Question: I am a Native American. I moved to Texas about four years ago, and most people here assume I am Latina and speak to me in Spanish.
I don't know Spanish, so I have to politely tell everyone that I don't speak the language. A man once told me that I shouldn't be ashamed of my heritage, which caught me off guard.
"I am very proud of my heritage," I said. "It's not Hispanic."
I work in the health-care field, and I'm constantly asked to interpret, which could be quite dangerous in an emergency situation. Just short of wearing a feather in my hair, what would be a polite way to let others know my heritage?
Lily: I have had "gente" mistake me for Hawaiian or Filipino. A woman once said I looked Alaskan. "You don't look or sound Hispanic!" she added. Should I have been offended that she mistook me for an Alaskan (props to my Alaskan fans) or that she didn't believe I am Hispanic?
Try to react to people's mistaken assumptions about your heritage in a simple, straightforward way. Politely correct them, explain that you are often mistaken for (fill in the blank), but that you are proud to be (fill in the blank.) You can't "fix" some people's assumptions, but you can adjust your reaction toward them.
Danny: I say wear the feather. Folks are already stereotyping you based on looks — so why not have some fun with it? Assumptions can be so innocent at times, so use your Native American pride to keep a positive attitude and respond as such.
But your work situation presents a different challenge. This is a great example of "innocent" assumptions gone wrong. Bring this up to your supervisor immediately and devise a plan to educate colleagues to avoid a potential mishap. It can be as formal as a diversity seminar run by outside experts or as informal as conversation at a potluck.
Catherine: No need for feathers on the head or showing people the "tomahawk chop." Your current method of telling people that you're Native American and don't speak Spanish should suffice.
It seems as if the real issue is that you are offended when people mistake you for a Latina. I know it might be annoying to constantly have to clarify your ethnicity to people, but there is really no harm being done. So take a deep breath, understand that you will probably have to explain your Native American roots 100 more times, and enjoy your life and admirable work in the health-care field.
GLOSSARY:
gente: people
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