Odyssey - Please accept my apology if I take this too far off track...
I didn't listen to the piece but read the article instead; I'll try to listen to the entire broadcast when I have the time. Anyway, over the last few years I've had the great good fortune of becoming friends with some folks who are Abenaki. These folks live in VT and are on the forefront of fighting for Native rights and recognition in their traditional homelands. I know that the author felt slighted about being asked if she self-identified with being Metis. Unfortunately, from what I've seen, it's important for them that people do so. There are so many legal obstacles that these Native groups have to hurdle just to be recognized by either their local or federal governments that it's critical that only people who are actually Native, and part of that particular tribe or nation, are recognized as such. From what I've read it appears that the author has been accepted by the Metis which is wonderful for her and her children. I just hope as time goes on she'll be able to find out more of why there may have been some initial resistance to just accepting her based on her word. In the case of my friends, too many times in the past there has been the appearance of progress only to have it taken away again; usually at the hands of someone outside the group or by a non-Native individual who claims they represent the particular group. Either way, it sucks and the tribe has to start the long, tedious recognition process all over again. While they are now formally recognized by the state of VT, there are still lots of battles ahead from them in regard to the desecration of burial sites, repatriation of bones, etc. For that reason it's vital that they have true Native/tribal people as their only members. While someone like me is welcomed into the group as a friend, that's as far as it will go; and that, in my opinion, is as it should be.
That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.
snapper