--- In SouthernCherokeeNation@yahoogroups.com, "jaquie.blue" <jaquie.blue@...>
wrote:

Osiyo Dear Family

I found this while doing some research on mixed bloods.I already signded the
petition. It is a good thing to do


To: Bureau of Indian Affairs
Native America does not believe that the BIA or any other government
organization has the right to determine who is or is not Native American by
degree of blood. There is no other group in America that is ever asked who they
are by how much blood.

This archaic process began in 1705 in Virginia as a way of denying civil rights
to blacks and Indians who at that time were assumed to be inferior races. Many
states instituted these laws as a way of deciding who had equal rights to whites
and encouraged people of color to relinquish their identities so as to be able
to enjoy the rights freely given to others. In this way, it was assumed that
Native people would eventually become extinct through assimilation and
intermarriage. But this did not, and will not, happen. Native people, even
through intermarriage and assimilation will not disappear. Even through
intermarriage and assimilation, Native people still hold tightly to their
culture and their lineage and must be honored and recognized by their own
determination alone, not by degree of blood.

The idea that any government can identify who is Native and who is not by blood
quantum is an out dated and unnecessary ideology that is held today because of
the governments unwillingness to provide services to people with certain degrees
of blood. It is time to do away entirely with this process. Blood quantum does
not determine who and what Indians are. Only Native societies and /or
communities have the sovereign right to determine who is and who isn't a part of
their nation, tribe, clan, or community. Because it has always been an Indian
value to be inclusive, high numbers of black Indians, Hispanics and Anglos have
been accepted through various means into many Indian communities, in addition to
those who are Indian, with mixed ancestry. Every indigenous nation had and has a
process for accepting, or adopting outsiders into the fold. From mixed blood
Indians through intermarriage, to like-minded people of other races, indigenous
communities and nations must determine "who is Indian".

It is no mystery that America has financial obligations to its Indian nations
and "certified" Indian people, but these are doled out
intermittently and begrudgingly. Simply put, the fewer indigenous citizens, the
less money will be paid out. And the more difficult it is to be legally
certified "Indian", the less Indians there will be. Not only is this racist
economics in action but it is also blood quantum genocide. By allowing America
to determine who is Indian, simply because the government doesnt want to be held
accountable, to their word, by meeting their obligations, we allow the US
government to legislate Indians out of existence. No other group including
African Americans, Asians, Latinos need a card to prove who they are.

With this petition, we are declaring that the only recognition necessary is that
of community acceptance and involvement. This is the right of our sovereignty
and self determination. As with all other people in all other social programs in
this country, the people that should be the recipients of Indian government
programs should be determined solely by need, not by blood quantum and not by
association with reservations.

Submitted by:

Christine Rose/STAR
www.egroups.com/group/STAR-STAR

Lawrence Sampson/SETAim
www.setaim.com


http://www.petitiononline.com/0001/petition.html
http://www.native-languages.org/blood.htm

--- End forwarded message ---