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Oysio! (Hi) All, Hope you and your family are well. I wrote this after reading several peoples request for information about their Native American ancestors( especially Cherokee in particular) on this American Indian Forum.I was shocked at some of the one-sided points of view that were given to innocent unsuspecting researchers about mis-information concerning Native American History. My advise( you can take it or leave it-) is to really think outside of the box when doing your geneology research.Be open-minded. Go on any clues and dont limit yourselves to just one area. Some of the historical data (i.e. census information- that is suppossed to be taken as actual truthful data may even be incorrect with mispellings ,incorrect counties, cities or duplications in two different states( same families with same data), mixed families or racial prejuidices from the census takers point of view as i have witnessed in my own families research.Yes not all Census takers were bad some did even try to protect some of our Native people that lived in and amongst white communities whom just accepted them as part of the community. They had lighter skin and wore Euorpean style clothes so they would fit right in. Cherokee Were notrious for being highly intelligent, adaptable, and sociable, so they virtually did change like a Chameleon over the years. They were a huge tribe that travelled all over. I will say this as well. There are still other tribes out there today whom also look down upon our Cherokee people and make fun of us and call us a dog tribe because we do have so many variations on skin colors, body types and styles. etc...I say skin color does not make a man only his heart does!My own Mother in law a Cheyanne Lakota said she prayed that my baby would not have Blonde Cherokee hair , when he came out with dark brown/black hair and my fathers blue/gray eyes , she then all of a sudden claimed my son was a Lakota baby. She still to this day will not claim me as Native because of my lighter skin. But she sure wants to claim my son as a Lakota Native. Thats okay I am cool with that. It's her loss on how Cool I am . LOLOL HAhahaha! Besides I told her if the Lakota are a Matriarchal society then she should know that the baby will follow the mothers ways anyhow hahahaha. It's Good To be a Cherokee HEHEEHE.If you know who you are and where you came from then it doesnt matter what tribe you are from.Don't get discouraged if you can't find your relatives on The Dawes Rolls- I am here to tell you that does not mean that your family is not Native!!!! It just means that somwewhere down the line they may have applied but were denied and not for the reasons you would think.!!!!! The U.S. Government may have determined that your ancestor was Native, but The Cherokee Tribe denied your families application because they didn't feel that your family was one of the ones whom suffered the Trail of Tears trip.Many famileies whom stayed behind did suffer , their homes and rights were stripped away anyway by the government , White settlers encroaching on their lands etc.. and went through similar"Hell" as those on the trail so many relatives went back later took it to court and won for suffrage thru mishandling of funds by the gov. so these families were at a later date rewarded or at least acknowledged of their Native roots.Some to this day werent so lucky Other tribal people acknowledge them and that they were indeed Native , but on the Federal Goverment level they will not still acknowledge these bands as quote Native only because they do not want to have to pay out more money. Some states at least are trying to work on a collective with these smaller bands to acknowledge some grievences and assistance.(Kinda like My Sizemore Relatives). Cherokees werent the only ones who had trouble with misplaced relatives. This is another example from a response to a lady I wrote , that was inquiring about her Irouquios/ Blackfoot roots...
Have you considered Looking under Saponi as a tribe?Reminded me when you spoke of Blackfoot. There were also Blackfoot in The Dakotas /Canada yes, but also in the Illinois,Virginia,etc. areas as well. Also Blackfeet which is a totaly different tribe. Sounds like your families situation was similar to mine. I had always known my fathers side had Native blood , but I just recently found out that on my mothers side we were listed under Eastern Piedmont Sioux/Saponi/Blackfoot We are also Kituwah (The original Kituwah here in the Appalachians not the ones transferred down to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears)our families always remained in their regions near the mountains / WhiteTop mountain laurel Cherokee, Eastern Band Cherokee, Western Band Cherokee, Lakota & Scot/Irish. We were from around TN,N.C.VA,KY-some roots go further up north and west but most stayed near their Spiritual , protective mountains. Remember that there used to be buffalo all over America and alot of the tribes were typically nomadic and followed game such as the Buffalo, Deer, Antelope etc. It was not until the invasion of white man that we were introduced to strictures such as boundaries,slavery,and yes even labeled with names. especially last names. If one was a true traditionalist Native American they typically only went by one name and it was either given by an act of bravery,some action that happened in their life, handed down from the family, or given upon completion of a rite of passage. it wasnt till later that some of our Native people were forced to take on Anglo names like my own last name is Shipley. It's typically an English name- We aren't English. Most of my roots all have Native or Scot/Irish history but for whatever reason somewhere down the line we had to take on that name. Also after having lived on an actual Rezervation in South Dakota(Rosebud), having worked all my life with various Indiginous Cultures on various Rezervations across America and having born a Native son natural child birth in an Indian hospital on a rezervation. I will say this, It Doesnt Matter What Tribe You are from, contrary to some peoples believe on this forum that I have witnessed, you don't have to have a piece of paper labeling you a number in order to prove your Native Heritage or who you are. You don't have to be listed on the Dawes Roll or some other Government manipulated form of made up control sytem to disempower you into believing that you dont have a sense of who you are.(As some would have you believe.(Life existed before 1880-1906)So consider yourself Lucky and Free , You are not owned by anybody, you are not labeled or tatooed with a number like the Jewish People of The Holocaust.There was enough Genocide of our Native people across America as it is without separating , and dividing us amongst ourselves. Alot of my own ancestors did not trust the white men and ecspecially anything to do with the government because they had already broken so many treaties with our people so they would hide from Census takers or anyone suspect of trying to take their lands. Therefore even though they were Native American They did not "Sell Out" Their names, Their lands or their God Given Right to Freedom. Also if you are aware of Native History , we were an Oral people of traditon whom passed information down through stories word of mouth, we did not like to put anything down on paper . There were also many racial laws against us such as the 1823 VA.RAce Law- which was totally against anyone of color, Native American , Mulatto owning land, getting married, or having babies of color- many young girls wre sterilized and their babies killed..So it is totally clear to me why some of our ancestors did not dicuss who or where our history came from.Shame on some of those carded individuals for looking down their nose at their fellow man and are not practicing true Native belief of love your fellow man. Build him up , not tear him down.(Disclaimer- not all carded individuals are guilty of this by the way- some actually took the time to research history and educated themselves on what really happened,Blessings to them for being supportive of All Indigenous People and having a True Native Heart) One example among many, of why we do not believe in White Mans paper lies - My husband whom is full blood Lakota from South Dakota , some of his ancestors were from around the area of Santee,Midewankton Minnesota- It was an area where under the guise of the Emancipation Proclamation -( Remember Abe Lincoln - the supposed anti-slavery King) well under his instruction fourty six Lakota/Dakota chiefs under a flag of peace were hung by the U.S. Government- Later The U.s. government said there were no living relatives or heirs to these Chiefs land, their property etc.. so they took these lands, misapropriated financial funds brought in other tribes from various other places put them to live in this area and placed a Casino illegially on this property to make money. Now there is a billions of dollars lawsuit against the U.S. Government. Which has already been determined by the U.S. Supreme court that the government must pay the existing relatives of these Chiefs.The law suit has been in effect for about 25 years now and I guess one day we will see that money owed for the damage that occurred . Probably on the same day we see the money given for our Black Hills Gold Money . Hahaha.Big Joke on The Rez.I am not trying to trash the U.s. governement I am just speaking the truth about the injustices that have been done in the past and why so many of our Native people are so out of touch with their families roots.Joe Blow public still to this day doesnt hear about these inustices because the media doesnt want us to know. Well enough of my soap box series. I will get down now on my knees, burn my sage and pray for everyone to find peace within themselves and surrounding their environments. Just remember.... All that you need to know in order to be a Native American is that you have a good heart , believe in the Creator, Love and respect Mother Earth, yourself, Nature, animals and your fellow man. Good luck with the search and May you and your Ancestors find each other.Mitakuye Oyasin(To All My Relations), Wado(ThankYou!)
Christina D. Shipley(TowodaPita) towoda_pita@bellsouth.net (same for MySpace Account
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