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Ethnic identity crisis is a strange phenomenon indeed – especially when it comes to people who falsely claim to be indigenous (Indian, Inuit, or Metis). These People who have no right to make their claims, but because of something missing inside themselves they blatantly stake wild claims that can adversely affect actual Indigenous people. Now, we’re not talking about actual Indigenous people who were divested of their cultural identity by factors like adoption or government policies like relocation, who are undertaking a journey to discover their true Indigenous identity. Rather, we are talking about those who claim Indigenous heritage based on family lore, a mysterious Indian ancestor they found on Ancestry.com, or who just want to be Indigenous so they make it up. Individuals who suffer from an ethnic identity crisis usually do so for an assortment of reasons. Some just want to be part of another ethnicity because they think it’s cool, noble, or they just like what the other culture represents. Others do so because of the apparent benefits that the think Indigenous people receive, such as the ability to get scholarships or to check a box on a job application.  Les Atkins quit his job as factory boss to become Native American Now some of these people might actually have an Indigenous ancestor, but that ancestor is long forgotten and their family has likely lived as European for several generations – fully assimilating themselves and happily enjoying the benefits of white privilege. However, the popularity of DNA tests, genealogical research, and some of the recent legal decisions in the US and Canada have peaked a curiosity in them. Maybe they want hunting rights; maybe they think that they can cash in on some of the rumored “easy money” that they think can be had by Indigenous people; but suddenly they are 100% Indigenous and proud of their “Indigenous heritage” no matter how remote or uncertain it may actually be. Even if their Indigenous ancestry comes from a (often dubious) great grandmother from the early 1600s, they make a decision that of all of the succeeding generations who have lived as white people, that single Indigenous ancestor will hereinafter define them and make them Indigenous.  Terry Lee Whetstone has claimed to be Cherokee for years Sadly, most of these persons suffering from an ethnic identity crisis understand the real truth – that they are really not Indigenous. Nonetheless, they dig in their heels and thump their chests with misplaced pride. Knowing that they don’t actually have a link to an actual Indigenous community, they might claim to be Metis using the racial definition of a person with mixed European/Indigenous ancestry as the basis for this claim. They might run out and join a “tribe” or a “Metis” group in order to get a card to bolster their credentials. In the most extreme cases they might even start their own group and recruit others of similar dubious Indigenous heritage to join them because there is safety in numbers. A lone person suffering an ethnic identity crisis making false claims is easily dismissed as a wannabe, but several of them together can shout really loudly and make a big stink about it – fooling those around them who might not be privy to their doubtful claims.
So what can be done about these people suffering from ethnic identity crisis? Sadly, not much. They will likely always be a thorn in the side of true Indigenous people and communities. They will continue to scream about their “pride”, shout about their (supposed) proof, and they will threaten those who do not believe them and who stand against the damage they do to Indigenous people. It’s sad, but it probably won’t stop any time soon.
3 Comments
9/25/2018 01:09:17 pm
This post came across my personal page. I agree with your article, but, I wanted to let you know there are some individuals that are calling these individuals out. The Indigenous do this to dispute the people with the ethnic identity crisis in an attempt of thwarting the damage these individuals can do. Ultimately though, you are correct. I am not sure how much blow back these confused people will receive from our ancestors. I do not think they understand the depth of what they are doing and how it can effect their own future. I know we should pray for individuals like this. But, I too become offended and have to back up and pray for understanding and forgiveness for myself and the wisdom to forgive them. It's a hard thing to do. Your article will help me with this. Thank you for clarifying the situation these individuals have created. It has helped me to understand things better and I needed that. I will share this article in hopes that others will be more enlightened too.
Tara
9/25/2018 01:46:46 pm
Thank you for this post. There is a fine line between cultural appropriation/ ethnic identity crises and the appreciation of a culture. Some people just go too far. It's difficult to explain this to other Caucasians who seem to have that "wanna-be" attitude. It's ok and perfectly fine to find beauty in another's culture - and we can do that without stealing it and trying to make it our own. For some, in my experience anyway, these are probably people who believe more in the Indigenous ways of being than the ways they've been taught all their lives. Some want to unite and move forward in a good way but instead it comes out all wrong because they're lost. Many people on this planet are sick and looking for healing and a place to fit in. It seems they forget that they can keep their identity AND appreciate another's culture at the very same time. We can be friends without taking on another's culture and identity as our own. For myself personally, I do have verified Indigenous ancestry from Nbisiing - but as your post says, that's from 400 years ago. The people that were born of the association between a Nbisiing woman and a French man largely lived as Europeans from the get-go. Although my family always knew there were Indigenous roots somewhere in the far past, no one knew the details. No one (as far as we know) ever went to residential schools - no one's kids were stripped away from them. Perhaps more importantly, no one born from that country wedding truly knew and lived their Indigenous ancestry and roots. Not one was given the chance to know who they really were, therefore, they knew not of the Indigenous ways of life, the practices, the culture, etc. That makes someone like me NOT in any position to claim that I am Indigenous in any way. What I (and others in a similar position through their ancestral roots) are allowed to do is to research, appreciate, learn, share, develop friendships, with and from Indigenous peoples, if it is mutual and chosen. We are not to claim anything more.
Dibaajimowin
9/25/2018 04:26:51 pm
Amazingly astute! Thank you for getting it. You are a treasure. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorA collaborative effort of members of the Ojibwe and Metis communities Archives
June 2019
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