The Benefits of Becoming Indian
By Jörg Blech
In the United States a growing number of white people are discovering
their Native American roots. Some are doing so for financial gain,
but most are just looking for the meaning of life.
A few weeks, Betty Baker was still just a white housewife. But now
the woman, with her piercing blue eyes, goes by the name "Little
Dove" --and has jettisoned her apron for an elaborate deerskin dress.
"I am an Indian and I've sensed this my whole life," says the 48-year-
old Baker, who lives in a wooden house on the edge of the small town
of Pinson, Alabama.
Five years ago, after her parents told her that her family probably
had some Native American ancestry, she assembled documents and birth
certificates and last September was accepted into the Cherokee Tribe
of northeast Alabama. The cultural neophyte is now zealously learning
the rituals and dances of her newly discovered ancestors.
But she certainly isn't alone. Little Dove is just one of thousands
of people in the United States who are becoming Indians. The
government's official grouping of "Native Americans" is an extremely
fast growing minority: between 1960 and 2000 it grew by 640 percent.
More than 4 million Americans now describe themselves as Native
American, which cannot be explained by the birth rate alone. Much of
the growth is due to people like Betty Baker changing their ethnicity.
Most of these new Indians have pale skin, some are even blond, and
almost all were considered white before. Others point to high cheek
bones, brown eyes and straight, glossy hair in their families as
unmistakable signs of Indian ancestry. The self-described 'half
bloods' may still live in their old homes, but their free time is now
taken up by organizing powwows and walking around in costumes like
those straight out of old Western movies.
But the benefits of racial identity aren't the only ones Indian
converts are after. The Indian identity has attracted some poor
Americans for the access to university scholarships or free health
insurance that comes with it. Potential income from casinos. Indian
tribes are allowed to have gambling on their reservations, as long as
the tribe is recognized by the US government. A loophole that was
originally intended to help many Native Americans out of poverty and
deprivation has developed into a huge business. The gambling income
nationwide amounts to over $18 billion annually and much of it is
distributed among the members of the tribes.
One of the biggest casinos in the world -- with 40,000 visitors a
day -- is run by the Mashantucket Pequot near Norwich, Connecticut.
Since gambling was established in 1986 the number of Indians living
there has increased tenfold -- and each week there are new
applications. According to Joyce Walker, the administrator of
applications, "People say: I've just found out that I'm an Indian,
and want to know how I can get my cash." Meanwhile the Mashantucket
Pequot have made their entry requirements tougher and demand proof of
blood ties. They and other tribes recognized by the state insist that
they alone can decide who they accept and who they don't. Even those
who turn up with DNA proof can be rejected.
This doesn't seem to be putting off these "wannabe" Indians. If they
are not accepted by the established tribes many simply found their
own. While there are only three recognized Cherokee nations (two in
Oklahoma and one in North Carolina), for example, there are now more
than 240 tribes from Alaska to Mexico that have been attempting to
gain government recognition for years. So far without success.
A sense of belonging
Circe Sturm of the University of Oklahoma believes these second-class
Indians are often simply enjoying themselves. The anthropologist has
interviewed more than 70 people who changed ethnic groups about their
motivation. She doesn't believe that most of them are just after the
money. Many are frustrated and are looking for some kind of meaning
in their lives. "If being white is just an empty plate," she
says, "then being Indian is a gourmet buffet."
Stephen Locke
A Indian casino on a reservation in California.
Many of the converts connect the indigenous existence with ideals
such as equality between the sexes, more democracy and a romantic
affinity with nature. The anthropologist found that two things were
particularly attractive to the pale-faced Indians: the spiritual
rituals and the idea of belonging to a group. An increasing number of
Americans want to experience those pleasant feelings -- and that is
causing some unrest amongst Indians. In order to escape an invasion
of outsiders, even many of the newer tribes are trying to seal
themselves off from further claimants.
Little Dove's husband Steve Baker is a mechanic and also feels like
an Indian. He wears moccasins and a loin cloth, goes to the folklore
meetings and wants to be accepted into his wife's tribe as "Running
Bear." However, this isn't likely to happen anytime soon. The once
so modest hobby tribe in northeast Alabama has swelled to 4,000
Cherokees and is now re-examining its integration policies. Until
further notice, no new Indians will be accepted.
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January 2006 Reports
Last updated on January 25, 2006