Part II. Indigeneity

​(or the state of being Indigenous)

Indigeneity has multiple meanings—here it is used to convey the notion of indigenousness. What does it mean to be Indigenous to California, to be a California Indian, to be a California Native?

A person is indigenous to California if that a person is a direct lineal descendant of the aboriginal peoples of what is now California and has documented evidence that proves their claims to lineal descent from an aboriginal tribe. This is what we commonly refer to as having proof of ancestry.
 
Lineal Descent: Lineal descent refers to the direct lineage or ancestry of individuals traced through parents and grandparents in a sequential manner. The relationship between parents and children across all generations is biological (i.e., the direct line of blood relatives of a person).
 
Aboriginal: The term aboriginal refers to the indigenous peoples of a place from the earliest times and/or before the arrival of colonists. Aboriginal peoples are First Peoples or indigenous peoples or Native peoples. They have lived in said place since the beginning of human habitation or for thousands of years before the arrival of colonists. 
 
Proof of Ancestry: Documented evidence of lineal descent or proof of ancestry, usually in the form of a genealogy, is required in order to legitimately claim an identity as a California Native. Persons who claim a California Native identity must provide proof of ancestry—it is their responsibility. DNA evidence can be of assistance in validating a person’s identity as California Native; however, DNA only has meaning when accompanied by a genealogy.
 
In short, only persons with documented evidence of direct lineal descent from an aboriginal person who lived in what is now California prior to colonization are considered Indigenous to California. Direct lineal descent functions as the only acceptable indicator of a person’s membership in a pre-colonial political entity referred to as a tribe. Likewise, in federal law, lineal descent is considered a proxy for a person’s connection to a preexisting political entity (i.e., a tribe) and to that political entity’s connection to a place (i.e., a tribal territory).
 
Standard of Self-Identification: The standard of self-identification embedded in progressive politics is not our standard. A person is not a California Native just because they say they are.  In addition, a person is not necessarily a California Native just because they are a member of a California Native tribe. While nearly all tribes require proof of ancestry for membership, not all tribes 1) enforce that requirement nor 2) have the expertise necessary to assess the veracity of the information provided in applications for membership. As a result, some tribes or tribal organizations have a membership comprised entirely of persons with no proven California Native ancestry at all. Other tribes have mixed membership comprised of legitimate and illegitimate members—in this instance, only legitimate members can officially grant non-Natives membership in a tribe. Once granted, non-Native tribal members cannot truthfully claim to be descendants of the original peoples of what is now California and are not inheritors, for example, of the tragic history of California Natives.
 
Because nearly all tribes require proof of ancestry and because pretendianism is pervasive in California, documented evidence of direct lineal descent is required to legitimately claim an identity as a California Native and to claim membership in a California Native tribe. Unfortunately, some family members have inherited false narratives of California Native ancestry passed down across generations. Other persons and families have made mistakes in their genealogy that have persisted over decades. Based upon my personal interactions with pretendians and upon my professional experience as a genealogist and ethnohistorian, almost all pretendians with whom I am familiar know full well that they have no proven California Native ancestry yet knowingly persist in asserting an identity as a California Native.
 
In addition, Native persons/entities who/that interact with the federal government and the State of California are subject to its laws and regulations. Since most states rely upon federal standards, it is important to note that the federal government establishes requirements identical to those stated above. CFR 83.11.e requires that the “petitioner's membership consists of individuals who descend from a historical Indian tribe (or from historical Indian tribes that combined and functioned as a single autonomous political entity).” The same can be said of the organizations, institutions, and agencies with whom California Natives interact. Blind trust in California Natives—that they are who they say they are without question—belies the reality that all human beings are fallible. California Native are just as capable of dishonesty, self-interest, greed, and arrogance as are any other group of people.

Pretendians: Persons who make false or unverified claims to California Native identity are often referred to as pretendians.  As stated above, any person who claims an identity as a California Native must provide documented evidence of direct lineal descent from a member of an aboriginal tribe located within the boundaries of what is now California. It is not the responsibility of others to prove them wrong, although that has become increasingly necessary with the persistence of and increase in pretendianism. Persons who may be California Native but who cannot prove their ancestry are unfortunately out-of-luck. Likewise, tribes that cannot meet the requirements for federal acknowledgement are unfortunately out-of-luck.
 
Pretendians tend commit the following offenses:

1. Violate our sovereignty by exercising authority as purportedly Native persons and/or entities within our respective tribal territories.
2. Speak on our behalf without our permission.
3. Leverage our tragic history for their benefit.
4. Misappropriate our culture, language, and spirituality.
5. Coopt our identities.
6. Commit the crime of fraudulent misrepresentation.

Terminology

When discussing California Natives, it is important to distinguish among 1) being Indigenous to California, 2) being a member of a people, and 3) being a member of a tribe.  

Indigenous: a person who is Indigenous to California is a direct lineal descendant of an aboriginal tribe located within the boundaries of what is now the state of California. 

​The statement, "I am a California Native" indicates that a person is Indigenous to California. 

People(s): a people or peoples refers to a group of people whose primary language and culture are shared and distinct from others. In California most Indigenous peoples are generally identified by their primary, common language. In essence, language serves as a proxy for cultural or ethnic differences.  

The statement, "I am Chumash" indicates a person's lineal descent from the people whose primary language was Chumash. 

Tribe: a tribe refers to  to an independent sovereign entity that governs its members and its corresponding tribal territory. Aboriginal tribes pre-existed colonialism, while historic or contemporary tribes were formed after contact. Synonyms for tribe include nation, band, village, community, people, etc. 

“I am a member of the Barbareno Band of Mission Indians,” indicates a person’s membership in a contemporary tribe.