TANSI!!!!

Yay....you started it. I have a comment on the name. I am not from America myself, not even from Canada. I am from an older place than either of these two places and I think it would be really cool and a respectful nod to our Ancestors to leave out the european influenced naming as much as possible.

By european influenced I mean words like "America" "Indian" (this really goes ONLY for me as I take great umbrage to being called this when I am not this. An "Indian" wears a turban and has a red dot on their forehead and was colonized by Britian and is located in India. I am Nehiyawan/Cree, nothing less.).

I think it is very important for people to understand the power of naming and when you allow someone else to name you and define you, you belong to them. That's why I refuse to allow myself to be called a "Indian". I am not, I am Nehiyawan/Cree, First Nations, or Aboriginal nothing else.

I also believe that we are inundated daily with so much cultural propaganda (subliminal & overt) that is pushing, cajoling, coercing, guiding ppl into thinking of themselves as "Americans" (in the patriotic US sense) that this undermines ppl's sense of tribal sovereignty and distinctness as Aboriginal people. The tribalism is being undermined and subjugated to the American Mother Culture. And don't tell me I am lying because you can see it everywhere if you just look...

Is this unreasonable too much to ask for am I out of place do you have MY back?

Nehi

It's a community only for those who self-identify as American Indian/ Alaskan Native/ Native Hawaiian.

TANSI!!!!

I guess I should have asked first: am I even welcome here? I don't identify as any of those things.

Nehi

Okay, so I manipulated the name a little. Please join and then tell us what you think the name should be, cos duh, you should be in there. You're one of the smart, most outspoken people I know. I used America because I didn't know what else to call this fabulous hemisphere. People in WI generally say turtle island, but my people don't call it that and people from teh mainland wouldn't identify either. so.. yeah. join and then post your feelings. it would help.

hey!)
I've found your enterty in Learn_russian community and I'm wondering if you're interesting in studing russian?

I think we can help each other. We can take a turn and talk by Skype in Russian and in Eglish, so I can get practice in Eglshish and you will learn Russian )

what do you think about this idea? :)
..oh, my name is Nikita and I live in Moscow, I've been 3 times to US. I love this country

PS and you need any help in russian studing I'll try to help you ))