Indigenous Identity: What Is It and Who Really Has It?

That Which Doesn’t Break Us: Identity Work by Local Indigenous ‘Stakeholders’

“…In the construction of Indigenous identity, anthropological studies have shown that three important aspects come to play: self-identification, communityidentification and external identification (Weaver, 2001). Spicer (1971) argues that 'persistent ethnic identity systems' emerge and are maintained through 'oppositional processes'; that is, a culture's 'persistent ethnic identity system' is a direct result of efforts to assimilate such groups into the larger whole.…”

Being Indigenous

“…This is, of course, not easy or straightforward, which is neither a new concept for indigenous peoples nor a concept unexamined by indigenous scholars. For instance, recognizing the complexity of what constitutes indigenousness, Weaver [2001] quoting Peroff [1997] states:…”

The Identity Enigma: Denial of First Nations Women's Rights to Identity.

“…Unlike any other group in Canada, the phenomenon of First Nations identity has been reduced to a quantifiable entity that can be measured and categorized against a definition of what a person is. It remains an unreasonable foundation upon which to judge the authenticity of a First Nations identity within a legal framework that influences the various facets of identity (Weaver, 2001). With this research I hope for continuing efforts that investigate the phenomenon of First Nations identity.…”

“…First peoples defined themselves only to distinguish their group from other First Nations (Weaver, 2001). According to Hilary Weaver, Federal policy makers have increasingly imposed their definitions of First Nations in ways that completely disregard traditional ways of identification.…”

“…Phenotype is the appearance of an individual that serves to help others classify quickly and conveniently. When skin colour and other aspects of appearance come into suspicion it can lead to assumptions about a person's identity and thus cause one to not be accepted as a First Nations person (Weaver, 2001). As negative as it sounds, phenotype (one's appearance) is a factor in some people's determinants of who a person is.…”