Detemining American Indian Identity

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=2119

I found this article most interesting, because as I entered m google search this was the third article down, and low and behold, an article from the newspaper in my home town. Out of curiosity I opened it, and turns out it was a very interesting article.

It discusses that rather than health care, jobs, cultural reservation, casinos, etc being their main concern, but the big issue among Natives, that's isn't seem in mainstream American, is the issue of Indian Identity. It is such a huge issues, because since Tribes are sovereign nations they have the right to determine who is and is not a member of their tribe. This is especially frustrating for those who know they are Indian, but cannot prove it, or do not meet the blood-quantum requirement. It is through marriage and relationships between Natives and non-Natives that create these situations. Seth Prince, a Choctaw and Cherokee, who "could easily pass for white", believes that this "new" face, faces such as his own are the "faces of tomorrow's Native American." He says "it is what is in my heart, not what pumps through it, that makes me Indian."

I really enjoyed this article because from the perspective of Seth Prince, it gives non-Natives, such as myself a chance to see what identifying as Native means, and why it is so important to them.

Arianna