| Are You Dealing With an American Indian or a Wannabe? |
| Disclaimer First I'd like to say, this subject is about people using American Indians to cheat others out of money by deceit, people claiming American Indian to become more than they believe they are. This subject as far as I'm concerned is not aimed at the enthusiast, the person who enjoys and respects our ways. These people have too much respect to go claiming it as their own. I am also not criticizing those that are out to learn of that part of their heritage nor the people that were adopted out as babies now looking to reconnect with the tribe they were taken from for whatever reason. For those that dance or do craft work because it pleases you, please do not feel this is directed at you, we need the general public to have an interest in American Indians. This is an attempt to stop the cons, deceit, and bad information from ruining what culture we have left. |
| Traditional Native America Is In Danger - Unless you have grown up around American Indians or American Indian yourself, you may have a problem discerning an American Indian from a Wannabe. In this area of the site, we will be working on the best ways for the general public to differentiate between the two. There are many people who claim to be American Indian without having a tribal card, out of those that claim without proof , very few are actually American Indian, and of those that have blood ties, very few are connected at all with the tribe they claim. This subject becomes very muddy the further from Indian territory you get. In these areas, many people with no tribal affiliation will claim to be American Indian and become the "expert" on the subject, BUYER BEWARE!! An American Indian by Government definition is a person who is a member of a state or federally recognized tribe. A person born below the blood quota of their particular tribe becomes someone with native heritage just like many Americans who have German, French , or other ethnic ancestry's. If you can not walk onto the tribal land of whom you claim to be descended of and be recognized by other members as a fellow tribal member, then chances are you should not be out teaching the "Native Ways" (which is such a horrid and very general statement this will be one of the only times i use it, referring to Native ways). A Wannabe is someone who claims to be American Indian but has no true tie to the tribe they claim to be from. These people join clubs that are named after a tribes , many believe they are of Cherokee decent (seems that Navajo is becoming a tribe to be from too I'm sorry to see). After a bit, this club will start referring to themselves as a tribe and even put in for state recognition. These "clubs" are born of a lot of bad information which tend to only mock the true American Indian traditions. Worse yet, after a bit, communities start to go to these members of clubs or faux tribes, seeking knowledge and learn about American Indians. Most of the knowledge learned from these sources are questionable if not outright wrong. I ask you, the general public, to please research the person you are dealing with, whether it be for information, hiring for lectures or demonstrators, or buying American Indian Crafts from . There is so much wrong knowledge out about the tribes of America that it is hard to tell fact from fiction. Another problem in the American Indian world again happens more away from Indian territory, and thats the new Indian. Someone who , as an adult, finds enough of a connection to a tribe that they can become a member. Too many of these are out teaching American Indian Culture. Each tribe has it's own rules or guidelines they live by, these guidelines are not written in any book, their taught to us as we grow. Having not been raised around a tribe makes it very difficult for someone to go beyond what is written in a book somewhere (which could very well be wrong too), it takes being raised from birth as a tribal member, living, enjoying the ups and suffering the downs with your family and tribe. Even the best books written can't teach a person how to be Indian anymore than a book can teach us how to be Chinese or African , one does not "learn" to be American Indian, one is born that way. You are raised with this knowledge of being from the time you can comprehend thought, even then, many of those raised within the community are too busy struggling to survive much less learn the traditional ways of their tribe. Most true American Indians can rattle off their ancestry like they were reading it off a paper, our ancestry is sacred to us and is constantly taught to us whether were into learning traditions or not lol. If you are dealing with someone who is claiming to be a member of a tribe, ask to see their tribal card, but due to fake card being used, ask if you can call their tribe to confirm their membership (this would only be acceptable when dealing with an American Indian in business might i add). A note on what we refer to as plastic medicine men, another plague happening outside of Indian territory. Our "medicine men" using a term most would recognize, live within their tribal area. While they will travel on request, they are there to serve and protect our tribe and very highly respected. Many cons are done under the guise of being a native spiritual leader. Just remember, we don't go into your churches and decide suddenly that we are priest's, why is it acceptable for others to decide they are now spiritual leaders after maybe witnessing some of our spiritual ways. Much more on this subject too. This is only the beginning for this area. I will be adding quite a bit to this area (including links with more info on fakes and frauds) as it is confusing and more than a little uncomfortable for some. Please please check back here, we feel this subject is very important to Natives and those who truly wish to learn about the people indigenous to the United States. |
| Who am I? To give a little info on me and who i think i am to ramble on this subject. I am a proud member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma. I am a decendant of Silverhorn (sometimes misspelled as Silver Horn), while i live away from my tribe i am constantly driving back down there :) I love and constantly study my tribes traditions of which i was given a solid foundation to work from having learned much from my parents, Grandfather James, my Aunts, and cousins, along with other elders of my tribe. My specialty is 1800's style Kiowa and southern Plains crafts, and still do my brain tanning along with sewing with sinew. I go out to schools, events, museums, and orginizations to give lectures on crafts, culture, traditions, along with telling some of my tribes story's. Setting up at a event and demonstrating my craft work is special to me as many children can get a hands on feel for close up look at native crafts. I have given lectures here and other states on this and feel very strongly on this subject. Fakes and frauds show Natives in a wrong light and take money wrongly from the general public. There is more info on my bio area, but i thought it would be nice to give a condenced version here :) |
| I have placed my tribal card (pre marriage one) here to show that, first- I am a member of the Kiowa tribe of Oklahoma, and second- to give an example of a tribal card to you. Lets not forget tho, there are fake cards out there and it's best to call the tribe and be sure they are who they say they are. Click here to see a photo of my tribal card |
| Please email you opinions or questions Kathy@kiowakat.com |
| Please click the link below for a few answers to some questions that have come our way about the American Indian Educational Resources of St. Louis. Q & A |
| A quote i hope all will think on, i find it appropriate. "Definition is crucial in this day and age. People who support a free - for - all with respect to Indian identity might consider how they usher in the Trojan horse that seeks the destruction of all American Indian freedoms." Being conscious of origins in Indian affairs Posted: May 26, 2005 by: Editors Report / Indian Country Today |
| My Blogs I have a couple blogs running on our local TV News stations website. Please check them out and comment if you would like- Kiowakat's blog on her Myspace Kiowakat's Blog on Fox2 |
