November is Native American Heritage Month here in the US, and it's something that I celebrate. I'm Native American through my mom, although I don't look it much because the Scottish from my dad's side kind of overrides it. However, I've always had a sense of my Chickasaw/Cherokee heritage since I was a kid and it was something I was proud of. My mom always instilled those values in me and she loved the Disney version of Pocahontas when it came out. She wanted me to have a good sense of my indigenous heritage back then.


However, it seems like now all of that has changed. She still claims to be proud of it, but she referrs to herself as "white" because of the Irish in her. I choose to put "other" on surveys and school projects when asked, because I posess both Amerindian and Caucasian blood. She doesn't see it that way, and says that whatever you predominately are, you should call yourself that. Of course, I disagree. What do you think?

I know I have relatives in Oklahoma and Alabama who could connect me more with my Native American family, but I don't know how to research it or go about it. Any tips?




As for me personally, the only thing you can really see in my face that gives me away are my cheekbones and my eyes.




Famous People Who Are Also Part Native American

Angelina Jolie is 1/4 Iroquois from her mother:

You can see it in the skin tone and cheeks

Johnny Depp is part Cherokee:

Johnny definitely looks it.



Other famous people with Amerindian roots include:

Megan Fox (Cherokee)


The Jonas Brothers (Cherokee)


Chuck Norris (Cherokee)


Carrie Underwood (Muskogee)


Mandy Moore (Cherokee)


Pete Wentz (Either Iroquois or Ojibway, I'm not sure which)



Obviously there's a lot more, but that's a sample.



Then the issue comes up about the treatment of modern tribes. The Lakota tribe actually withdrew from the union earlier this year. What do you think about the struggles that many Native Americans still have to face?

Interesting topic, Doro. Well, personally I don't have any Indian blood, but it's cool that you do. However, I do remember when I lived down in Florida, I knew quite a few people who claimed to be part Cherokee, but they looked totally white, heck, some of them had blond hair and blue eyes. I'm kind of suspicious of people claim they have Indian ancestry if they don't look it. In Latin America, if someone has Indian or African blood going back a long ways, no one wants to say so, it's really looked down on. It's weird to me when people claim Indian heritage when they look totally white, because in Latin America, that person would be shunned and treated like crap. What's your take on that?

^ My take on it is that Latin American views suck :lol:


I think in America, in a weird way, we are more in tune with our ethnic identities because all of us are some kind of mutt.

same here. I am a definate mutt... My mother is half Freanch/quarter engish/quarter Blackfoot, while my dad is quarter Irish/quarter German/quarter Chocktaw/quarter Cherokee.

I do have a bit of native american in me and I'm proud of that fact.

Actually it sounds like you have a lot. I'm roughly 1/8 (maybe more, I haven't checked into all of my family tree yet). My dad's side of the family is mostly Scottish Highlander, but I was told that we had Cherokee relatives (I'm not sure how far back it was). I need to take a Geneology course.

I have a bit, yes, but people think I'm all-white since I have issues retaining a tan

I am part Aztec Indian, which is a native South American tribe known for its gold and creating one of the most fascenating civilizations in history.

^ My friend Richard, who's Mexican, is Aztec. He made that very clear to me once. I was with him and some of my friends one time and he had been joking about how everyone thinks that Mexican is a language. I said "well, if you look at Mayan, that's a Mexican language". He just said "No, We're AZTEC" very bluntly like that.

Aztecs are actually Mexica, hence the name Mexico :D

BTW, here are some other celebrities I forgot about:

Fergie (1/2 Aztec and 1/2 Scottish)


Brandon Boyd of Incubus (1/2 Aztec and 1/2 Scottish)


Jessica Biel (Choctaw)


Cameron Diaz (Mother is Cherokee and German, Father is Cuban)


Carmen Electra (Cherokee and Irish)


Wayne Newton (Pohowtan/Cherokee)

I'm from Turkey and obviously don't have Native American roots at all. But the issue of Native American identity has long been an academic and professional interest of mine. Considering the US history and politics on Native American peoples I understand that preserving the indigenous culture and claiming the native identity is somewhat problematic both on individual and social basis. I know very little of Native American culture has survived but still Ameriacan Indian people today are more conscious about their heritage and are experiencing a process of cultural revitalization especially in various fields of arts. Ofcourse, whether they get the recognition they deserve is debatable.

Native Americans should be revered much more than they are. It makes me sick to see how even today many young Native American men can't find jobs and reservations often have horrible conditions.

I'm part Cherokee, my grandfather's father was a full-blooded Cherokee. I think that if you are proud of whatever heritage you are, then you should embrace it. I just identify most with my African-American roots, but not because it's the dominant one... I was just raised that way. I'm also part French Canadian and Scotch-Irish. *shrug*

I'm a 100% scottish...wish i had some native americans...i know how much native americans and scots get on.

Native Americans and Scots have been great friends and allies throughout history. It's a touching story to me since I posess both in blood.