DaShanne Stokes' Blog - Latest Comments

Re: Why You Should Support Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates

DaShanne Stokes — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:08:56 -0000

Hi Anne,

Thanks for your comment, and congrats on being in reunion! It’s amazing that you can be in reunion yet still be denied access to your OBC. It really isn’t good that Gov. Christie vetoed an OBC bill for adoptees in 2011. I hope we can all work together to change that in New Jersey and elsewhere very soon. Do you have a link that you could share to help direct others to where they might be able to help support the bill?

Cheers

DaShanne

Re: Why You Should Support Adoptee Access to Original Birth Certificates

Anne Bauer — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 13:12:43 -0000

Thank you for sharing your story. I too am an adult adoptee who is in reunion with my birthparents yet still cannot legally access my own original birth certificate. In New Jersey, we have an Adoptee Birthright Bill that is currently sitting on Governor Chris Christie's desk. We are all hoping that he will sign this bill that will allow adult adoptees, like us, access to our own information.

Re: Gay Marriage, DOMA, Prop 8, and Discrimination as an Article of Faith

DaShanne Stokes — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 07:27:29 -0000

Thanks for your comment. As I mentioned, it is important not to condone or encourage discrimination, but resorting to labeling or name calling can have the effect of further entrenching those holding discriminatory views.

Re: Gay Marriage, DOMA, Prop 8, and Discrimination as an Article of Faith

Channa — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 17:24:03 -0000

Why not call a bigot a bigot? Not sure why you want to encourage more people like this?

Re: Eagle Feathers and the Imperial Conquest of State Recognized Tribes

DaShanne Stokes — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:41:47 -0000

Hi, and thanks for your comments. As you rightly point out,
many Native Americans were not included on the Dawes Rolls. That, along with
other laws (e.g., the Racial Integrity Act), the politicking of tribal
identities, and more, can make it difficult for many to be enrolled or to stay
on their tribal rolls, all of which can affect their religious freedom. Do you
know others who’ve been affected by this as well? How has it affected them?

Re: Eagle Feathers and the Imperial Conquest of State Recognized Tribes

North Carolina — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:40:44 -0000

I'm in agreement with getting this changed. After finding out through genealogy searches that I am a Native American of a State and Federal recognized tribe, I thought it would be ok to put together an outfit with feathers, but then I was told I could only use Turkey feathers, because Eagle feathers were outlawed, unless you are with a Federally Recognized Tribe. So I find it true that the Government is prejudice, and censors Native American religious freedoms. What's even more sad are the tribes that are Federally recognized will not allow anyone in their tribe unless that person can prove they have a ancestor on the Dawes Roll; so they also discriminate (how shameful). This is also my case on the Federal recognized side of my findings. Short story is: there was a family of Native Americans that moved from Georgia to Alabama; two brothers moved to South Carolina. When the Dawes commision was inacted, only one of the brothers in Alabama made it on the Roll, and his descendants. My direct line came from one of the two brothers in S.C. of which were not on the roll. When I made application and explained the situation and gave documents supporting this, their reply was they will not except anyone unless they are a direct descendent from someone on the roll. When did common sense become useless? They are all the same family! Anyway, the change for the Eagle Feather Law needs pushed harder if not to the Supreme Court so this can be finally settled. Either we're all recognized Natives or not; what's it going to be?