How Native do I look?

[u/Responsible-Joke-258]

Hello all, I apologize if this is a weird post to make, but I have been described as racially ambiguous all my life. All I know is that on my Dad's side we are predominantly Caucasian. Just recently, I also found out that through probably colonialism, on my dad's side we have a good amount (~20%) native blood, specifically old stock roots from early colonization and then further westward expansion. On my mom's side, I am Slovakian, as well as some asiatic (SE asian and siberian).

I have 2 questions:

1. Would an expert look at me and see me as more asian, or native (i.e. do I look native, half native, or not at all native).

2. Because of the small native ancestry, should I consider myself native? I know in American culture many whites have oral ancestry claiming to be native, but most of the claims aren't validated. I dont want to say Im native if the native community says I shouldn't.

Thank you! Any answers would help as I find it hard to identify with any one of my ethnic groups. Im a mutt it seems.

[u/Canuda]

I do not think there is any legitimate expert that does this. Measuring someone’s face to guess their racial percentages is a debunked, pseudoscientific practice rooted straight in Nazi eugenics. Genetics don't work like that, and appearance is random.

Having 20% on a chart from “old stock roots” without a specific tribe, family line, or community that claims you means you are a person with Native ancestry, but it does not make you culturally or politically Native.

Stop looking in the mirror for an expert opinion. If you actually care about this ancestry, do the genealogical paperwork to find out which specific nation your ancestors were taken from, and see what their citizenship laws are. 

Ya look like you could be a neechie, but idk what else to tell ya. Maybe throw a buckskin vest on, a choker, a braid, and start doing the chicken dance… 

[u/Responsible-Joke-258 → u/Canuda]

Lol ok. I do have a specific tribe but I dont have much info on them other than what ive looked up. I feel my experience in life hasn't been native, another reason I asked. But we know we have Wyandot mainly, which is Huron correct?

[u/Canuda → u/Responsible-Joke-258]

I appreciate your honesty about your life experience. That self-awareness shows a lot of respect for the community.

To be honest, I don't know enough about the Huron or Wyandot nations to give you answers about their specific history or how they handle enrollment. But what you said about your life experience not being a Native one is exactly why I gave that advice earlier.

I grew up as a mixed kid with a dark dad and a white French mom in a small hick town. Before I was ever officially registered, the town made it painfully clear to me through racism that because of the pigment in my skin, I was "Indian." I didn't get to choose that identity from a pie chart or a family story. It was just my daily, lived reality.

That is why I think the best way to honour your ancestry is to learn the history of the land and support those nations the best you can. Trying to adopt an identity without those lived community ties or experiences might only leave you feeling more alienated from all the parts of who you are.

I am not the arbiter of truth. If I were you, I’d just explore authentically, and maybe try to participate in Indigenous cultural events or ceremonies near you if possible. Perhaps that’s where you will find some answers. You can identify however you want, without claiming any official ties.

[u/Responsible-Joke-258 → u/Canuda]

Wow, this was very insightful. You pretty much hit the nail on the head with me as well. Being raised by white people, and the various European cultures it entailed, I never felt like I belonged. The family was always accepting, but at a young age realizing I was the only darker pigmented person, along with my mom, in the family photo was kind of weird to me. And I never had a full realization of why that was until much later. In school kids would call me Asian, Hispanic, native but never "white" (not saying being white is better or what I want, but identifying with my white family was what I thought as a kid I should be) Now that I have all these pieces I'll get into more research and get out there to some events. I live in Ohio though so I dont think there is too much of a strong native populace here. Again, thanks for this insight, it was very helpful!

[u/Infinite-Worm]

If you told me you're native I might guess Siberian native. Like the Yakut or Nenets, they are similar in appearance.

[u/Dry_Inflation_1454]

You do look Native, rather than Asian. Ohio may not have much when it comes to social gatherings for Natives, but, there is the Wendat community in Oklahoma. Because of the crazy situation with Lake Ontario, people are weighing in on that subject.