Hey y’all I’m a new poster here and I love the great resource that this website provides.
I have a question about minority status. My mother’s grandmother was 100% blackfoot indian. That makes me (without any other mixes of Native race) one sixteenth Blackfoot Indian. So my question is really does this count for anything, and since I look nothing like a Native American, where can I go to get proof that I really am of minority status.
Thanks to all who respond in advance!
<p>Hello rufio,
I am also a native american (navajo). You will need to file paperwork with the blackfoot tribe and recieve an ID card (at least this is what is needed as a navajo). However, to get an ID card requires at least 1/8 native american blood...I ended up recieving a card however I choose not to identify myself as a native american because I did not want to abuse the system...I asked several of my native american friends about your question and they told me that most tribes require 1/8 as well...</p>
<p>thanks a bunch mike, that's exactly what I was looking for. I guess I'll have to do some family tree searching, or just give up and hope for the best like every other (mostly) white kid trying to get into college.</p>
<p>Mooching off the system isn't all that bad. This may be my one chance. What was your reasoning behind not reporting it?</p>
<p>I am from an middleclass background with no ties in reservations...my grandfather (who is 100% native american) asked me not to because he wanted me to be judged on my merits...I decided to honor his request.</p>
<p>I'd venture to guess rufio, that perhaps he doesn't want to BS the system that is meant to redress issues that real minorities face.</p>
<p>you have a point kirmum, but if I may ask, what issues do real minorities face?</p>
<p>If you did what was most comfortable for you, then I wouldn't argue with you.</p>
<p>But one could say it's just as valid--from a diversity standpoint--for a school to want Native Americans WITHOUT strong tribal ties, who DIDN'T grow up on a reservation, among their student body. There are students on campus who haven't met a very wide variety of people, and it's just as important and eye-opening for them to realize that yes, there are wealthy privileged students of color. Yes, some Native Americans live just white people. Yes, some Mexican-Americans don't speak spanish at home. Etc etc. To some extent, it's just as valuable to have the wealthy son of a black doctor on campus as it is to have a black kid from the projects, from a diversity standpoint.</p>
<p>rufio055,</p>
<p>Wouldn't your great-grandmother's being Native American make you 1/8, not 1/16? It would make your grandma 1/2, your mom 1/4, and you 1/8.</p>
<p>lol I feel so stupid now, thanks though, now I have a basis for doing some genealogy research and then applying to make it official. The world is blessed to have people like you help out people like me :)</p>