Being Indian Is...

BEING INDIAN IS...

Being Indian Is-feeding anyone and everyone who comes to your door hungry, with whatever you have.

Being Indian Is-having every third person you meet tell you about his great-grandmother who was a real Cherokee princess.

Being Indian Is-being broke all summer long because you try to make every pow wow.

Being Indian Is-loving frybread and dry meat.

Being Indian Is-masking your emotions in times of stress.

Being Indian Is-respecting your elders because they have earned it.

Being Indian Is-never giving up the struggle for survival.

Being Indian Is-trading your surplus commodities for something you are in more need of.

Being Indian Is-being known for your great sense of humor and having the ability to make jokes and laughter out of the worse situation.

Being Indian Is-not rioting in the streets but occupying godforsaken places like Alcatraz, Mount Rushmore, the New York-Canadian bridge, etc..

Being Indian Is-owning land and not being able to rent, lease, sell or even farm it yourself without BIA approval.

Being Indian Is- feeling Red Eagle,Medicine Cloud, and Pretty Bear are more beautiful names than Smith, Johnson, or Jones.

Being Indian Is-watching your daughter give away her only pair of overshoes to somebody who needs them more than her.

Being Indian Is-either borrowing or lending money to your skin brothers and sisters at least once a week.

Being Indian Is-having people ask if they can touch your hair or take your picture.
Being Indian Is-worrying about diabetes.

Being Indian Is-knowing why the rez car in "Smoke Signals" was funny!

Being Indian Is-having more cousins than trees have leaves.

Being Indian Is-cutting the mold off the commodity cheese so you can eat it anyway.

Being Indian Is-having to explain *again* why you don't like the mascot.(So don't explain more than once, because more than likely, they will abuse your words anyway)

Being Indian Is-eating meat for the 6th meal in a row.

Being Indian Is-knowing too many people that have died of cirrhosis, exposure, or "accidents".

Being Indian Is-knowing history started before 1492.

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-reading about your ancestors and relations in an anthropologist paper.

Being Indian Is-losing your job after the grant ends.

Being Indian is-losing your job because you're different.

Being Indian Is-having a song come to you at the oddest times.

Being Indian Is-counting the number of brown people photographed in magazine advertisements.

Being Indian Is-PRIDE.

Being Indian Is-BEAUTIFUL

Being Indian Is-FOREVER.