In a message dated 5/24/00 2:35:06 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: << Carol Jean, What Markie is saying is that there are people out there who specifically exploit the issue of native american spirituality and heritage. There are groups that you can pay a fee too and become a member of their tribe. Those groups are not legitimate and are profiting from those who cannot prove their heritage. There are spiritualist who make up their own religion, give classes on it and profit by selling out. Being Indian is not something you can buy. It is not something you can learn on the computer. It is not something that you can instantly plug into a genealogy chart on. It is a life that is instilled from your ancestors. It is learning the tribal ways from your elders. It is fighting for issues which affect those that have fought their whole lives to overcome. It is these things and many more. Nan aiya Jami >> I understand and appreciate what you are saying Jami, but it is not just non-Indians who are in the exploitation business (I know this for a fact). You are always going to find people who are takers and you are going to find those who follow like a horse with blinders on. Carol Jean

At 05:41 PM 05/24/2000 EDT, you wrote: > >I understand and appreciate what you are saying Jami, but it is not just >non-Indians who are in the exploitation business (I know this for a fact). >You are always going to find people who are takers and you are going to find >those who follow like a horse with blinders on. > >Carol Jean > Carol Jean, You are correct on this. <G> A couple of years ago, I met a full blood Chippewa who lived on the Leech Lake Res. in MN. He came down to Louisiana to visit a cousin who is a friend of mine. I'll try and make a long story short here. After a couple of months this guy and his girlfriend ended up living in their van. He was one of the friendlest, nicest people you would ever want to know. Well, old dumb me says... "If you would like you can stay in our travel trailer in our yard until you get on you feet down here. It's just sitting in our yard, and we are not using it right now. "...duhhhh... SIX months later they are still living in our trailer! My house was like their house, with swinging doors. Well how can you throw someone out who is so friendly, and nice, we thought?? LOL I got a phone call one morning from his aunt. She told me that they had left that morning heading back to MN. I didn't even KNOW IT! They left before I woke up, didn't say goodbye, thank you, or kiss my foot. Later I found he had borrowed my brothers guitar. (my brother lives next door) It was gone, and my brother found it in a pawn shop here and had to pay to get it back! It had been pawned three other times. Then I find out that my 225 ct. Malicite necklace that my husband had brought me back from Africa was gone! It had been pawned several times also. So being Indian does not make someone a good person that's for sure! Good and Bad people come from all races, creeds, and color. I guess you could say, "I was a horse one time!" haha Markie