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Hi. Here's a little background:

-Graduated from a top 25 law school with slightly above-median grades
-Great Great Grandmother was a Cherokee Indian. I didn't use that to get into college/law school because 1) I wasn't sure if I hit the cut-off, and 2) I never went through any of the verification process because we don't have any of her records

I'm now struggling to find a job. My questions: Can i use my native american heritage in connection with my job hunt? If so, how?

There are agencies in the federal government that have an Indian hiring preference (like the Bureau of Indian affairs). However, those agencies (and anywhere that would officially give you a boost) are also going to require official enrollment. (Cherokee can especially tricky since you have to trace your ancestry to someone listed on the Dawes Roll).

Indian ancestry is also helpful for getting jobs in Indian law, but that's in part because it generally goes along with being connected to a Native community and understanding of the culture. Which, honestly, it doesn't sound like you are. Do you have any interest in/experience with anything to do with Native Americans, or are you just looking for a way to get a job? Generally you can't really pop up and say, "Hi! My great-great-grandma was Indian!" and expect anyone to care if you're not enrolled and don't have any other connection to that culture/community.

(If you do, I apologize, but your post really comes across that you don't.)

I mean, you would have to find an employer who (a) values Natives and/or diversity in hiring, (b) extends that value to you despite the fact that you're basically a white person with no proof of lineage or Native status whatsoever, and (c) doesn't find it odd that you have never, at any point, claimed Native status or participated in anything remotely resembling Native activities.

Also, you'd be a disingenuous ass who is cool with essentially committing ethnic fraud.*

* - that sentence is totally just my own opinion, but I bet I can defend it if you want me to.

...

Really?

Seriously though, I mean, I'm all for getting whatever advantage you can for employment, since it's such shit out there... but I bet this will hurt you more than it helps. No, no one gives a shit what your great great grandmother was, unless you actually have some connection to that...

I think a great-great-grandparent is going to be a little distant for most people to take seriously. Think about the purpose behind these initiatives - do you honestly think you'd be adding any diversity in a meaningful sense?

.

Anonymous User wrote:Hi. Here's a little background:

-Graduated from a top 25 law school with slightly above-median grades
-Great Great Grandmother was a Cherokee Indian. I didn't use that to get into college/law school because 1) I wasn't sure if I hit the cut-off, and 2) I never went through any of the verification process because we don't have any of her records

I'm now struggling to find a job. My questions: Can i use my native american heritage in connection with my job hunt? If so, how?

Do you find the name of Washington's DC's NFL team offensive?

Borhas wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:Hi. Here's a little background:

-Graduated from a top 25 law school with slightly above-median grades
-Great Great Grandmother was a Cherokee Indian. I didn't use that to get into college/law school because 1) I wasn't sure if I hit the cut-off, and 2) I never went through any of the verification process because we don't have any of her records

I'm now struggling to find a job. My questions: Can i use my native american heritage in connection with my job hunt? If so, how?

Do you find the name of Washington's DC's NFL team offensive?

I actually find it charming.

Nightrunner wrote: an employer who (a) values Natives and/or diversity in hiring, (b) extends that value to you despite the fact that you're basically a white person with no proof of lineage or Native status whatsoever, and (c) doesn't find it odd that you have never, at any point, claimed Native status or participated in anything remotely resembling Native activities.

What is HLS hiring Elizabeth Warren?

IBTL

Nightrunner wrote:I mean, you would have to find an employer who (a) values Natives and/or diversity in hiring, (b) extends that value to you despite the fact that you're basically a white person with no proof of lineage or Native status whatsoever, and (c) doesn't find it odd that you have never, at any point, claimed Native status or participated in anything remotely resembling Native activities.

Also, you'd be a disingenuous ass who is cool with essentially committing ethnic fraud.*

* - that sentence is totally just my own opinion, but I bet I can defend it if you want me to.

OP is more Indian than Elizabeth Warren. Was she committing ethnic fraud when she used that?

Bildungsroman wrote:

Nightrunner wrote:I mean, you would have to find an employer who (a) values Natives and/or diversity in hiring, (b) extends that value to you despite the fact that you're basically a white person with no proof of lineage or Native status whatsoever, and (c) doesn't find it odd that you have never, at any point, claimed Native status or participated in anything remotely resembling Native activities.

Also, you'd be a disingenuous ass who is cool with essentially committing ethnic fraud.*

* - that sentence is totally just my own opinion, but I bet I can defend it if you want me to.

OP is more Indian than Elizabeth Warren. Was she committing ethnic fraud when she used that?

yea, shes a crook.

Bildungsroman wrote:

Nightrunner wrote:I mean, you would have to find an employer who (a) values Natives and/or diversity in hiring, (b) extends that value to you despite the fact that you're basically a white person with no proof of lineage or Native status whatsoever, and (c) doesn't find it odd that you have never, at any point, claimed Native status or participated in anything remotely resembling Native activities.

Also, you'd be a disingenuous ass who is cool with essentially committing ethnic fraud.*

* - that sentence is totally just my own opinion, but I bet I can defend it if you want me to.

OP is just as Indian as Elizabeth Warren. Was she committing ethnic fraud when she used that?

I fixed that.

And the answer is yes.