Posted on ndn-aim By Tammy Salinas This was forwarded to me by a friend. This may have already been posted, if so - sorry. If not, enjoy! BEING INDIAN IS.............. Being Indian Is-feeding anyone and everyone who comes to your door hungry, with whatever you have. Being Indian Is-having every third person you meet tell you about his great grandmother who was a real Cherokee princess. Being Indian Is-being broke all summer long because you try to make very pow wow. Being Indian Is-loving frybread and dry meat. Being Indian Is-masking your emotions in times of stress. Being Indian Is-respecting your elders who have earned it. Being Indian Is-never giving up the struggle for survival. Being Indian Is-trading your surplus commodities for something you are in more need of. Being Indian Is-being known for your great sense of humor and having the ability to make jokes and laughter out of the worse situation. Being Indian Is-not rioting in the streets but occupying godforsaken places like Alcatraz, Mount Rushmore, the New York-Canadian bridge, etc. and Whiteclay, Nebraska!!! (And Gallatin/Owen Counties in KY & being *content* with it) Being Indian Is-owning land and not being able to rent, lease, sell or even farm it yourself without BIA approval. Being Indian Is- feeling Red Eagle, Medicine Cloud, and Pretty Bear are more beautiful names than Smith, Johnson, or Jones. Being Indian Is-watching your daughter give away her only pair of overshoes to somebody who needs them more than her. Being Indian Is-having your all-Indian school team playing against 7 men on the basketball court. Being Indian Is-playing basketball at the outdoor courts on the rez til 3:00 am. Being Indian Is-either borrowing or lending money to your skin brothers and sisters at least once a week. Being Indian Is-having people ask if they can touch your hair or take your picture. Being Indian Is-worrying about diabetes. Being Indian Is-knowing why the rez car in "Smoke Signals" was funny! Being Indian Is-having more cousins than trees have leaves. Being Indian Is-cutting the mold off the commodity cheese so you can eat it anyway. Being Indian Is-having to explain *again* why you don't like the mascot. (So don't explain more than once, more than likely, they will abuse your words anyway) Being Indian Is-cursing F.A.S. Being Indian Is-fighting the likes of Slade Gordon Doing Indian Is- know the Reservation of Education. Being Indian Is-eating salmon for the 6th meal in a row. Being Indian Is-knowing to many people that have died of cirrhosis, exposure, or "accident" Being Indian Is-knowing history started before 1492. Being Indian Is-laughing with your friends so much your facial muscles hurt. Being Indian Is-singing 49 songs using a garbage can for a drum. Being Indian Is-road trips cross country . . . just because . . . Being Indian is having the strength to move your family at any given moment, for any given reason of another . . . and making it . . . Being Indian Is-reading about your ancestors and relations in an anthropologist paper. Being Indian Is-knowing someone in Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, San Francisco, Minneapolis or any other relocation center. Being Indian Is-losing your job after the grant ends. Being Indian is losing your job because you're different. Being Indian Is-having a song come to you at the oddest times. Aho! Being Indian Is-counting the number of brown people photographed in magazine advertisements. Being Indian Is-celebrating the whale hunt. Being Indian Is-full of acronyms that affect your world (BIA, IHS, CSBG, ANA, FEMA, CCDBG, JTPA, WIA, SYEP, JOM, NIEA, UNITY....... Being Indian Is-PRIDE. Being Indian Is-BEAUTIFUL Being Indian Is-FOREVER...... >>>>>>>>> This is truly what it is being Indian . :) Dodie