Indigenous Chronicles: On OHA's Kau Inoa (pronounced "kow eeh-noh-ah") registry

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Indigenous Chronicles: On OHA's Kau Inoa (pronounced "kow eeh-noh-ah") registry

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Jan. 27th, 2005 at 8:11 PM

I was surfing communities that relate to being indigenous and there was a post about someone who is indigenous who stated that she will not succumb to the conditions of the Western World. I wish that more people were like her!

See it here: http://www.livejournal.com/community/spookee_ndns/26602.html#cutid3

Similarly, that is why I REFUSE to be a "certified" Hawaiian through the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Kau Inoa registration program:

see http://www.oha.org/content.asp?contentid=168

I do not ~~give a fuck~~ care if they do not recognize me as a Hawaiian!

Unfortunately some people don't understand that. However I simply will not succumb to anyone or any entity's definition of defining who I am. Unfortunately many people feel and/or think that they HAVE to belong to a group in order to be recognized.

Fortunately... you do not have to be part of a group to be recognized for whom you are nor do you have to have an ID card from anyone or any entity to tell you that you are indigenous. Fuck that! I'll tell YOU if I am indigenous or not.

Then again... that is only so obvious but my attitude is that I will never ever "register" to be an "official" Hawaiian. After all... it's in my 'iwi. It's in my bones!

Then again... many indigenous people bitch and moan about the "colonial" mentality that some of us have yet they are the very ones who have it. Take a look in their wallet. Do they have an ID card? Did they "register" to be recognized as an indigenous person? If so... they have that very colonized mentality of which they speak.

My point: For ~~indigenous~~ Hawaiian people... do not be colonized and apply for an ID card. That's the Haole Way... NOT the ~~Indigenous~~ Hawaiian Way.

Anyway I admire that girl. More people should be like her... indigenous or not.

( 6 comments — Leave a comment )

angel_one

Jan. 28th, 2005 02:38 am (UTC)

But think about this. You know that the only way to fight the system is to use it, too. You're going to be a lawyer so you can use their laws against them. But if you don't have some legal proof (in their system) that you're Hawaiian, then you can't use it to fight them. They won't even listen to you, or to your children. Eventually anyone who is not enrolled will be treated like a fake, even if YOU know you aren't. And you might want your kids to be able to take advantage of the rights that should be theirs, but the system might make it that they don't get those rights without being registered. Sure it sucks. The colonizers govt should not have the authority to tell us who we are. But we need to fight the whole system, without shooting ourself in the foot.

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haolegirl

Jan. 28th, 2005 03:52 am (UTC)

True... and I do use parts of their system but I really think that this part (registering) is not good because it conditions people to think that we are under "their" control. I also have friends and family members who have already registered and that's their choice but I choose not to do so because I know it's about control and I do not want to be controlled... even if it is a good thing or can be a good thing to preserve a part of who we are but on grounds of what I have experienced... I will never register.

Even with the Akaka Bill... they want to strong arm us into registering so that they can condition us to think that we are and will always be under their control. I cannot do that and that's why I haven't registered after all these years. That plus I don't gain anything from it nor would I want to but like Ive stated above... alot of my friends and family have... but I won't.

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namericess

Jan. 28th, 2005 03:28 am (UTC)

I may not be a card carrying Indian but I am damn sure happy I am enrolled member of a federally-recognized Indian tribe. I am happy I have a census number. I am glad my Tribe is still around, with a federally-recognized reservation despite the fact our land-holdings are for shit. I am glad, glad, glad, I can whip out my piece of paper that says I am an official Indian.

I can trace my ancestory, speak my Ute language, and speak English more fluently than any white-sheet-skinned white assed Anglo. I am proud I have my B.A. in English Communications and that I am half-way through working on my MBA. I paid for my education on my own but what's an enrolled Indian gonna do, y'know? I certainly didn't rely on my Tribe for my educational desires and pursuits. I didn't even rely on the good ole 'merican government to give me a handout via Pell, Stafford, or other financial aid.

Good going for the young little lass for speaking her mind. But, I find it irritating that the Indians who claim to be Indian, assume Indian folks on reservations are ignorant. People like the young girl, and even yourself, assume we do not question the US government or our tribal governments, that we do not get angry, that we do not rail against the system.

Get out of Florida and visit these Indian reservations. Visit your Indigenous brothers and sisters. I suggest the young girl do the same. It would certainly do you and she a lot of good.

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haolegirl

Jan. 28th, 2005 03:48 am (UTC)

Wow. You've made some excellent points but with the way that the government works with Hawaiians it has taught me that it is better for some of us not to succumb to their system. With other indigenous people... it seems as though they have the option or options. Hawaiians don't.

Also I grew up on the equivalent of a Hawaiian reservation and have spent time with tribes in Washington and in Florida and so far I have learned that it's not a good thing for Hawaiians to think that what is good for "Indians" is good for Hawaiians because we don't have treaties like how some tribes have.

Also... this is just my opinion. Many of my friends and family have registered with this registry and it's their choice. I choose not to register because it's not what I want to do.

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(Anonymous)

Apr. 26th, 2006 10:19 am (UTC)

i hear you

I am not hawaiian but I am have lived hear all my live, however, that is not to say that I am Hawaiian. Anyway, I am taking a course @ KCC by Kumu Losche and I had no idea about the circumstances regarding Hawaii's "Annexation". I am deeply saddened by this and I pray that Hawaii and all other victims of the United State's government will see justice. Maybe not soon, maybe I'll be dead, and my children as well, but keep educating and never give up. That is the key, education, the Hawaiian way. It does not call for radical activists or violence but using the classy, genius ways of your ancestors, this will be accomplished some day. I am deeply sympathetic and I only wish that the people of Hawaii were better informed. We do not choose to keep ourselves uneducated, it is the governments doing, education of Hawaiians is what they fear and what they use to try to scam us and thank God that therre are many educated Hawaiians who know their culture and their past and refuse to let the U.S slap them in the face. Keep on!!!

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(Anonymous)

Apr. 26th, 2006 10:23 am (UTC)

Indigenous?

I think the misuse of that word says we aren't educated well enough as well. It means one without a country, and we indeed do have a country!! Hawaii Nei still eXIStS!!!!!

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( 6 comments — Leave a comment )

January 2015