Faye, anyone can be a gang member from any community, even in an Indian Nation. All I remember seeing on the tv screen is one of the young men saying, "we are the new warriors", meaning no facial paint, bows/arrows, spears or tommyhawks. Just plain handguns or worse.
Yep, but nothing new. Remember Wounded Knee May 8, 1973. It was called an Indian Uprising but was just a gang of Indians that were unhappy about the government at the Pine Ridge rez.
True if speaking about the entire American Indian population. However, if speaking about a nation such as the Choctaw Nation that used to advertise on their official webpage, that they considered themselves as American Indians and preferred to be called Choctaw and didn't subscribe to the Native American label. Chahta is the word that the Choctaw use to describe themselves. Many of the young Choctaw getting off the rez and going to college find it easier just to say, I am native. Not Native American or American Indian, just native. While the preference is still just to say, "I am Choctaw," it sometimes requires a lot of explanation and just saying native quickly answers the question. Interesting about the Choctaw, is there is the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians in Louisiana. All three are federally recognized as individual groups and have their own governments. The same is true here in Eastern Washington and Oregon with most tribes. The youth find it easier just to say native. Saying American Indian or Native American may lead to discussion they would rather avoid. No one says I am indigenous. They never refer to a rez as being indigenous land, because most rez's are not the original lands, but lands the USA government of old had them relocated. While ones outside of a group may say what they know the majority of a group says or advertises, that differs than ones with no knowledge or understanding of a group, speaking on the groups behalf. I don't think it necessary that anyone discussing this topic has to show credentials gained by experience, blood relationship, living next to reservations, or years of study. I certainly don't feel that any that have little to no American Indian credentials will alienate themselves by voicing their opinions or ideas, even if they are based on stereotypes, as long as they are open minded to learning about American Indian people, both past and present. @Cody Fousnaugh Just a thought to ponder. If the national final rodeo was for Native Americans from Indigenous Nations, why do they call it The Indian National Finals Rodeo and the participants have to have tribal affiliation? It isn't a requirement they live on a rez or be part of a nation, just documented tribal membership.