I have never been proud to be a Native American. Another thread on this forum triggered this realization. I have pale skin compared to my brothers & sisters. My mother is full Plains Cree and my dad is part German and Cherokee. At a young age I learned to hate myself and everything my nationality represented. I was well on my way to being assimilated, having no knowledge of my mother tongue, not having an Indian name as a child and complete ignorance of my traditions as a Cree.