I don't know how to answer your question, but what I do know is that I want the non-Native americans who exploit my culture for sports entertainment and profit to leave my culture alone and stop their exploitation of my people.
They are not going to, however, simply because of dislike for it - so practically, what can be done?
I also want these same non-Native americans to stop dehumanizing my people by racially stereotyping us and our culture.
Very true - I'd wonder what would be the most practical way of ensuring that happens and helping others to see what that means.
I don't want the united states to validate anything about my culture
If they don't validate, they are going to do opposite with continued dehumanization or stereotypes.
Unless we choose to be separatist and renounce American citizenship (as I'm assuming you are a legal citizen), there are terms we're operating on that go for America.
or treat my people like animals and tell us to register so we can prove that we are in fact NDN through our blood quantum status. No other minority race has to register with the united states government to prove their blood quantum status in order to be federally recognized. The united states government only requires horses and dogs to be proven that the animals are pure blood and then these animals are registered as pure blood, and when their blood status is proven, they then have value. Well, I am not an animal and I won't register my blood quantum to be recognized or to be treated with human dignity and not like some mixed breed animal of no value.
The Blood Tests are a tricky thing indeed, seeing how many NDN have advocated against others simply claiming Native American ancestry and yet not being blood connected...
And the Tribal Disenrollment dynamic is tied to that....as seen, for example, when documented Saponi descendants were DENIED enrollment in the 3 state recognized Saponi tribes, yet those same 3 tribes themselves can not show documentation to the Saponi.
I don't want any money from the united states government or from the nations of my ancestors just because I am NDN and I must prove it. The government of the united states can keep its blood money, because I don't want it. I don't need to register with the nations of my ancestors or feel I must prove to anyone that I am an NDN and be recognized as an NDN just because I have one of their little government cards.
I know who I am, I know where I come from, and I know who my people are, and I don't need to prove that to anyone, least of all to this government or to anyone groveling at the feet of this government.
Perhaps its just me...but I find it odd that (as it seems) when someone wants nothing to do with the U.S - yet speaks against the U.S. and ask it to cease certain actions/behaviors if they want nothing to do with it and yet live in it
Also, as the Tribal nations already have it where today registering is a part of how they keep Tribal Sovereignty, it would seem contradictory to not register if one wants to support the Tribes as they do things. AIM has noted that before - and it makes a difference when it comes to the concept of doing work with the U.S if advocating for Native Americans:
It's hard, for example, to deal with things such as trying to make a Keystone Pipeline be illegal across Native American land when Native Americans may say they don't want anything to do with the U.S. - for that means there'd be no need to resist the U.S. Of course, because they live in the country, there's the realization that they have to get involved practically:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/20...-no-keystone-xl-pipeline-will-cross-our-lands
And likewise, when it comes to the OP issue of immigration and Indigenous Peoples, one cannot be a part of the process of legally protesting immigration discrimination if they are not willing to be a part of the U.S. in some capacity - that would be limiting...
