First, just a Thank You for this site and its work. I only discovered it last night, have been reading a good bit and will be reading for some time to come.
I'm Anglo (Scots, Irish, Dutch, English), no NDN blood. However, from the age of 4 months into my early teens, I grew up on NDN reservations, primarily the Makah in NW Washington state and the White Mtn Apache in AZ. Longer with the Apache and have some good friends there, so I feel more connection with them. No expert, but have read much on the history and culture of many tribes.
Have been involved in small ways to show support where I could ... did a tiny part of the Longest Walk in 1978 (the last 7 miles into DC) ... participated for a couple of years in the DC-based American Indian Inter-Tribal Cultural Organization (AIITCO) which provided NDN speakers for area schools, supported area pow-wows and etc. For a time there, especially in my 20's, I might have been thought of as a "wannabe", but for me it was more a need to sort out the glitches (for want of a better term) between traits acquired from my growing-up environment on the res, and the expectations of the wider world. I have a foot in both, it was a matter of how much foot where.
Have had some small experience with "medicine men" (Sun Bear, Rolling Thunder) and have certainly read a number of Those Books (!).
Am 100% in support of all this site stands for.
With respect.
