| We are a non-profit organization working to preserve and promote American Indian culture and traditions, particularly through the use of Internet technology. Because of our website's mission, most of the information we provide is about individual tribes. There are many different Indian tribes and nations, and they all have unique cultures and traditions. On this page we have provided the answers to questions about Native Americans in general that we are frequently asked by readers. If you have a question that is not addressed on this page, please contact us with it and we may add the answer to this page! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| ___________________________________________________________ 29th Indian Trail Pow Wow -- Sept 22th, & 23th, 2012 100 Navajo Trail, Indian Trail |
What is a POW WOW ?
Powwow is a gathering together of Indian people to enjoy and join in dancing, singing,
visiting, renewing old friendships and making new ones. It is a time to preserve our
rich heritage and renew our thoughts of the old ways. We often refer to powwows as
"gatherings".
Powwow is a gathering together of Indian people to enjoy and join in dancing, singing,
visiting, renewing old friendships and making new ones. It is a time to preserve our
rich heritage and renew our thoughts of the old ways. We often refer to powwows as
"gatherings".
Who can attend a POW WOW ?
ANYONE can attend, it is a community event to publicly celebrate American Indian
dancing, heritage and traditions. They featuring an array of vendors cooking Indian
foods and selling native crafts, the larger, more established powwows also sponsor
dance competitions.
ANYONE can attend, it is a community event to publicly celebrate American Indian
dancing, heritage and traditions. They featuring an array of vendors cooking Indian
foods and selling native crafts, the larger, more established powwows also sponsor
dance competitions.
Who is a Native American?
As a general principle an Indian is a person who is of some degree Indian blood and
is recognized as an Indian by a tribe/village and/or the United States. There exists no
universally accepted rule for establishing a person's identity as an Indian. The criteria
for tribal membership differs from one tribe to the next. To determine a particular tribe's
criteria, one must contact that tribe directly. For its own purposes, the Bureau of the
Census counts anyone an Indian who declares to be such. By recent counts, there are
more than 2.4 million Native Americans, including Native Alaskans and Native
Hawaiians.
As a general principle an Indian is a person who is of some degree Indian blood and
is recognized as an Indian by a tribe/village and/or the United States. There exists no
universally accepted rule for establishing a person's identity as an Indian. The criteria
for tribal membership differs from one tribe to the next. To determine a particular tribe's
criteria, one must contact that tribe directly. For its own purposes, the Bureau of the
Census counts anyone an Indian who declares to be such. By recent counts, there are
more than 2.4 million Native Americans, including Native Alaskans and Native
Hawaiians.
What is an Indian Tribe?
An Indian tribe was originally a body of people bound together by blood ties who were
socially, politically, and religiously organized, who lived together in a defined territory
and who spoke a common language or dialect. In the eyes of the U.S. Government a
body of people as described above must be officially recognized in order to be
considered a tribe.
An Indian tribe was originally a body of people bound together by blood ties who were
socially, politically, and religiously organized, who lived together in a defined territory
and who spoke a common language or dialect. In the eyes of the U.S. Government a
body of people as described above must be officially recognized in order to be
considered a tribe.
Urban Indian Organization
According to 25 USCS § 1603 [Title 25. Indians, Chapter 18. Indian Health Care,
General Provisions] the term, “Urban Indian organization” means “a nonprofit
corporate body situated in an urban center, governed by an urban Indian controlled
board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Indian
groups and individuals, which body is capable of legally cooperating with other public
and private entities for the purpose of performing the activities described in section
503(a).”
According to 25 USCS § 1603 [Title 25. Indians, Chapter 18. Indian Health Care,
General Provisions] the term, “Urban Indian organization” means “a nonprofit
corporate body situated in an urban center, governed by an urban Indian controlled
board of directors, and providing for the maximum participation of all interested Indian
groups and individuals, which body is capable of legally cooperating with other public
and private entities for the purpose of performing the activities described in section
503(a).”
Why are Indians sometimes referred to as Native Americans?
When referring to American Indians or Alaska Natives, it is appropriate to use the
terms American Indians and Alaska Natives. These terms denote the cultural
distinction between the indigenous people of the continental United States and those
of Alaska. While the term "Native Americans" came into usage in the 1960s out of
respect to American Indians and Alaska Natives, usage of the term has expanded to
include all Native people of the United States and its territories, including Native
Hawaiians and American Samoans.
When referring to American Indians or Alaska Natives, it is appropriate to use the
terms American Indians and Alaska Natives. These terms denote the cultural
distinction between the indigenous people of the continental United States and those
of Alaska. While the term "Native Americans" came into usage in the 1960s out of
respect to American Indians and Alaska Natives, usage of the term has expanded to
include all Native people of the United States and its territories, including Native
Hawaiians and American Samoans.
What does the term "federally recognized" mean?
Only tribes who maintain a legal relationship to the U.S. Government through
binding treaties, acts of Congress, executive orders, etc., are officially "recognized"
by the federal government. Once "recognized" a tribe has a legal relationship with
the United States. There are currently more than 550 federally recognized tribes in
the United States, including some 200 village groups in Alaska. However, there are
still hundreds of tribes undergoing the lengthy and tedious process of applying for
federal recognition.
Only tribes who maintain a legal relationship to the U.S. Government through
binding treaties, acts of Congress, executive orders, etc., are officially "recognized"
by the federal government. Once "recognized" a tribe has a legal relationship with
the United States. There are currently more than 550 federally recognized tribes in
the United States, including some 200 village groups in Alaska. However, there are
still hundreds of tribes undergoing the lengthy and tedious process of applying for
federal recognition.
What does "tribal sovereignty" mean and why is it so
important to Native Americans?
Tribal sovereignty describes the right of federally recognized tribes to govern
themselves and the existence of a government-to-government relationship with the
United States. Thus a tribe is not a ward of the government, but an independent
nation with the right to form its own government, adjudicate legal cases within its
borders, levy taxes within its borders, establish its membership, and decide its own
future fate. The federal government has a trust responsibility to protect tribal lands,
assets, resources and treaty rights
important to Native Americans?
Tribal sovereignty describes the right of federally recognized tribes to govern
themselves and the existence of a government-to-government relationship with the
United States. Thus a tribe is not a ward of the government, but an independent
nation with the right to form its own government, adjudicate legal cases within its
borders, levy taxes within its borders, establish its membership, and decide its own
future fate. The federal government has a trust responsibility to protect tribal lands,
assets, resources and treaty rights
Are Indians U.S. citizens?
Not until 1924 were all Native Americans granted citizenship. Before this juncture
only individuals who were members of federally recognized tribes and "naturalized"
individuals were given the rights of a United States citizen. Presently all Native
Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States are by law citizens.
Native Americans have had the privilege of voting in national elections since 1924;
however, until recently some states prohibited Native Americans from voting in local
elections. New Mexico, for example, did not extend the vote to Native Americans until
1962. Most native people, of course, also are members of their respective
sovereign tribes.
Not until 1924 were all Native Americans granted citizenship. Before this juncture
only individuals who were members of federally recognized tribes and "naturalized"
individuals were given the rights of a United States citizen. Presently all Native
Americans born within the territorial limits of the United States are by law citizens.
Native Americans have had the privilege of voting in national elections since 1924;
however, until recently some states prohibited Native Americans from voting in local
elections. New Mexico, for example, did not extend the vote to Native Americans until
1962. Most native people, of course, also are members of their respective
sovereign tribes.
Are Native Americans exempt from military service?
Native Americans, despite tribal sovereignty, have the same obligations for military
service as all other U.S. citizens.
Native Americans, despite tribal sovereignty, have the same obligations for military
service as all other U.S. citizens.
What is an "Urban Indian"?
Pursuant to 25 USCS § 1603 (28) [Title 25. Indians; Chapter 18. Indian Health
Care; General Provisions], the term urban Indian means “any individual who
resides in an urban center, as defined in subsection (g) hereof, and who meets
one or more of the four criteria in subsection (c)(1) through (4) of this section.”
Adapted from the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs'
publication American Indians Today: Answers to Your Questions, Third Edition,
1991
Pursuant to 25 USCS § 1603 (28) [Title 25. Indians; Chapter 18. Indian Health
Care; General Provisions], the term urban Indian means “any individual who
resides in an urban center, as defined in subsection (g) hereof, and who meets
one or more of the four criteria in subsection (c)(1) through (4) of this section.”
Adapted from the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs'
publication American Indians Today: Answers to Your Questions, Third Edition,
1991
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| Metrolina Native American Association North Carolina Recognized Urban Indian Center |
