Support Native Americans, part 6


[credit Simon Moya-Smith, Vice magazine]

51. Understand that not all Natives agree on all subjects, just as white people don't. [note: Some Natives support the American Indian Movement (AIM) and some don’t.]
52. Be a good listener—put your ego aside.
53. If you’re a fellow person of color, let’s not play the "oppression Olympics." Just because we inform people that Natives, per capita, are more likely to die at the hands of police than any other demographic that is not us playing “oppression Olympics.” It’s a fact that should be included in the discussion of discrimination.
54. Understand that “Native American” is a very generalized term. Each and every tribe has their own customs and ways.
55. Your family hasn’t “always fought for this country” or always owned your family farm. You’re on stolen land.
56. We are not defined by our blood quantum. Although separate, sovereign tribal nations determine who is and isn’t a part of their nation/tribe based on a person’s traceable family and lineage, blood quantum is a colonial construct. Today, non-Natives use the one-drop rule (a small percentage of Indigenous blood) to claim Indigenous heritage. One day, people didn’t even want to be around us. Now, they desperately claim to be us. Weird.
57. If someone (most often, white people) tries to charge you to participate in a “Native American ceremony,” don’t go! Also, call them out. There’s never an entry fee to attend our ceremonies. Ever.
58. Type in #NativeTwitter. This hashtag is where you can find Native users, perspectives, events, and so on. [note: I’m not on Twitter, so whatever]
59. Also, look up #MMIW (murdered and missing Indigenous women). Native women are 2.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than women of any other demographic.
60. Quit assuming I’m not a real Native because I live in a house. I like electricity and WiFi, too.

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