Why not both?

[SinnamonFairbanks]

I posted this little rant somewhere else, but I was curious what your thoughts are on this topic

Ok so hear me out...

Im indigenous. One side of my family has lineage back from before Canada was Canada. They lived in pretty isolated communities until my dad left his community to find work.

The other half are immigrants.

I identify as both an indigenous person and a child of an immigrant. I understand from my dad's side what its like to live rural, poor and have a hard life but make the best of what you have and the other side I saw my grandparents come here and build a life and live every immigrants Canadian dream.

I don't understand why it's so difficult sometimes for people to accept i'm both of those things at the same time. Both of those things are true at the same time.

Indigenous + 2nd generation immigrant

Am I missing something?

Am I saying something wrong by saying that?

Do I have to identify as one or the other?

I've had people tell me that I can't be both and I don't understand why I cannot be both. I AM both.

Is it how I'm explaining it?

 

[philonius]

It's perfectly fine and makes sense once explained.

 

[The Oracle]

''Most scientists believe that the first Indigenous peoples of North America migrated from East Asia across the Bering Strait land bridge, which connected Siberia and Alaska during periods of lower sea levels, likely during the last glacial maximum. These migrations are thought to have occurred thousands of years ago, with evidence suggesting multiple waves of migration'

In the end this makes the North American people Asian and everyone is an immigrant to Canada.

 

[Valcazar]

I'm confused that anyone would be confused.

 

[Adamxx]

''Most scientists believe that the first Indigenous peoples of North America migrated from East Asia across the Bering Strait land bridge, which connected Siberia and Alaska during periods of lower sea levels, likely during the last glacial maximum. These migrations are thought to have occurred thousands of years ago, with evidence suggesting multiple waves of migration'

In the end this makes the North American people Asian and every is an immigrant to Canada.

Tricky , as how far should it go back, some say Africa was the origin for our particular species.

Just take pride in who you are.

 

[massman]

I posted this little rant somewhere else, but I was curious what your thoughts are on this topic

Ok so hear me out...

Im indigenous. One side of my family has lineage back from before Canada was Canada. They lived in pretty isolated communities until my dad left his community to find work.

The other half are immigrants.

I identify as both an indigenous person and a child of an immigrant. I understand from my dad's side what its like to live rural, poor and have a hard life but make the best of what you have and the other side I saw my grandparents come here and build a life and live every immigrants Canadian dream.

I don't understand why it's so difficult sometimes for people to accept i'm both of those things at the same time. Both of those things are true at the same time.

Indigenous + 2nd generation immigrant

Am I missing something?

Am I saying something wrong by saying that?

Do I have to identify as one or the other?

I've had people tell me that I can't be both and I don't understand why I cannot be both. I AM both.

Is it how I'm explaining it?

I completely understand where you are coming from, tho I have the privilege of not being in one of those groups, either indigenous or recent immigrant. I think the issue arises that if you are, you may more strongly identify with the struggles of your own group, rather than that of others, and to the extreme, you can’t understand other people’s struggles, because they don’t compare to your own (and solution to one groups problems, may in fact worsen the others, or at least that is the perception).

As a fourth generation Canadian on one side, and more (5th at least) on the others, I have no direct stake in such issues. I do know that my ancestors who emigrated here did not have it easy, were often discriminated against and worked their asses off to provide for their families, which ultimately led to me having a more privileged existence in this country.

As a result, I can easily see things from both sides of the argument you are referring to, and do not believe that one side’s argument is incompatible with the other’s.

 

[Adamxx]

I completely understand where you are coming from, tho I have the privilege of not being in one of those groups, either indigenous or recent immigrant. I think the issue arises that if you are, you may more strongly identify with the struggles of your own group, rather than that of others, and to the extreme, you can’t understand other people’s struggles, because they don’t compare to your own (and solution to one groups problems, may in fact worsen the others, or at least that is the perception).

As a fourth generation Canadian on one side, and more (5th at least) on the others, I have no direct stake in such issues. I do know that my ancestors who emigrated here did not have it easy, were often discriminated against and worked their asses off to provide for their families, which ultimately led to me having a more privileged existence in this country.

As a result, I can easily see things from both sides of the argument you are referring to, and do not believe that one side’s argument is incompatible with the other’s.

“ I have the privilege “. That statement clearly indicates you do not understand, or can. As one has to live a life style to know “ as we are all individuals with different and many influences that program us.

 

[angrymime666]

I really don't give a shit about who someone is, just be a decent human being

 

[xix]

If some joker says you have to choose a side, tell him/her you will drive them to the mental hospital.
Don't listen to those woke people. Either they are nuts, jealous / envy of you or like to think as if it is 1899.

As @angrymime666 said decent human being.

 

[Ponderling]

In the high school I attended the indiginous folks sort of kept to themselves, but were also good class mates.
Might have come from lesser fiscal backgrounds but had richer life experiences.

Joe Snake would fill in running a trap line on a snowmobile before school in the winter when his grandpa was side lined getting his cataracts removed. In the darkest months it had to be after school
In the back of his truck there would be a layer of snow, and at first glance it would look like fire wood, but on closer examination they were frozen mink, muscrat and the like.
He would play hockey on defence and almost nothing could get past him.

Deanna Big Canoe was from a family of expert moccasin makers. She would take the family truck north on Highway 11 about once a month to the Big East trading company store and come back with a good pile of cash and custom bead pattern commisioned pairs that were on order.
She lead the ladies box lacrosse team.
If the average Canadian thinks you have to be in shape to play hockey.
Have them try to last playing a game of lacrosse.

Her two older brothers could fix anything that ran with a carburetor.
Had a fleet of old snow mobiles in good working order that were neat to see in the 80's, and likely damn collectable today.

Nice salt of the earth folks.
Happy to stay in the small town I grew up in.

They are not such big fans of the money the Casino's contruction brought to the reserve.
The seem to feel that resulted in lot of local folks all of a sudden flew their indiginous roots.
Once there was a slice of casino revenue to be distributed by the band council.

 

[Nickelodeon]

I think what you're going through is perfectly normal. Many people from mixed backgrounds go through identity challenges and then land in an area where they are comfortable with themselves, and do not need validation from third parties. The identity issue has been heightened dramatically this century (for better and worse) but you will land in a place that's comfortable for you.

And it's interesting that you did not mention whether or not you publicly identify as a sex worker...that is a whole other issue society struggles with.

 

[Jubee]

I find it difficult to believe you're encountering people who find it difficult to believe that you're both.
Every single time I've been in a group setting and in a similar situation, everyone actually said "that's a cool mix" or "that's exotic", etc. Not once have I heard someone question it in any way, bizarre luck you have there.

 

[Forzafonz]

I don't understand why it's so difficult sometimes for people to accept i'm both of those things at the same time. Both of those things are true at the same time.

Just say you're half Indigenous, because everyone else here is immigrant.

 

[massman]

“ I have the privilege “. That statement clearly indicates you do not understand, or can. As one has to live a life style to know “ as we are all individuals with different and many influences that program us.

That is kind of part of what I was getting at.

 

[Shaquille Oatmeal]

You could obviously be both.
I am confused why someone would find this strange.

 

[massman]

You could obviously be both.
I am confused why someone would find this strange.

I think there are some who would say “you are either the colonizer or the colonized, can’t be both”

 

[Adamxx]

I think there are some who would say “you are either the colonizer or the colonized, can’t be both”

Why not , use whatever tools/skills you have as needed, especially with the opposite sex, or whom ever, you get my drift.

 

[Michelle Gunn]

I'm confused that anyone would be confused.

It's because most people are dumb #sorrynotsorry

 

[Valcazar]

It's because most people are dumb #sorrynotsorry

I guess the particular ways people are dumb still surprise me.

Probably because I'm dumb.

 

[Michelle Gunn]

I guess the particular ways people are dumb still surprise me.

Probably because I'm dumb.

It's because you haven't lost faith in humanity fully yet, not because you're dumb.