#native problems

I’m a tribal member of a Federally recognized tribe in America. That means someone looked at my blood quantum, decided it was “Indian enough” (or too Indian depending on who you ask 😡) and I literally have documents saying who I am and my blood degree.

I shared a meme today about how natives in America are the only minority subjected to this and I’ve had white friends coming for me, saying things like

“It’s the tribe that does that. You’re doing it to yourselves” and “it’s to keep everyone away. It’s racist of yall”

EXCUSE ME??!!

No. It is NOT our tribe, it’s the government. It was called the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and it determines FEDERAL recognition.

People wanna open their mouths from places of ignorance with their “full blooded Cherokee great grandma” as the source they site- but my actual living grandma who nearly died escaping the rez when it was its worst and survived Indian child education means nothing, my dad being a retired tribal officer who dedicated his life to and worked to pass laws about our tribal laws means nothing, being raised there with my culture means nothing… obviously.

Stop speaking for minorities. We’re tired. We know our story. We know our peoples. Don’t tell us we don’t.

[ID: A series of five slides from my Instagram story; all feature a fully black background.]

[The first slide is titled, in red text, !!URGENT; PLEASE READ!!, With the following text in white: "A friend of mine, Jon, is an indigenous person living in Canada. (The exact area being Karonto, Ontario.) His camp, Wiigwaasikaa, was raided earlier today by police. Nobody was harmed or arrested, but the police are returrning tonight.]

[The second slide reads: Jon wishes for people to spread the word about the situation. He does not want his people to fall silent, and neither do I. These are the two accounts for his camp that he wishes to be spread. (Written is an @mention for @projectlandback on Instagram, as well as a link to his facebook:

[The third slide reads: Please, please spread the word. Share these accounts. Boost what's happening at Wiigwaasikaa. This isn't something that should be ignored or swept under the rug.]

[The fourth slide reads: I will update the best I can if I get more information from Jon. Thank you in advance. -Ashi.]

[The fifth slide reads: An addition to the situation: Jon is going to try to go live and stream the event over on his account, @lunchedmeats on Instagram. If I get more information on when it begins or any other information on the situation, again, I will update.]

[End ID.]

You don't need to know linguistics to learn a language. If you have the motivation to learn the language and you know how you learn, then you will learn to speak and converse in the language.

The reason why some people might think you need to know linguistics is because past linguists have coded their papers to where if you don't have a degree or PhD in linguistics, then the chances of you understanding the paper about the language is near impossible.

If you have access to fluent speakers in your community, you will learn more from them than any linguistic paper. Trust the scholars, the elders, in the community, and don't rely heavily on academic papers about the community, which, let's be honest, are often incorrect.

Mom: I’m gonna talk to Billy and indain marriage you and Jacob *laughs*

You: Mom! NO!

Mom: *still laughing*