>Date: Tue, 23 May 2000 09:30:14 -0700 (PDT) > >Old-Date: 23 May 00 09:30:13 PDT >From: Katherine Nell McNeil <[email protected]> >To: [email protected], [email protected] > >Jim, >There are those who want 'proof' because they think they can access tribal >funds. There are those who want to prove the oral stories that have been >handed down through family history...(me). But the WHO will recognize them >without proof is only relevant to who is asking the question. Being Choctaw >or any tribe is within the heart and spirit. It is how one carrys themself. >It is how an individual see and feels things. A piece of paper is nothing >more than a piece of paper. Who is Indian has been debated for years in many >avenues. It continues to be debated. Is is bood, is it cultural? There are >many that have the blood but have no connection to their heritage. There are >those who have minute blood but have established cultural connections within >the Indian community that they live. Personally, for me I just wanted to know >which relatives that I can honor for the sacrifices that they made. No piece >of paper can tell me how I should carry myself. No piece of paper can tell me >that I need to make sure that the elders at a Powwow are served dinner before >you serve yourself. No piece of paper can tell me that my actions either >bring honor or dishonor on my extended family. Proof? It is all relative. >I respectfully give you my thoughts, >Katherine Nell Hill McNeil > >"Jim Morrison, Jr." <[email protected]> wrote: >I just don't quite see the logic in this. You mean that all a person has to >do is say they are Indian and they WILL BE reconized as such? WHO will >reconize them without proof? > > > > >At 12:47 AM 5/23/00 EDT, you wrote: >>In a message dated 05/22/2000 8:37:54 PM Pacific Daylight Time, >>[email protected] writes: >> >><< Unfortunately, we Natives have to have proof in order to enroll in a >> Federally recognized tribe. It does not mean we are not as good as other >> people, it's just the way things are. >> >> Carol Jean >> >>I understand that we must have proof to enroll. My point is that we don't >>need proof to be Indian. >>