K, figured it out.

I’m not anonymous, and now you don’t get to be either.

So my daughters are at their paternal grandmother’s right now in Alberta.  They’ll be gone most of the summer, visiting both sides of the family and being spoiled.  I miss them like crazy and don’t really know what to do with myself right now, but I’m glad that they are being so surrounded by love.

I am also glad they they are getting to spend time with their Chilean relations (their father is Chilean). Each time they come back, their Spanish is better which is awesome, because I’ve always felt strongly that they need to be able to speak Spanish and I speak it to them as much as possible.

Okay have I said enough nice stuff?

Because one thing is going on and it’s bothering me a lot.  This happened last time they went for a visit too.

Their paternal uncle (in-law) has once again been drawing little blood quantum maps for them based on a very flawed understanding of what Metis means.  He thinks it means I’m half First Nations so that makes my kids a quarter First Nations and 50% Chilean.  And he tells them, “You are more Chilean than Metis”.

Luckily I’ve already had a talk with them about this because it upset them a lot last time.  I told them not to worry about it, that their uncle doesn’t know what Metis means and that if I am raising them as Metis, they are Metis.  AND CHILEAN. 

They can be BOTH.

It doesn’t have to break down to percentages.  And if they choose, down the line, to pursue their Chilean heritage and not think much about being Metis, that’s their choice.  I doubt that’s going to happen, but there you go. 

But this, “you’re not really Metis because blood” thing is annoying.  It does not work that way.

No point in even arguing with them about it though.

So I just bitch my face off here.