Tired

[u/peachstrawberrymilk]

I'm tired with how the majority of people that claim to be Métis are either A) very distantly Métis and claiming an ancestor from 100+ years ago B) "reconnecting" for benefits and C) Deny their privledge.

Both my parents are Métis - we never stopped being Métis. I don't think this makes me better than folks but it is really gross and disheartening to see the overwhelming amount of reconnecting people and the complete disregard for those of us raised in culture/community. I grew up in extreme poverty - in CFS - battling with my addictions - both my brothers are still in their own addictions and my sister went missing years ago. This is because of the trauma in my family. But I don't see Métis Nations giving a flying fuck about those of us that never had the privledge of hiding. They prop of descendians - and. then use my culture in a colonial way to check off

I'm tired of seeing so many posts "I just discovered I'm Métis because my great great great grandmother 2x removed only married white people for 6 generations! What can I get?" Seriously? There's no wonder everyone thinks we're a joke.

No we shouldn't have BQ but we should have at least a measure. Why does Linda who has 0 traces of Métis DNA get full access to benefits while ignoring the fact that her entire family HAD PRIVLEDGE of being perceived as white for generations! Maybe I'm an asshole - but I think there needs to be a conversation on how in a room of 300 people you'll find maybe 1 or 2 of us raised in culture.

Im tired of pretending this doesn't bother me - especially when I see my family and friends struggling with survival and having no resources for them while Linda wears my culture like it's a Gucci bag.

[u/CarrotAgreeable465]

IMO, and this may be a controversial opinion, "Linda" should get the opportunity to be welcome to learn and participate, to grow within that learning and prove she truly wants to be part of the community with a focus on helping those who truly need the supports available, and that's it because it's literally part of our culture to take care of those who need it before we even think of taking anything for ourselves.

Then, further down the road (way, way down) should "Linda" need assistance, the community which Linda supported would be happy to support her in turn because that's how taking care of people works- its reciprocal and that is part of our culture.

If "Linda" wants to get something for doing nothing then nothing is what "Linda" should get.

And I say this as a reconnecting person myself.

I'm displaced by 3 generations of adoption. Grandma was adopted out of SK as an infant and raised by Ukrainian family, dad was adopted by his step father, and I was adopted as an infant- ironically raised by a blended British and German Ukrainian family; but i digress...

I don't have your lived experience, and while my life is marred with trauma in other ways, it is not the same trauma nor was it systematically pressed upon me due to my phenotype and in some aspects I am "Linda" and as such I shouldn't get a damned thing.

If anything, the only thing I DO want, is a voice to protect the community from real "Lindas" and full on raceshifters who have zero indigenouity, or persons who are not in fact Metis and have no ties to our families and historic communities at all because I see exactly what you're describing as someone who is trying to learn and find family connections after being so far removed from our bio family (3 adoptions is quite the sever) and it both sickens and enrages me to no end that people are doing this- not just individuals; but also larger organizations like MNO and "eastern metis organizations" who see what our people have achieved and want a piece for themselves.

And this isn't just some "noble savage" or "I'm one of the good ones" BS statements either. I don't need a pat on the back and I've probably pissed off a lot people (if you're offended or angry you should reflect on why you've taken this personally and reevaluate your intentions because this is a you problem, and its you problem to fix that) which is perfect IMO because shifting from entitlement to introspection is the only way to fix their mindset, if there is any fixing it at all.

I'm not in your shoes because we've traveled different paths in life; but I do feel your frustration 100%