141134172164
.::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::.
.:: S O U R C E S ::.
The following sources are listed randomly, not in order of appearance.
- "American Indian Mortality in the Late Nineteenth Century: the Impact of Federal Assimilation Policies on a Vulnerable Population" by J.D. Hacker and M. R. Haines: www.cairn.info...
- "Michigan Indian Tuition Waiver Historical Timeline": turtletalk.fil...
- "So What Exactly Is 'Blood Quantum'?" by Kat Chow on npr: www.npr.org/se...
- "Blood Quantum Issues" by Native Circle: www.nativecircl...
- "Article #2: What Is Blood Quantum and What Does It Mean for the Future of Oneida?"
by The Oneida Trust and Enrollment Committee: oneida-nsn.gov...
- www.hindawi.co...
- "Indian Reorganization Act (1934)" by The Living New Deal: livingnewdeal....
- "A History: The Construction of Race and Racism" by Dismantling Racism Project at
Western States Center: www.racialequi... States - Construction of Race.pdf
- "Search the Dawes Final Rolls, 1898-1914" by Oklahoma Historical Society: www.okhistory....
- "Durant Roll" by Native Americans of Michigan: www.mainlymichi...
- "Dawes Act (1887)" by ourdocuments.gov: www.ourdocumen...
- "INDIAN SEVERALTY (THE DAWES AND CURTIS ACTS) AND BLACK INDIAN FREEDMEN" by Marshall Greenlaw: www.blackpast....
- "Cherokee freedmen controversy": en.wikipedia.o...
- "Paper Genocide: The Erasure of Native People in Census Counts" by Jen Deerinwater: rewire.news/ar...
- "1953 to 1969: Policy of Termination and Relocation" by evanne R. Hendrix at Stanford School of Medicine: geriatrics.sta...
- "LAND TENURE HISTORY" by Indian Land Tenure Foundation: iltf.org/land-....
- "Indian termination policy": en.wikipedia.o....
- "Explainer: How DNA testing works" by T.H. Saey and B. Brookshire: www.sciencenew...
- "After dog DNA debacle, Indigenous researcher says ancestry testing is 'stupid science'" by CBC News: www.cbc.ca/new...
- "Economics of Disenrollment" by Robin A. Ladue: tribalbusinessj...
.::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::.
.::D I S C L A I M E R Z::.
The research and comments in this video were conducted by me. Any direct quotes are marked by quotation marks in the narrative captioning. The statistics in this video are mostly derived from the United States, its agencies, and organizations within the US. Data and statistics are recorded by several organizations that might be represented differently from those included in this video. All names shared in this video were publicly available.
.::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::..::.
Buy me a coffee!: ko-fi.com/chel...
Commissions: ko-fi.com/chel...
Email: [e-mail]
Twitter, IG, Poshmark: @chelseymooner
Artwork commissioned by @issitohbi (Instagram)
#BloodQuantum

[@caseyp4435]

My husband's paternal grandfather is Blackfoot and his mom is Metis but it doesn't "count" towards his BQ, so our kids can't be enrolled in their tribe. This whole video is rad, I'm going to share with my older kids.

[@erenjaeger1738]

Womp womp.

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

No cuz you need blood quantum from the tribe itself. Im 1/4 native all together (technically 21% but most don't wanna do that math)... My ojibwe band requires 1/4 BQ. My mexican tribe requires maternal bloodline... I only qualify for my Mexican tribe because my grandma did ceremony to adopted me since i inherited from my dad. Ill never be ojibwe because my band will never except my blood quantum

[@erenjaeger1738]

@alexandrahenderson4368 how many ojibwe are there ? (Different bands)

[@shaneekabatty-cross]

​@@alexandrahenderson4368it's bs

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

@@erenjaeger1738 a lot bro idk. I only be fuckin with Saginaw and red Rock ....

[@calliew311]

And remember at the time of the rolls, if you could pass as a half "breed", many would, because not everyone knew they were getting allotments. And being half American Indian meant you were half what they wanted. I have a great great grandfather on my mother's side who is half on one roll and on two others is full blood. Nowadays my mom is pissed that her ancestor "gave away" his blood, but back then, he thought he was doing himself a favor. Luckily my dad is full, so I don't rely fully on my mom for my Native blood. She was lucky both her parents were native too, but she's still mad at her great great G-pa and we're now trying to recover that lost blood.

[@TedH71]

Found out that if you claim half Indian on the Dawes rolls, you would be assigned an Indian agent to manage your "affairs" and if you claimed less than half...let's say 1/4th then you wouldn't get assigned an Indian agent and get more land! Yes one of my alleged Choctaw ancestors did that but he got his claim thrown out. He was allegedly half but claimed 1/4th. Looked more than half but the picture I have of him is black and white and you know how white people could look dark skinned back then.

[@Y34RZERO]

I've always hated that "You're not InDiAn because you're not full" Grew up with that. Dawes Act is by far one of the most evil and damaging acts the US has done against the native populations. I feel like it's often downplayed by the seriousness of it's impact upon the lives, culture, languages of other people. Yakoke for the great video.

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

Dawes rolls tribes tend to not have BQ minimums....

[@roycehuepers4325]

​@alexandrahenderson4368 the downside is that people like my family have lost their heritage from it due to many reasons. I call us the Lost Ones for this reason. I can only prove I'm eastern woodlands native American... which does not help at all. Now we know it's Cherokee, but we're pretty sure my great grandma lied just how much she was. She stated 1/16th, but that's how much I got from my mom, X chromosomes. My dad's ydna side its 10%, so it ultimately becomes 3/20th if I did my math right, but we know even less than my mom's.

[@mizjulio]

The way you break down, back then, t wasn't white vs native, but christian vs non christian and they had to construct race for power is so great

[@travelingva]

Why do north American natives completely negate that latin americans are in general pure blooded or mixed race natives

[@TedH71]

Because Latin Americans don't do reservations and don't obtain privileges like the North American ones do.

[@travelingva]

@@TedH71 I don't even have enough time to respond to this comment

[@TedH71]

@@travelingva yeah that's the best way I could explain it. I'm aware there are areas where "pure" bloods live and so on. Certain areas are designated as areas set aside but I'm telling you most countries do not adhere to those.

[@alvarokitza-toandrade696]

Many undocumented people from latin american countries are full blood native americans....but it doesn't count....use to try to explain this blood quantum requirement is not good for native people in the us but many folks defended it and showed off their tribal ids...and asked me for mine...lm from ecuador...and even though l was raised mestizo and not considered indigenous l was clearly envied by some mixed bloods here in the us east coast because l look full blood ... l know of natives in the us and canada that committed suicide because they where going to loose their tribal affiliation ...great info..peace

[@cottonwoodcharmco9303]

Loved your essay. I so totally relate irish mother and native father. Me and my sisters were raised in native culture and community. I know my quantum but dont really give 2 shits about because i am a human not a dog. Our tribe enrolls by lineage also not quantum. But i will have to say i always get you dont look native. I just say well i am and leave it at that. Because your right if we cont down the path of blood quantum our nations will die out as far as the race thing is concerned and for me that means the government has finally won and the genocide of our nations worked in their eyes. Please keep spreading your words to help keep our nations alive.

[@littlemissperfect16]

That opening! 👏👏👏👏

[@mizjulio]

The taking the food and then eating was... so mood HAHA

[@mommawolf8401]

We got to stop the percentage blood rules and go back to the old ways of Tribe because no one of us are cattle and all NATIVE PEAPLE Matter. I was of the adopted generation. I even was listed in mid 70s as black n Bi race by state of Kentucky. Had state agent straight up say I was listed as black because I was born and from Native Cherokee family. I have had to fight this for years. Children through late 70 and early 80s were stolen and forced to forget who they are . They had there hair cut and beaten in foster homes just for being NATIVE. There was the boarding schools and trail of tears befor that. Children beaten, family split , language lost , mental abuse and for what? Land , Money and for the government that was made by people that stole from All Native Tribes . Race, mix race and so on is not Ancestors way .Yet we as a society follow that Native people can only be proven by percentage of blood just as if we are lower then cattle. Only Native people are still identified or treated this way. The ancestors I pray for what they been through and pray for each of there family's. I have much honor and respect. The suffering is not over and still is going on today. Let us not keep our eyes shut. To keep this way going we are letting government win . The same government who has broken every treaty and promises over may years are bleeding Native Tribes out. It's been the goal all along. We are strong in number. When is it time to say enough and Warrior up take back the land that belongs to Mother Earth . No one owns the land. Why should children and all our people be denied or punish of there heritage tribe rights all because they were forced, abused and stolen from there Native familys.? I had a Elder once say " You are Native or Your Not. No way to know witch half is Native and witch half is not". Warrior up and rise Rainbow Warriors ( Mix BLOOD n Full Blood) because true Native way race or mix race does not matter. It is time to come togather as one Nation under FATHER Sky (God ) and Love. 🌈 Susanna -Momma Wolf

[@josefdettwyler9809]

Me and my mother are refused tribal membership because of the blood quantum, but her father in registered in the tribe and he taught her the history and culture and they have both taught me of our ancestors.

[@calliew311]

The tribe will probably eventually start doing descendancy because they won't have a tribe if they keep the BQ too high. And I used to believe in BQ, until someone asked me to give them a reason BQ benefits Natives and Tribes, something that isn't financial related, meaning Housing, food, healthcare, and in rare cases actual tribal money from casinos.

[@arturintete2461]

@@calliew311blood quantum benefits native Americans by not letting the tribes become white quirkiness frats.

[@anangoohns]

Boozhoo from your neighbor enrolled over in Bawating! I honestly feel really lucky our tribes enroll via kinship/lineage and not quantum. I think its part of the reason we have our communities still active and doing work to continue and revive our cultures/languages. Besides, every time this DNA thing comes up I'm like "okay so how do Metis folks fit into this?" lmao genetics does not determine ethnic or cultural affiliation. /sigh/ This video is so well done and informative. Miigwech for doing all this important work.

[@carysteele61]

Chelsey, thank you for this EXCELLENT presentation!

[@sixgunsally2]

Yes!! Thank you Chelsey!!

[@jackieblanchard5651]

Yes, thank you I’m dealing with this. I think your opinion is the most clear. Great job.

[@LelandLittleDog-ou4hf]

For the Lakota it was intended to curb the squawman from receiving treaty benefits but it was self-colonized in being our primary ID. Our customary marriage and social laws are still valid.

[@JezuzDisciple]

Indeed! ONLY Descendants of Lakhota women are Lakhota, according to tradition.

[@angelvaldez8048]

Native Americans need to address the enrollment policy issues so that it benefits everyone who identifies themselves as Indian/Native American. I don't like having to be only an American citizen when I'm also part Native American from both parents but I'm not enrolled...tried to get enrolled...tribe doesn't allow it.

[@Metztli0]

It’s sad, that we have to prove our own identities. This is intentional to keep the census on the indigenous down. I’m of Mexican descent, but I know my grandmother on my dad’s side was indigenous. She passed away about five year’s ago and I’ve been trying to dig deep into my family history etc. It’s unfortunate that many “Latinos” don’t realize they’re also indigenous to the America’s and accept the terms that were given to us by the colonizers. I wish this wasn’t a thing and more people started identifying as such.

[@lLeon44-g7j]

EXCELLANT VIDEO! I have taken notes and will be educating friends and family... TY so very much!! Very well researched! I learned things I did not know or had not considered...I hope to meet you one day to personally TY. Now I do have one sort of criticism, and thats about DNA... You are correct to point out the data pool regarding NDN DNA is small and thats a problem... however your somewhat mistaken about ppl being full of crap regarding showing what 'tribe' they are from. In other parts of the world, like Africa for example, they have created data pools on tribes and Identified tribal markers. Even though, as you correctly stated, not everyone in the group may have them. For ex. there was a hundred plus yr old dispute among Jews in Africa and Jews in Isreal over who was the original 'Tribe' of Levi. Incredibly fascinating DNA detective work actually solved this dispute... so in time, we may have a NDN DNA database large enough to make definitive statements about DNA markers that are mostly shared by distinct 'Tribes'. The resistance to creating such a database is obvious, from the govt. and many Natives. I think it will be a good thing to remove guesswork. I found that the US govt has over 300 definitions of what is an NDN, but here is my favorite, its from the Census and I think this gets it right. "An American Indian, is a person who has descended from the original inhabitants of North America, and who maintains Indigenous Identity, through Tribal affiliation and or community recognition."

[@PhilipY65]

Thanks for sending me this video, Brother.

[@RavenFeathers90]

This reminds me of the thought experiment "the ship of Theseus". Over time, a ship wears down and is constantly replaced with new boards, wood ect. Eventually, the entire ship has been replaced. Is it the same ship or is it a different ship? Does change and evolution equal something entirely different? Or is it simply the same thing that has evolved? I feel that the decreasing blood quantum could be viewed in that light as well. Do we cease to be native when everyone drop of Native DNA is "bred" out of us? Or is there something more substantial and valid that binds together such as community and culture? I've been struggling with my identity for a long time. My grandfather was Native, grew up on the rez, went to a boarding school, ect. I lived with him and we embraced certain cultural things. I wish I learned more but my grandfather didn't talk much. Grandmother was white, father was White. Thus I came out pretty much white. I just identified as white my whole life growing up because that's what I looked like. As I got older I wanted to get involved with my tribe and that part of my ancestry, but I struggle with trying to find validation from others. Online bullying about being a "pretendian" or dismissing my thoughts/opinions as "Caucasian nonsense" has really damaged my self esteem. I've been suicidal and I've even gotten angry at grandpa for having kids with a white woman. So the pain is definitely toxic. Political and social topics such as privilege, cultural appropriation, ect buzz in my head and I feel a heavy weight suffocating me. It's like...I'm stuck in this skin and I don't want to be. I want others to to acknowledge me. I want to have the confidence to acknowledge myself. I am the product of everyone who came before me. And I think that has a lot of value.

[@infalliblepegster]

You just described minority stress theory, where just being different enough to feel like you never truly belong creates an omnipresent sense of otherness and dislocation. In the end, you are a product of all of your life experience, all of your community, and all of your relations. Stand proud in that regardless of what others say. Only you and the creator know your path.

[@josephangle]

Sounds like a soft ass to me. Just because you wanna know or be closer to the heritage don't make you native. I'm sorry my friend but the way you talk is close to the same as these grown ass men "feel like" they are really women & "identify" as women. Im sure my comments will be viewed as hate speech but it's from the heart

[@littlemissperfect16]

That ending bringing it back full circle. 👏👏👏👏

[@BexMacFarlane]

Mixed race gatekeeping is so appalling.

[@roycehuepers4325]

Of what i call the Lost Ones. I ironically look like the Warriors of AniKituhwa in body and face, but i get "pass for white" as im mixed. Unfortunately we lost our heritage about 100 years ago and can only prove I'm eastern woodlands native American.... not really all that helpful. My great grandma said Cherokee and we're pretty sure she lied about how much she was. She said 1/16, but that doesn't make sense as i got 1/16th from my moms x chromosomes based on dna. I understand why. She was told to go to the colored section of the bus back then. Arkansas was not friendly to mixed folks. (Have 10% from my dad, but i have even less information on even the tribe) Unfortunately, besides a few possibilities on the dawes rolls, there isn't much of a paper trail. The good news for my son is his moms grandfather is mohawk and is still connected to the tribe. It just so happens, Cherokee and Mohawk are both Iroquoian people, so at least in a small way, if he chose to he could honor both sides. Me and the wife wanna do a renewal of the vows with guidance from her grandfather. Hopefully next year if money allows. 7:40 How i feel about things. Im as much Celtic, Norse/German as i am native American. Joke that my blood is personified by a Heilung (and old germanic music group) Song Hamrer Hippyer. They did a whole dance with a Colorado tribe, i forget which one, a few years ago.

[@user-bj7oz7tf9x]

We need more blood quantum not less. To many natives are marrying out, ending their lineage

[@erenjaeger1738]

Thank you!

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

There was an Austrian painter with a funny mustache that had similar thoughts about “blood” and “preserving the race”.

[@amyjohnson4449]

genuine question, if your tribe doesn't use blood quantam why do others?

[@aliyhatone-pah-hote3405]

I am Kiowa, Lakota Sioux, and Myan, and I'm a little less than half native. I cant get on any tribal roll because I'm not a full quarter of any of the 3, and that kinda upsets me because I was raised with kiowa culture, and I jingle dress dance and I've always dreamed of going to the same native school as my mother. I'm able to get on a descendant roll if they pass it tho so that's a good thing! I really hope I'll be able to get into that college

[@PhilipDaniel]

Indigeneity is site-specific and involves ethnogenesis and coalescence of a particular group on a particular territory. If genetic admixture proportions were to determine indigeneity, either in the sense of perfect continuity with ancient populations from which an indigenous community claims descent or in terms of the rather obnoxious and dangerous notion of "purity of blood", most indigenous groups around the world would suffer a loss of whatever land and sovereignty they have managed to retain. While common descent is a factor in determining ethnicity generally, what matter here is fictive kinship--the stories of origin agreed upon by the group as a whole--and not the results of genetic admixture tests.

[@selacialafleur7385]

Boozhoo Aaniin! Blood quantum is something I think about all the time. As a Lesbian and mixed native, it becomes especially complicated for the future when I eventually have children someday. I think a lot about the position I'm in and not wanting us to die out, while realistically I likely won't ever be able to have children that are genetically mine. My nations views on adoption are mostly based on the age of the child, and I'm not sure if there's an ethical way to adopt a child that isn't a community or family members child. (Adoption agencies are so often opportunistic vultures that prey on poor families, and going through the provincial government it is often still the government trying to break apart native families) The best scenario I can imagine is being becoming a foster parent to honor my grandfather, and his experiences within the system. I hope I can be either a parent or an auntie to them, whichever they want in their life. I eant to use my mixed white privilege and power to help in ways that are only really accessible to white passing natives. I hope i can help Native kids feel loved and safe, and make their parents feel less awful about where their children are placed. I want to help kids not lose their community and culture and family ties like so many of us have. When I consider my place in the world, I feel like this is the best way I can help keep us from disappearing. I've had a lot of these thoughts bouncing around in my head since I was a teenager, but I feel like this video essay really helped me articulate and process my place in all of this! Miigwech 💗 💗 💗

[@ex-x7079]

This is what they did with Mexican's (Mestizo Race).

[@hanalumley9043]

Hey I did ancestry and it said my blood quantum was 26 percent, it has never updated it so maybe they don't have enough information on there data bases.

[@TedH71]

The Native DNA those databases have are flawed because they're derived from mainly South American and Central American Indian blood not from the North American ones.

[@abaachi13]

Wonderful and very informative video. Thank you...

[@AnUnknownGoddess]

This was good. As for me, my grandpa said he was Cherokee. He rarely spoke of it. He would say that when he was a kid he ran away from school. He never really spoke of where his family came from. So I am Part Cherokee because that is what my grandpa told me. If I go to the mountains near the reservation. I always have someone I run into say hello and call me by another name.vit seems I look like one of the local people. I just wave and say hello.

[@kathyabeauty]

Really enjoyed this and learned so much! Thank you!

[@abdelbostabdelghani7664]

Why the hell they're killing so much natives women?

[@rw1557]

Choctaw, Chickasaw, Irish, Italian. I can enroll in either tribe because I dont have my families info, I was an orphan at 11. I only remember my mom telling me what I was

[@azborderlands]

Unless you were born prior to 1969, the government didn’t allow proper Native American orphans to be raised by non indigenous parents.

[@briannalink4616]

Thank you Chelsey for putting this out there!

[@vanspoorsveeplays357]

I don't feel comfortable claiming my heritage at all. I'm so far removed from the culture, my blood is diluted to shit from my half Cherokee grandfather and my quarter mum, and any time I proudly declare my native blood, I get shouted down by other, more legitimate natives and colonizers alike. So fuck it.

[@TedH71]

You're feeling the Imposter Syndrome when really you do have blood you can claim. Don't let that stop you.

[@arturintete2461]

@@TedH71should someone claim their 3.125% native blood?

[@TedH71]

@@arturintete2461 depends on the person. I know someone who has a low blood quantum but she participates fully with her tribe and actually knows more about their traditions than the full bloods. Plus you've gotta remind the government that we do exist and that we didn't disappear. The reason the government set the blood quantum was in hopes that the tribes would "breed themselves out of existence " basically. All of us count and should always count in the eyes of the government. Like if you were born in the US, you get full citizenship...same thing applies. The blood quantum has got to be rid of seriously. Totally ridiculous. We're not dogs or horses!

[@arturintete2461]

@@TedH71 sure… but we also *are* breeding ourselves out of existence. I’m sorry but I’ll never be convinced that in 2080 when 92% of “native Americans” are a majority white, it will still be a Native American culture. Besides maybe Alaskan natives, USA/Canada natives will be pure white eventually. Does that not bother you *at all* ? Are deeply connected Native Americans really ok with that? Would our ancestors be ok with that? Are *you* ok with that?

[@PHDWhom]

@@arturintete2461yes!

[@stevemarks4590]

The 'thought process' of most 'indigenous peoples' when it comes to 'bloodlines' is extremely diverse. Having been taught that on my Fathers side of the family- a 'French woman' ( my great Grandmother ) married a full-blood Mohawk'.. we have always considered ourselves 'part' Native American. From 2005 to 2008 I became involved with a 'Unification' of all indegenous tribes via discusssion. What I discovered, was that when I asked some people ( such as an Apache friend in San Carlos ) if he 'still had his language'... he was embarrassed and admitted not. Seems he'd moves away from the Res in his youth and when he came back as an adult? It took 10 years for hime to be accepted.. by SOME of the tribe! In fact because I was trying to help a supposed 'heir' to an 'historical' bloodline of Apache Chiefs (Chiricahua ) i discovered that despite that person ( he passed away a few years ago ) being able to list his historical lineage ( which I have in writing ).. 'the people' would not accept him. Likewise with 'Chief 'Nino' Cochise' who lived to be 105 and who many American Presidents accepted.. A 'modern' Apache woman wrote he was 'a fake' and because of this? He was never accepted-period. I have letters from him from many years ago- correspondence between him and a 'Lady of Society' where-in he states shocking things ( like the murder of his Father by the US Government ) and about how the Congress 'broke every treaty' and it's powerful stuff! As I had long conversations between various persons from various tribes, I learned that ( some ) accepted me as having 'indigenous blood' while others? Forget it.. One Native person I helped ( finacially ) and even gave a new phone to ( on a 'plan' ) would thank me but then totally abuse the phone service giving me astronomical bills. Another Native person ( from his tribe ) told me he 'felt bad for me because I was so used and disrespected- because the person I'd been helping did not accept me as one of 'the people'.... and looked at me as less than a 'half-breed'.. Finally.. in 2006 I walked away from the whole process due to the 'in-fighting' distrust between tribal members ( everywhere of all tribes ) and I have never looked back... BUT- I STILL consider myself 'part Mohawk' and always will. As I have no children? I am the last of the line...

[@rachelmaier1057]

Thank you for being so brave to share the truth. I know this but speak very little on the subject because of ancestry proof. I feel lost and angry because my own people ignore my calls. I think this is greed on their part. They don't want to bother with anyone new. Thank you for sharing, I love you.

[@dizzidia]

wowowow I had no idea about how DNA tests and genes really worked. I'm still trying to wrap my head about it so I must do more research. Very enlightening video essay, thank you so much.

[@LiaDavis-el5uy]

This was a great essay! It's interesting that you and I might count for "cousins" if one is to look at us. LOL We have the same features, but I am lighter. Indians always know one another! LOL To make a long story short here, I did have a cousin take one of those dna type tests. He was wanting to link to his Italian family still in Italy so he could meet them on a vacation there. It reveals far more Native American blood than either of us thought possible. In fact, other than being Italian, he is not white at all. I started digging around in our history. As it turns out, my ancestors in TX are almost all Indian. When "asked nicely to relocate to Okloma" They said "NAH!!" LOL really they just never went. They stayed on what had been their lands for more than 10,000 years. In their "villages" granted by the Spanish government, and sort of honored by the new TX republic. But we are "not real indians" "after bingo money" "5 dollar indians" "White". I laugh because I discovered just as you have that this is what the US government wants everyone to think. I asked myself "with all this great land in TX, why did my granny own a shack on some swamp land?!" Well it's her people's lands. They love the waters and knew them well. Which is really why no white people wanted them. Until they found oil there. Suddenly there was a big push to "whiten people up." And then odd land claims by people who's family came from Alabama or Mississippi. And of course since we are not in OK with roles numbers on reservations, then we are "not Indians". Although my grandparents were culturally identifying with their people. I think Canada it's cultural and religious assimilation. As the Commonwealth would see this as necessary for peace and expansion. But in the US it's certainly gold, oil. or some other resources they want. I mean put Caddo people on the Choctaw reserve....why? I have much history to uncover and understand. And meantime I will continue to be "Mexican". LOL

[@JackedSiouxMan]

My tribe accepts all north American Native blood. My blood quatum from the other tribe counts toward my enrollment. We need to be more progressive in terms of adopting non enrolled natives into other tribes. Regardless of any affiliation from that tribe. It happen before. Why not now? Especially if the DNA can be proven. That's something you can't deny

[@facetioustimes6211]

Mostly native expect for my great grandfather on my grandmas moms side and my grandma on my dads side who’s mixed other than that I’m indigenous 🤟🏽😌

[@louisehills5480]

This blood quantum thing is a creation of the government. It is not a policy that originated with us. I am Hunkpapa, Cherokee & Coast Salish. I am also mixed with black,Japanese & Scot/Irish

[@JezuzDisciple]

Must be from Seattle?

[@rockymountainfoothills]

Identity and ethnicity are different.

[@josephangle]

Absolutely, thank you . Idk why that's so hard for ppl to understand this. I don't see how ppl can be so upset because they can't enroll & be recognized at something they are not. I feel a real connection with my dog but I'm not a dog.

[@PHDWhom]

@@josephangleif you are recognized as native by a tribe then it doesn’t matter what percentage or skin color we have.

[@sagalight]

I'm Cherokee but I'm light and people beat me down and I hate it I'm trying to prove myself my grandfather from my mom and also my dads side is full my grate grandparents were full too but just bc one I mean one of .y family is white which is my grandma from my mom side makes me not native bc of one person I hate it when I was in school I was counted as native my father never allowed my hair to be cut he told me no more what your native don't let no one bring you down

[@williamoldaker5348]

Thank you for the coverage of this topic. I always trying to learn more about the systemic racism in the US.

[@markrogers6702]

This was excellent. Tapat ni!

[@thisriveriswild87]

Bringing the 🔥 .. per always. Send this to Sen. Haaland ASAP!

[@S.P.Witchell]

Im half meskwaki, own indian land trust in Oklahoma, have a thunder clan given name and will never use the same mechanism that was used to decide which germans lived and which ones were jew enough. Did you know that? It was the only other time in history that blood quantam was used on such a large scale. I dont know what hell kind of ndn wants to be tracked and given the right papers to be alive and free, i guess its just a sign of the times.

[@sheleavitt06]

Oh my gosh. That opening😂

[@LiaDavis-el5uy]

I also have the answer to a very big mystery: During Jim Crow era why were Indians allowed access to "white only" areas, and Mexicans sitting at the back of the bus or in "colored" areas? Answer: Indians had oil and timber on their lands. they had to be made "white". then if they had not "registered" the plot of land they sit upon, it was now government land. Then it could be leased to oil companies. Or if they did register their lands, they could be heavily taxed on these lands until they decide to sell and buy land on down the road. My dad's father is Caddo and he married a German woman while serving in WWII. Because he didn't want to marry a cousin. LOL But imagine the shock to this woman when she comes to the US and discovers we "practice aparteid." She went to work in a doctor's office as she had medical training in Germany. These "stupid rules" never made sense to her. Now we know why.

[@starrlight4404]

This was a good a$& video sis. You covered so much with detail. By far one of the best that I've seen.Thank you g or putting together. You had me crying 😂 how you will embrace your 👧privileges, please do. I don't have the 👧 skin privilege I do have the privilege of being able to embrace all the 👧🏿👧🏾👧🏽 cultures of the 🌏 so I'll just do that. Dont stop teaching sis. Again thank you

[@skyotter3317]

Truth. Thank you.

[@creaturecaldwell9858]

Thank you for the vid. I don't want to be enrolled and defined in the uncle Sam way. My tribe wouldn't since im quarter and it's half as the rule..I used to think that because of this ..my relatives wouldn't see me as family..but then I realized that gov. identification is not always family identification..not saying I wouldn't be seen as not family ..only it doesn't mean family isn't family just because of some rule an invader made. I don't look for recognition for any material gains..that is for the people who are full or half.I only look for recognition from family . The one thing I won't agree with is someone saying im not in any way .. I tell them to try and convince me if they want only the truth has already been made ..and if they dislike me for loving myself ( even twenty five percent of myself ) then come and do something or walk on somewhere else.

[@KAYKAY-tf3jz]

Thanks do u have any cuted source to this info like books or laws etc

[@Joobie]

Great video.

[@flawlesscreation5642]

Bruh im Mexican and brown af i had no idea i was native not sure if im north and south American natives since my family has been in texas since before it was apart of mexico oh and my family tree says they are all white its crazy how they documented people back in the day to say we are not natives now here i am today wondering how to find my tribe or band ....just another lost city native doing his best to walk the red road

[@rickpadilla1519]

That was a good opening 😃

[@amyburnette7324]

Good.

[@TheRealCompensator]

Interesting. So have you ever done a DNA test? “All Native American mtDNA can be traced back to five Haplogroups called A, B, C, D, and X. More specifically, Native American mtDNA belongs to sub-haplogroups that are unique to the Americas and not found in Asia or Europe: A2, B2, C1, D1, and X2a (with minor groups C4c, D2, D3, and D4h3)” (Roberta Estes, DNA Explained, November 2016)

[@RobertLeblanc-ed1yp]

I'm by my people am an Acadian my people came from the old Acadia now novia Scotia how every the first LeBlanc was Daniel LeBlanc whose mother was the daughter of the cheifof the Micmac tribes in the Acadian area so we the LeBlanc honor our grandfather who was the cheif of the mlcmac tribes and are by that blood line Micmac descents

[@shelleepavlak4232]

There lots fake people claiming ingenious 😮

[@erenjaeger1738]

That's y I use blood quantum

[@MindOfAMiracle]

Yesssssss

[@gertybz6647]

She shoots she scores! Lol. :) Awesome point about genealogy DNA testing, ugh. I know more now, big ups and thanks. :)

[@kristallmenschkristallwolf1969]

eine sehr alte diskussion half blood oder full blood ja auch den extremismus gibt es und durchw eissen einfluß bewirkt - siehe Thunderheart ansprechungen mit val kilmer

[@raganmarsee288]

30 seconds in and I shot my water through my nose laughing

[@raganmarsee288]

this is so cool, I appreciatee your videos so much, I send a lot of them to friends and strangers for education. Igwien (heartfelt thank you Bodewadmimwen-Potawatomi lang)

[@mikaameesh]

tlecko tlecko for this video.

[@brendaelizondo]

Hey! Is there a way I can contact you?

[@n2mischeif4u89]

I think people need to prove how blood quantum and DNA testing is highly fallacy.

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

If that happened the United States would probably use that against us to reduce even more of our population on paper.

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

The Mexican government literally tried doing this with my grandma's tribe. Which means if we go back home to Mexico we can only stay with the two other tribes that are within our state because we are not federally recognized we're not even state recognized in Mexico. But they have evidence of us in literal first-hand records of people communicating with my ancestors and my community up until like the 1700s.

[@stephenalishtasen1540]

Now she’s a full Indian! 😎

[@SpiritPanther]

Good video - thanks for sharing it. I like what you do.

[@andystevens7390]

You have explained the eventual destuction of anyone being "Native".

[@jonasarnesen6825]

Willingness to participate in Community, Language and Culture should be the only requirement for Naturalisation... In Germany according to the Goethe Institute, Roma and Sinti "don't want others to learn their language and culture", and therefore be part in their community... Goethe Institut is here to promote German language and culture... According the the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, the opposite is true... The council wants history, religion, ethics, language, culture, literature, arts, and therefore many aspects and subjects to be taught more about in school... They even say Roma and Sinti are an integral part of German society and including such topics and subjects, especially in schools and primary schools, would help against antigypism... Even though I might have Roma or Sinti blood... Even though there is a possibility of me having Native American blood... It does not interest me being related to a group by "blood", but rather by culture and language... I don't see myself as US-American, but rather English... I see myself also as German... And even though my last name is Norwegian, I do not consider myself a least bit Norwegian... I consider myself more Japanese than Norwegian due to language and culture (and having a Japanese friend)... I still consider myself as a true New Yorker though, due to family-ties and hundreds of years of family history in New York and the desire of promoting indigenous New Yorker languages and cultures...

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

Im full blood according to my tribe in Mexico despite only being genetically 11/100 lmao BQ is a joke and if youre accepted by your tribe youre fully indigenous. 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼 My mom is metis from shawnee and Ojibwe. My dad is zambo nigerian and Baja

[@robertwilliamssr.1645]

Indians were copper colored people,these folks are native Americans

[@PHDWhom]

Wrong.

[@robertwilliamssr.1645]

@@PHDWhom not wrong I’m O blood & American Indian not African American

[@Lycandros]

👍👍

[@dave90494]

how can Native Americans have Native Pride while allowing this

[@alexandrahenderson4368]

We don't allow it. Many tribes that have tried to get rid of blood quantum laws have been threatened to lose their Federal recognition.

[@jenniferbourgeau49]

That chicken clearly proves she isn't native

[@irwintuquier4562]

Sorry but if youre a quarter and less....r u really native? Come on now

[@shaneekabatty-cross]

Doesn't matter how much milk you put in coffee, it's still coffee. This thinking is colonial.

[@irwintuquier4562]

@@shaneekabatty-cross trying to redefine and whiten the original american is colonial. One drop of coffee in a mug full of milk is milk with a drop of coffee.

[@brawndothethirstmutilator9848]

@irwintuquier4562, On what basis did you chose 1/4 as the arbitrary cutoff point? Why not 1/3? 1/2? 3/4? 99%? You just randomly picked a percentage. There are numerous tribes whose last non admixed members died decades ago. Your way of thinking doesn’t match to the traditional worldview of Native culture, and it dooms Native communities to disappearance. Native people advocating for self annihilation, smh….

[@irwintuquier4562]

@@brawndothethirstmutilator9848 those tribes are dead if the bloodline is not there. Imagine a bunch of european claiming to be african. Doesnt work. Youre the one trying to recreate the image of the original american. We are the people of the sun. We r still here and wont let you recreate our image.

[@schmoopydoopy]

lolol oh she full lol

[@lenatsosie]

Boring…