(for my mom): can someone explain to her how mexicans are part native american?

Question

she’s basically accusing me of “stolen valor” by saying “youre not indigenous, youre mexican,” despite having 25% “indigenous peoples: mexico” on my ancestry DNA test. can anyone please explain to my mother how this works? i tried to explain it but she wont listen to me.

In: 82

Answer 1

Mexico is part of America, so the native Mexicans were Native American. Descendents of those native Mexicans are therefore descendents of native Americans.

I get what she’s saying but her misconception is thinking that only native tribes from within the boundaries of the USA are considered “native American”.