A shaky introduction - Page 2

I don't usually read the new members forum but your story has me interested on what is going on with our neighbor to the north.I've heard only stories of ordinary Canadian citizens treating native Canadians as second class citizens but I had no idea that this also extended to the government as well.

I only know US immigration law but I'd be willing to help out with learning Canadian immigration laws if it may help you lay claim to the benefits of your heritage.

Oh wow...I had no idea Canadian laws were that....um......dunno.

Anywayz, I have a saying "It's not where you're born but where you're raised that you belong"

I hope this nightmare ends soon, it's not fair for any of us. .

Welcome to the page...don't be lurking around the corners there's noting to hide from......

good luck hon....I'll ask around......

Been a crazy week, my time on here has been quick and random because of that.

Thank you, sincerely for the well wishes and support, I hope you all realize it's reciprocated on my part. We''re all in this together, something has to change. Legislation is notorious for being slow to adapt to the times, in any country, but we're doing our bit to try and speed that process up, I hope.

Ianus - It really depends on where you are in Canada. Just as it depends on where in the USA you are that you'll encounter prejudice against, say, african-americans. Most people are decent minded, but the ugly minded ones are louder.

Quick version of why I'm not considered status :

I'm Mohawk. According to Traditional Law - that is, the way things were done before there were things like 'Canada' and 'USA', we're a matrilinial people. Which means I'm Mohawk because my mother is, and her mother is, and her mother is etc. And then there's the laws put in place in both the USA and Canada to wipe us out up into the early 1900s (if I'm remembering history right).

In Canada, in the time when my grandparents got married (she's native, he's french canadian) a native woman marrying a non-native man lost all her rights to call her self native. In the eyes of the law, she was now 'white'. A native man, marrying a non-native woman, on the other hand, extended all of his native rights to her - she was now, legally, native, even full blooded. Remember above when I said we were matrilinial? This was a law specifically end those traditions.

Then, in 1984, (the year I was born) a bill was passed, called C31. C31 gave all of those native-turn-white women *back* their rights, and extended C31 Status to her children. So, my grandmother is considered full, my mother is C31. Here's where I'm about to loose you:

A C31 and a non-native's children are non-native, have no legal claim to their heritage. (This would be me). A C31 and a C31's children are NonReproducing C31s - no matter who they hook up with, their children will not legally be considered Native. The only way for a C31 to have legally Native grandchildren, is to hook up with a Full Blood - someone who had native rights under the old law. Obviously, along with all of the current land claim issues in Canada, there's a movement trying to get the legal process of who's Native and who's not *back* to the traditional ways, according to the traditions of each tribe.

Now, the USA - USA recognises native people who belong to federally recognised native tribes. There are only a handful of federally recognised tribes. They tried really hard to umbrella these tribes. For instance, the Mohawk are a part of a group of six seperate tribes who banded together in an alliance a very long time ago. The alliance are called the Iroquis.

USA recognises the Iroquis, but not the seperate six nations it consists of. Technically, if I could get a letter from the Chief of my tribe to say I have 1/4 *Iroquis* blood, I could be recognised and merrily skip in under the Jay Treaty. (Written in the 1600s and, unless you live in, like, New York state, largely forgotten). However, the Chief of my tribe cannot legally do that - as he is a Mohawk Chief, not an Iroquis one.

*twitch* Yeah. Hence the DREAM act is currently, as things stand, my best and possibly only chance to stay here, in Mississippi and be with my parents. (Mother, and step-father). Hence, my dedication.

Sorry to wander so far off topic. Ooops.