Mix-Bloods

One on the many mis-messages from the past is that the Metis,
or "mixed bloods", didn't enter the American Picture prior to
the "Reil Metis". Nothing could be farther from the truth. It was
the mission of the British, from their insertion on the North
American Scene, to eliminate the Indians and to recognize their
mixblood children as non-british subjects (North America being
British). The French were ever worse. In the 16th and the 17th
Centuries, There was a decrease in population in France for some 100
or more years before the French Revolution and one way to increase
their population as a claim on the North American soil was to
encourage their men to creat children in the "New World". Then the
French, bless their minds, announced that these mix-bloods were
really French Citizens and due the full protection and recognition
of the French government. In doing so, the French population was
increased and NO frenchman need be further encouraged to migrate to
the New France. This then was the position of the Europe that
invaded America. It mattered not that the children of the Euro-
indian breeding were a new and seperate people. What mattered was
the Royal "claims" upon an already occupied Land. It mattered that
their precious programs were forwarded and the rest of the world be
hanged. The children of the marriages of Europe and America were
recognized in another way. The Tribes and Bands of Native Peoples
recognized their offspring too and, for the most part, were taken in
as full members of THEIR population as well. Now along comes the U S
Army and the new idea of indian confinement. In the begining, the
mix-bloods were recognized by the both the Americans and the
Indians, BUT, and this is a big BUT, the U S Government seeing there
was to be a very large debt, encouraged the indians to abandon their
mixed bloods. This was done throught the script and lands offerings.
If the Indian continued to accept their mix-bloods, the U S had not
enough money to give the "PURE" bloods. Not enough land was to be
available for the Indian to have. SSOOOOOOO!!!!!! as could be
guessed, the indian hating the whites, found it easy to turn their
backs on their children. Now, along comes the Spirituality side of
the picture. Some of the Medicine People of the "RED" Man, were
indeed Mix-Bloods. Many of the Mix-bloods were in positions of
influence on the Rez.'s. Many were also promoting new ways to pray
and dance. Along comes the Ghost Dance and the Prophets (not
profits). Again the U S stepped in and called such things as BAD and
band them through their appointed Indian Councils. Never mind that
the population of the common People took to these new ways. Never
mind that the people found new hope in a new "Spirituality". These
new things were viewed as a threat to the control of the Indian by
the U S Government. Never mind some of what was being preached was
for the improvement of the ways of life for the Indian and NOT
insurrection. What did matter was that the Indian was to be fully
assimilated into the general population and just quietly disappear.
That didn't happen and to make matters worse, the Mix-bloods showed
back on the scene in Canada and won their recognition and rights.
This encouraged the "breeeds" in the U S to try the same. It also
brought back the call for the resserection of the Ghost Dance. There
was started a new movement of leaders in the Metis Medicine Way and
they were to be sought out by both Indian and NON-indians alike. In
the U S alone there are a large number of seperate Metis groups, not
all who are working for recognition. It is interesting that when
ever several bands decide to come together, there is a rumble with-
in the groups and with-in the government to cause these groups to
splinter up and we must work again to bring together the PEOPLE as
they might be. May We someday come as one alongf the Way, and may we
all remember where we came from. We were once wanted by everyone and
then hated by those same people. We are and that is all that
matters, WE ARE!!!!!!!!!