By Lee Longhorn

“Under the direction of Mr. Brian Britt, Director of the Pride of Oklahoma and assisted by Mr. Jeff Jahnke. The University of Oklahoma proudly presents the 2006 PrrrrrRRRRIIIIIIIDDDDEEEEE of Oklahoma!”

I still can hear that over the P.A. system at the final run-through before my first home game. Yes, dear friends, it’s college football season in Oklahoma and across the country. We get deeply involved and blinded on our love towards our alma mater or favorite team. I didn’t always use to, but now it just seems prevalent that I foresee an eighth National Championship be won by the University of Oklahoma Sooners this year. I wasn’t always this way though. Mind you, I think it changed after I went to my first OU football game.

Now, you’re probably wondering what this has to do with being Indian. Well, let me tell you about my weekend. First off, have I mentioned to you that my dad and I are on the campaign trail? It’s fun, exciting and sometimes it boils my blood so much that I literally am on the verge of hitting something (or someone). Well, if you don’t know either, or perhaps we’ve just met through this blog, I’m kind of good at fractions.

The “Other” University of Oklahoma

This weekend, I went along with my parents to a forum for candidates aspiring to be elected to the National Council. I won’t go into explicit detail but I can tell you background. The night before, a candidate was quoted as saying “I’m half Creek and half Euchee.” Well, according to my calculations that would make you a full-blooded Indian. But it just so happens that earlier, this individual told someone I know that they were half American Indian and the other parent was non-Native. On Saturday this person was confronted and told the crowd his corrected blood quantum. Ok, I hope you don’t think I’m prejudice. There’s a reason behind this story, I promise.

It was on the car ride down there that we were discussing this discrepancy when it hit me. This person has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and they’re messing up their own blood quantum. How can that be? Well, it also occurred to me that this individual is a graduate of Oklahoma State University; OU’s rival. On the ride back to Bixby, I laughed and told my parents, “this is why it’s hard to take OSU serious sometimes.”

External rivalries

I began to think about the internal and external struggle one might have at stating how much American Indian one is. I mean, it’s easy for me to say I’m full-blooded but come on, you can’t deny it once you hear all the tribes I am. It also got me thinking about how we broadcast ourselves to society. It’s easy for one to say I’m half, but why not just say the tribe. For example, if you’re Cheyenne-Arapaho, and one parent is not, you just have to say “I’m Cheyenne-Arapaho.” A couple of years ago, I struggled with my identity as an American Indian. I tried to grow my hair out, got involved in issues that weren’t pertinent to you and other shenanigans that I probably looked goofy doing it. Actually, looking back, I would say I looked goofy doing it. Now as an adult (well, I consider myself an adult. I’m 23, enjoy wearing polos, and just gave up drinking alcohol, soda pop, don’t smoke and worry about my health) I try not to get involved in matters that sometimes aren’t under my control. It’s not that I don’t care about them. Identity issues are complex; especially, when you’re an American Indian.

Don’t wear your numbers

In this time of election, I do know that most are trying to capture more votes than their predecessors. While at times I might ask for clarification I’m conflicted with even giving a reasonable answer or one that isn’t complex or take some time explaining. I think when one makes the introduction, one shouldn’t stand up and say “Well, my great-grandfather was a full-blood and my mother was full and that makes me 1/8.” Yeah, just say your tribe and move on. As my friend Daniel would say, “Cut the Jibba Jabber.” If you wanted people to know how much Indian blood you had, just put it on your shirt. I personally like the shirt that says, “I’m part white but I can’t prove it.”

Our own “Bedlam Battle”

In Oklahoma, when OSU and OU play against each other, it’s called Bedlam. Is that what each of us has when we’re more than one tribe or identity? Well, I guess I do. But in my case, and just like most Bedlam football games, the dominant team comes out. I just can’t figure out which one that is. I guess that’s my own internal Bedlam. Well, I won’t know who will win internally but externally, you’ll always hear me cry out “Boomer Sooner.”

Lee Longhorn is a reporter at the Muscogee Nation News