Essay On Native American Experience

Native Americans have always been a big part of my life. Ever since my first encounter in Fort Apache, Arizona in the year of 2008, I've been introduced to a new part of my life that most people don't have. Recently I've received my tribal certificate from the Narragansett Tribe of Rhode Island and I've found out that I'm an eighth Native American from my mother's side. My father is a mix of European descent but mostly he's Hungarian. On the outside, I look like the stereotypical 'white' person who burns during the summer and reddens in the winter, but a book's cover does not define its contents.

On the Indian Reservation in northern Arizona, lives many different tribes. Many including the main ones; Navajo, Apache, Hopi and Zuni. I've lived on both the Hopi and Apache Reservations, where many weird and astounding experiences have occurred. When I first moved to Arizona in 2008, our house was located in a housing community where an old burial ground was and rumors were spread about the place being haunted. I know for a fact that Fort Apache and Canyon Day were gorgeous places with the red sand and the various canyons, but the people are what is really interesting. There are certain tribal ceremonies and dances that occur quite often on reservations, including seasonal,
My tribe, Narragansett, is basically a dead tribe; meaning that there's no spoken language and there is no practice of the tribal events. Without my exposure to my Native American side, I would not be who I am today. Although I've struggled getting used to seeing the different skin tones and being accepted as a 'white native' I've made many Native friends and experienced tribal events that most people have never done or heard of before. Without knowing anything about my Native American side, I'd still be me, but not the one with furthered knowledge and awesome