"Je suis un Américain de souche et par là je veux dire que je suis un véritable Américain"

Simplified Meaning:

This quote highlights the speaker's identity as a Native American and emphasizes that they are truly American. They are pointing out that their people were the original inhabitants of the land now known as the United States. To illustrate, imagine two people arguing about who takes better care of their home. One claims to look after it well because they've lived there for a few years, but the other person has lived there for their whole life and knows every part of the home deeply. Similarly, Native Americans have been here for thousands of years and have a deep connection with the land and its history. By understanding this, we can appreciate the importance of their culture and respect their role in the nation's story. So, the advice here is to recognize and honor the contributions and existence of those who have deep roots in a place, as their experiences and history are truly integral to understanding and appreciating that place.