FAQ

/*! elementor – v3.13.3 – 28-05-2023 */
.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}

Frequent Asked Questions

What do I do when I have an Indigenous Deaf Child(ren) – whom do I contact for resources?

Answer: While our group is recently established, Our Circle of Interconnection reveals a group in yellow color (east of the medicine wheel), representing the youth, education, and parents’ group. We are in progess of developing educational materials, pedagogy, and many other plans to support all Indigenous children through educational and spiritual support in their growing years.

I am an Indigenous hearing person; can I join the group?

Answer: Yes, if you are a family member, parent, veteran, grandparent, professional, or council member living with Indigenous Deaf, Hard of Hearing and/or DeafBlind people, you are welcome to join the group. Our purpose is for you to learn and exchange tribal culture with others. You are here to provide support and participate in specific circles in developing projects to better serve others. Deaf Indigenous people can assist hearing people who are late deafened by learning to cope with hearing loss. There are many possibilities.

I am part Indigenous but I do not have a tribal ID card, CBID, or status card… can I still join?

Answer: it all depends on the Committee’s review of your identity status; we screen all applicants. If you are accepted into the group, you will be in the solidarity circle.

am Mexican Indigenous person, but I do not have a “Tribal Identification.”

Answer: Since there is no registration system in Mexico, we honor your Mexican Indigenous status. If you could find a proof of heritage, we will honor you into our group.

Can non-Indigenous people join the group?

Answer: It all depends-this group is not open to all people. We prefer to keep it strictly within our Indigenous people. We do invite non-Indigenous people who actually work within the Indigenous communities in North America. We also invite non-Indigenous parents who have a adopted Indigenous culture, which also benefits the parents. For the one who accepted will likely be within the solidarity group.

I was told that I have an Indigenous ancestor- where do I fit in within the group?

Answer: You will be joining the solidarity group and learning about your heritage and ways of doing things. We can guide you in your learning about your ancestor.

I am confused which “INDIAN” sign should I use?

Answer:

In studying heritage language users, each group of people has their own language use and dialect which is often acquired at school or within communities they grow up in. In the past, deaf residential schools taught different signs for the word “INDIAN” (which was commonly used at that time in deaf schools across the country). In spite of this, many Native Deaf people preferred to keep their traditional signs for “INDIAN” and different regional signs were widely accepted. In fact signs would sometimes appear different depending on where you’re facing.

Eventually, preferences became more widely accepted due to agreements among many Indigenous Deaf people who want to preserve their unique signs. From a historical perspective, there is no evidence to support the idea that the sign means “STINK + HAIR” – that’s just a myth created by a few people. Also, many resources on North American Indian Sign Language don’t show this particular sign for “INDIAN.” However, In 1996, members of the Intertribal Deaf Council made an agreement not to use a certain sign for “INDIAN” (the sign V-INDIAN) because the sign(s) reinforced inaccuracies, misinformation, and stereotypes. Overally, it’s to learn about and honor diversity of Indigenous peoples experiences as well as various cultural perspectives of Indigenous Deaf individuals.