"I knew as the sweat rolled down my face that I was being watched.

“This is how tribal wars get started,” I said to my friend, Jane.

“Huh?” She said. I shook my head, not wanting to implicate her. Not yet. Besides, she “looked Indian.” I did not. As we exited, three men accosted me.

“So, you didn’t hear what I said to you last time?” The man said gruffly. “Excuse me,” I laughed. He furrowed his brows.

“Did you hear what I told you before?” He was brown-skinned, sporting a moustache, about my height, and muscular.

“Brotha,” I touched his shoulder, “let’s talk over here.” People moved aside cautiously: What did she do wrong? Their curiosity buzzed above our heads in the coolness of the Sunday afternoon. She’s dressed like an Indian. What did she do?

I knew exactly what I had done.

Danced without a tribal card at a Native American pow wow that forbid it. On Chickahominy tribal grounds."

Get the Story:
Shonda Buchanan: Being a black Indian at a Chickahominy pow wow (Indian Country Today 10/29)