THE MODEL OF THREE GENERATIONS
DESCENDIAN - is a person who has a remote FNMI Ancestor WAY back in their family genealogy, and they take that singular Ancestor from multiple generations back to lay claim to full FNMI benefits today. THAT IS WRONG!
(from our PRETENDIAN LEXICON on this site)
Michelle Latimer did the worst thing ever. Not only was she not from Kitigan Zibi, but her tenuous link to FNMI Identity was from the 1600s. However, this was uncovered way after she had earned millions as a filmmaker, director, and gotten quite rich off her false claim to FNMI Identity. First, she was Algonquin at Kitigan Zibi, then Métis… and now she is unmasked as the caucasian woman she is, ripe with Settler Privilege.
The average FNMI Ancestor with the MNO (Métis Nation of Ontario) is five generations back. That’s 32 great great grandparents, 31 of which were non-FNMI. Is there FNMI Lived experience there? No. Can that singular long-passed Ancestor teach you anything about being FNMI? Again, no. Do you have FNMI Intergenerational Trauma? Again, no.
Do Descendians have Intergenerational… Privilege? Oh, yes!
Let’s face it, the label of “Indigenous” (FNMI) has been commodified to an insane and ridiculous degree, so much so that is almost beyond comprehension. Michelle took that label of “Indigenous” and wore it all the way to the Sundance Film Festival Indigenous Program, accolades at the Toronto International Film Festival, the People’s Choice Awards, and more. And, she’s also in the Pretendian’s Millionaires Club with Beverly.
This past spring 2023, the Ghost Warrior Society sought to hold forums to discuss the impact of FNMI Identity Fraud across all sectors. We formed a Lexicon, recourse, strategies, and were determined to bring this issue to the public eye and into the consciousness of our own FNMI nations and we published our website.
Now in 2024, it is indeed, one of the first subjects to address in all “Indigenous” (FNMI) engagement. We anticipated this, and discussed that yes, there should be a cut-off. FNMI Identity cannot go on in perpetuity, forever: it dilutes the integrity of “Indigenousness”, and becomes a Colonial Skeleton - a chase for Eigibility for this-and-that, and nothing of who we are as FNMI today.
In our collaboration and research, we have learned about the Model of Three Generations from the Inuit. The Inuit have a very strong culture, with the best language retention and their cultural practises are very strong. Over 95% of the Inuit population in Nunavut is fluent in Inuktitut. Their success can be attributed to their adherence to the Model of Three Generations. Within their culture and communities, it is expected that if you are a Teacher of Language, a Leader, or a Teacher of Cultural Practises, then you are within Three Generations. You are a First, Second or Third Generation descendant to do these things.
Why? Because it is known that you have your Grandparents and Elders close by to ensure the Truth of Inuit Culture within your Lived Circle. Beautiful!
Your culture is alive and breathing and teaching you!
Beautiful, because there are three major components of being FNMI that are honoured here:
FNMI Intergenerational Trauma/ Resilience
FNMI Lived Experience
FNMI Cultural Transference
Yes, there are exceptions. You might have access to up to five, six generations of your family. That’s great! Or, you might be a Sixties Scoop Survivor, Indian Residential School Survivor or another displaced FNMI person who was not raised in your FNMI family or community. In those cases, Cultural Tranference can come later in life, or in adulthood. But in the case of Sixties Scoop Survivors, ther are First Generation FNMI - I know I am, both my biological parents are registered Status Indians of the Little Pine First Nation. All of my children are First Generations FNMI also. They are Nehiyawak - Plains Cree, and fluent speakers of our language.
They are FNMI like me, we don’t need to hire a Genealogist and a Lawyer to make a frail link to an FNMI Ancestor for the purpose of resource anquisition. The explosion of the so-called-eastern-metis is proof of this. Ontario, Quebec and BC have been inundated with claims of “I am Métis because I am a direct desecendant of xxxxx born in 1598” or some other incredulous claim like that. These claimants depend on Black Robe definitions of Indigeneity and that is also troublesome. It is inauthentic. The notion of the “Self-Identification of Indigenous Identity” is another abject failure, also - it’s sheer Trauma. It’s Colonial Violence, it’s opportunistic and unethical.
The term “Indigenous” is not a ticket you can use to access resources like Housing, Education, and all these opportunities meant for FNMI through Truth and Reconciliation. If having Scottish Ancestry gave me access to Housing, I wouldn’t be whipping out the bagpipes, because my experience is Plains Cree!
Descendians - your experience is Settler, and not FNMI.
It s important to note: If you do have FNMI Ancestry and you want it to be known when applying for FNMI resources like Housing, Education, Grants, Benefits or ANY type of resources that are created and designed specifically for FNMI - do not adopt the term “Indigenous” and wear it, use it and market it indiscriminately.
Be fully transparent and here is an example. Say “My last FNMI Ancestor was six generations ago but I would like to be considered for this (FNMI specific resource).”
We cannot implement the Model of Three Generations because we have no mandate, no authority and no jurisdiction. We felt it important to talk about it, and promote it.
We hope you take this article and and consider it and honour it.
Thank you.
Crystal Semaganis
Nehiyaw Iskwew & Leader of the Ghost Warrior Society Against FNMI Identity Fraud
