Sometimes Being Tribal Rocks

I am a "Native American" ...

Wait...let me rephrase that.

I am a member of a Native American tribe and I have a card that says so. :)

I love history and I love that I know who some of my ancestors are more than 2 generations back. Two of them were Indian women. I know where my great-grandma got her cheekbones. =) These women were tough. It wasn't exactly kosher for people to marry outside their own race back then. These ladies would be my ... gosh, let's see ... I think my great-great-great-great grandmothers. I *think*. Or maybe it's just three greats.

Not my relative...but looks remarkably similar.

We have photos of them somewhere. I'll have to try to dig them out and scan them. These ladies are the two we know about but my aunt thinks we have several more Indian ancestors (as well as some Jewish, Russian, and Ukrainian) in our past.

So legally I'm a Native American. Which is such BS considering I have about as much "native" blood in me as a misquito could suck out. It's enough though and I can technically vote in tribal matters if I wanted to (I never have).

One benefit of being a member of the tribe is that we get free fish. I am generally opposed to all handouts. I refuse to sign up for the medical benefits and have never received a penny cash. Nor did I ever check the box "Native American" on any scholarship or college (or job for that matter) applications. I refuse to let some trace amount of blood give me a stupid "advantage" that has nothing to do with ability.

But the salmon ... oh dear God the salmon. I don't get it directly but my grandfather, as an elder in the tribe, gets it for free and he just got his allotment. I won't say *exactly* how much but it's several thousand dollars worth. And it's just so mouth wateringly yummy!!! Grandpa slathers it in a mayonnaise mix and smokes it on the BBQ with alder chips. My mouth is watering right now!!!

So I'm a hypocrite when it comes to salmon. More handouts please!!!