Margaret O'Donnell Bodellan Aerol Noori Noodin recently contributed to an article that appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She made very interesting comments on "traceable" ancestors and identity. The relevant portion is quoted below.
"Wisconsin is full of cities with Indigenous names. So why do we know so little about them?"
Eddie Morales and Samantha Hendrickson - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Published 11/16/2021 at 2:08 PM CT, Updated 11/16/2021 at 2:24 PM CT
Noodin, who also teaches Ojibwe language courses, said people with Indigenous identity range from enrolled citizens of sovereign nations to descendants with clear family narratives.
“You will often encounter descendants who, like in my family, have stories that we know are traceable and we can talk about,” she said. “For me, part of the inspiration in learning and teaching the language was to honor at least some of my ancestors.”
Noodin said she meets many students who’ve grown up away from their nations, and because they feel disconnected, they often want to learn more about their own history.
“I think today, unless you're teaching on one of the reservations, you often have to be very careful because people's identity has been erased with their language and their ability to practice their culture,” she said.
Noodin said people who say they are Native should be able to say which community they return to frequently, or stay in touch with, and who in a particular community knows them.
“You really just have to honor where people are at and listen to their full narrative, and ultimately the best way to know if someone has an Indigenous connection is to find out where that narrative leads,” she said. “Does it connect to a community who claims them? That's the most important thing.”
