No healthy, sane people goes willingly towards extinction.
<br /><br />American Indians are increasingly concerned that assimilation is causing them to lose their unique identity and will result in their disappearance according to a number of US news sources. <br /><br />"Does intermarriage threaten Native American culture?" is the headline of an article in The Oregonian newspaper from the state of Oregon.<br /><br />According to that paper, American Indians fear that "continued assimilation will relegate Native American culture to history books."
The article quotes an American Indian, Marcus Luke, as saying that, "We are not just like everybody else. My blood comes from this land; my religion comes from this land."
<br /><br />He says that he is encouraging his son, Aaron, to seek a Native American spouse when he grows up.
<br /><br />Intermarriage has become so rampant, says Mr Luke, that Natives are in danger of losing their culture.<br /><br />"It’s a touchy issue. It’s tough, really tough," Mr Luke, who lives near the Umatilla Indian Reservation, was quoted as saying. <br /><br />"Too much assimilation is what it comes down to. My son is half Native American and half Caucasian. Which way does he go?"
<br /><br />According to The Oregonian, Mr Luke is among many Native Americans across the nation grappling with thorny issues of identity, culture and tribal resources as more among them marry outside tribe and race.
<br /><br />http://bnp.org.uk/2009/11/american-indians-object-to-%25E2%2580%259Closs-of-identity%25E2%2580%259D/