You know,Eddie asked that this not be expanded on any further on the forum and i intended to honor that request,until others wouldnt and to make it worse,by another Mod who used it to take a parting shot.So,be that as it may,id like to take an opportunity to tell a little personal story,that coincides with this thread.
My mother was born,of a Native Nation.She was not raised of that Nation and consequently,neither was i.{long Story,that i reserve,for close friends,that care to hear it}I was, a few years later,stripped from my birth mother and adopted by a Non Native family.That Non native family,understood and encouraged me to connect with Native Culture.Now,you have to understand,that at this time,being Native was not as highly looked upon and cool,as it is today and there was some negative connotations associated with them allowing me to do so.We befriended a family who were Native and from a different nation,than i was from.I grew up with this family and their traditions and learned much of their culture from them.It eventually resulted in them taking me on as a relative and treating me as such,traditionally and by Ceremony.The boys called me Brother and the parents called me son.I was even asked to honor them at the funeral of the father,by conducting some of the traditional ceremony.I have taught some of the traditions to subsequent generations of people of that nation,as was requested by the Patriarch of that family.Within all this,i do not nor will i ever,consider myself,of that nation and would never profess otherwise.I was adopted to that Particular Family as a member of that family and not the nation from which they belonged by birth and blood.I think you will find that to be a common attitude and belief among most Native Nations.The Non Native family that i was adopted into,were of Serious Highland Scottish heritage and i never would profess to be of that nation either,even though i consider those people family.
I later learned of my Native culture through association with others of that Nation,and would still never be so bold as to consider myself a spokesman of the people and their culture,other than in an educational capacity and i would never be so bold as to lecture and criticize a member of that Nation as to how they should act or behave,regarding their cultural tradition,that is theirs by birth and blood.
Mike.....,Since you are fond of using Native slang terms,you may want to ask around about the meaning of Twinkie.Trust me,it isnt in reference to the delicious hostess cakes.
Ps....
My mother was Born Oglala Oyate.
