BEING INDIAN IS....

Being Indian Is....feeding anyone and everyone who comes to your door hungry with whatever you have.
Being Indian Is....at age three, knowing to "duck" or "hide" when you see the cops from a mile away!!!
Being Indian Is....loving frybread, mac and dry meat.
Being Indian Is....knowing history started before 1492.
Being Indian Is....full of acronyms that affect your world (INAC, FSIN, RTC, AFN, STC, BTC, MLTC, IHS, BIA) .
Being Indian Is....losing your job after the grant ends.
Being Indian Is....using your treaty rights to create your own job for yourself and your family so you won't have to depend on a grant for your job!
Being Indian Is....knowing all the quick remedies of getting rid of hickies :o)
Being Indian Is....going to pick herbs in the bushes or muskeg with your kokum.
Being Indian Is....to not pay your phone bill or light bill to feed your family.
Being Indian Is....to grow your own food and feel good about your harvest you brought in because you worked hard for it!
Being Indian Is....going for the hunt and coming back with your kill.
Being Indian Is....respecting your elders who have earned it.
Being Indian Is....never giving up the struggle for survival.
Being Indian Is....being known for your great sense of humor and having the ability to make jokes and laughter out of the worst situation.
Being Indian Is....to be judged harder by other natives than non-natives.
Being Indian Is....working together, first with yourself, your family,your community, and with other communities.
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 skinbrothers and sisters at least once a week.
Being Indian Is....having people ask if they can touch your hair or take your picture or how long have you been growing your hair... and so on...
Being Indian Is....to be asked constantly if you still live in tee-pees or ride horses every where you go.
Being Indian Is....worrying about diabetes. So eat healthy, keep fit, and pray.
Being Indian Is....using the medicine circle (wheel) to balance your whole being.
Being Indian Is....knowing why the rez car in "Smoke Signals" was funny!
Being Indian Is....knowing what they meant in "Smoke Signals" by "Do you have your passports?"
Being Indian Is....knowing how to barter or trade.
Being Indian Is....having more cousins than trees have leaves.
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 and making it like we did a long time ago to move from camp to camp.
Being Indian Is....reading about your ancestors and relations in an anthropologist paper. Let them read about us in Anthro when we get our freedom back.
Being Indian Is....knowing someone in Saskatoon, Cass Lake, Red Lake, Edmonton, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Lac Courte Oreilles, Pine Point, Mahnomen, Mille Lacs, Regina, and let's not forget Saddle Lake...
Being Indian Is....losing your job because you stand for what you believe is right.
Being Indian Is....having a song come to you at the oddest times. Howa!
Being Indian Is....standing in line for $5.
Being Indian Is....waiting up till your parents get back from BINGOjust to see if they won!
Being Indian Is....celebrating the buffalo hunt (use your imagination!).
Being Indian Is....not a right -- it's a privilege!
Being Indian Is....PRIDE!!
Being Indian Is....BEAUTIFUL!!
Being Indian Is....FOREVER!!
Being Indian Is....how YOU want it to be!


Thanks to Shano for sending this to me.

Stay sweet 'n smile.....................Mz.