[spirithorse]

Hi all!

I was on the Native American page for the US Gen Web censuses and discovered that they are not getting much help with transcribing the Indian Censuses. What a shame! Indian people in this country have been so oppressed, now their censuses are even getting ignored. I have signed up to help, and am starting with the Seneca tribe. Please sign up if you like to do this sort of thing. I think it would be interesting.

Here is the link: http://www.us-census.org/native

Thanks!

Shannon

[Linda]

I suspect the reticence is complex. I wouldn’t expect people within the tribes to be eagerly publicizing information about their families, considering the numbers of imposters, pretenders, bilkers, etc. who’ve made claims. There’s also distrust of long lost relations who slipped into the mainstream long ago, now turning up to make claims on any entitlements. Many other reasons as well. The only people likely to work on these projects will be “outsiders” and they may have to deal with accusations of putting their noses where they don’t belong.

[spirithorse]

Thanks for sharing that perspective Linda! I never thought of that. I have heard of people claiming to be indian just to get benefits, and I can understand why indians are skeptical of “outsiders.” I just want to help make the censuses more easily available to people who are sincerely interested in researching their Indian heritage. So far I have not been able to “officially” document my indian heritage, but I’ve been told since I was a little girl that I am part Indian. I have always been very proud of that. I am more white than indian, but I’ve always identified more with the indian culture for some reason, even though I was not raised in it. My father’s family is from WV and did not admit openly until recently that they had indian ancestry, I suspect because it was illegal for indians to own land in WV up until 1965. Indians were still being shipped out west to the reservations as late as that year. It is such a shame that the indian culture and traditional ways of life have been oppressed. From what I’ve learned, I believe that Indian people knew how to truly live until the white man colonized them. There is much wisdom to be learned from the Indian ways, as I’m sure you agree. In my lifetime I would love to see enough people with indian ancestry to get “back to their roots” and start a cultural renewal, with more people living by indian principles. In my opinion, this country would be a much better place for respecting nature and the spiritual life. As an animal activist and rescue person, I have seen the horrible insensitivity and disregard for life. Approx. 5 million animals die in shelters in this country every year because people are not responsible enough to take care of their animals or have them spayed/neutered. They do not value animals as emotional, living beings, and see them as a commodity (puppy mills) or liablility (people who just don’t care). It is the product of living in excess and greed, and now the problem is way out of hand. There is just not enough resources or homes to save them all. I know the same can be said for human issues too. I have always had a spiritual connection with animals. I have even noticed recently, since I’ve been exploring my indian heritage and spirituality, that the animals I’m working with are more receptive to me. I even had to take back a cat I adopted out because it missed me and my home (and probably his other buddies too!), so much that he was miserable in his new home. I have also worked through my sadness and guilt of not being able to save some animals that have crossed my path by respecting and making peace with the spirits of those that have passed on. I’m hoping that other people can learn these indian values too. I may be naive, but that is my dream. Have you ever read the book “Where White Men Fear to Tread” by Indian activist Russell Means? I just finished and it is excellent. Really an eye opener as to how the government is still treating indian people – even tricking indian women into being sterlized. It appalls me that indian people get less respect than other non-native races and minorities. It is the government and its “handouts” that have destroyed Indian culture and quality of life. I truly believe that it is “outsiders” like us that have the power to truly make a difference for the indian people and their culture. Well, sorry to get long winded. I’ll get off my soapbox now. I can just see it…I’ll become an indian activist next – Yikes! I have enough on my hands with the animals!

Have a great day!

Shannon

[Linda]

Speaking of sterilizing Indian women, check out this story of a Virginia Indian girl who was sterilized by eugenicists, http://www.saponitown.com/eugenics-carrie-buck/eugenics-carrie-buck.htm

[spirithorse]

That is terrible and scary to think that we have people like that in this country who would sterilize women against their will, and that our court system actually ruled in favor. In my opinion, the government is no better than Hitler when it comes to native american genocide.

[Author]

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