[Medicine Eagle]

I am loosing my mind! I have been trying to trace my Native American ancestory for a while now. I found out yesterday that I also have Cherokee on my paternal grandmother's side, and NAI on my paternal grandfather's side. However, both sides are not traceable b/c apparently they have BURIED it!!! I am so frustrated I could scream. Where do they get off taking away my link to my NAI blood. My Grandmother has no idea... yea right.. the name of her ancestor that was full blooded Cherokee. She said that No One every really cared. My paternal Grandfather completely hid his blood. Literally, there are no names know before him. He is dead, but my Grandmother said that everyone in his family refused to talk about their blood lines, or where they came from. Quote "it was not talked about it was very hush hush". I could scream! I am so mad. From what I can tell between my Mother's Cherokee( which is more diluted) and my father's NAI blood I most likely could be a "card carrying" NAI. However, due to the racist attitude of my ancestors, I can not trace my blood. I have contacted the Cherokee Nation about adoption, but they kept me going in circles. I was even given the number to Division of Family Services. Siri, maybe you could help. If you could help at all I would really appreciate it. Has anyone else run into these walls? If anyone has suggestions I would really appreciate it. This is really important to me.
Many Thanks,
Tired Brave Heart

[sirI]

Hello,

I sent you a private message.

sirI

[Medicine Eagle]

I received your PM. Thank you very much for your help. You and Thunderwolf have been a source of help and peace. Many thanks to both of you. Still have not really gotten anywhere, but I keep trying.
Thanks,
Tired Brave Heart

[sirI]

Your journey will end soon, TiredBraveHeart.

[Thunderwolf]

Peace to you....your angst is understood.

[Southernurse]

I too have been searching for my lineage, and have also had a hard time. My Scoto-Indian roots can be traced by Fraser, the name of my Scottish clan ancestry. Apparently, he "sowed" his way across the U.S. and there is a school named for him in AZ. There is no record of the women he "liked" and that is from whence my father's side of the family came. We are not on the Trail of Tears Roll, that I know of, and tracing is about impossible. I don't even know what tribe we are affiliated with. I share your frustration.

[scrubsnhugsRN]

I feel your frustration too! It is impossible for me to go back and find the names of those I am related to. Unfortunately, on my great grandfathers side, he refused to be affiliated with a tribe, and left his parents at a very young age to work on ranches in Texas. Why did he do this? Because being an indian was a shameful thing, you could not own land, you did not have rights.
He could have stayed on the reservation, and lived a life of rotten handouts and poverty.
He decided to work, and make a life for his children outside of the reservation....
I can only think that in his mind he had no choice.
Life was much different back then.
I know that I am a member of the Chickasaw tribe, whether I carry a card or not, I recognize this, as it was handed down by my grandmother, who has helped us to remember where we come from.
It is unfortunate, that American Indians were so discrimanted against, in so many ways, and I am sure your ancestors did the very best they could to survive in that world.
My best to you and your search.

[Southernurse]

Native American?

It is not blood that makes a Native American...
It is the Soul...
Too many...with the fire of Native blood...walk ignored.
Do not say I am Apache or Kickapoo..
Do not say I am Sioux or Cherokee..
Say...I am of the Mother Tribe.
This is the pain of our children..To return from the stars without a home or community...A tribe lost returns...scattered in the wind.
Those who hear must unite and reap the seed of this return...
ONE tribe...ONE Earth...ONE Heart...ONE People.
those with ears must build a fire and give thanks this night.
Be united with ONE soul...


I found this on the cherokee site for TN...nuff said

[sirI]

Originally Posted by Southernurse

Native American?

It is not blood that makes a Native American...
It is the Soul...
Too many...with the fire of Native blood...walk ignored.
Do not say I am Apache or Kickapoo..
Do not say I am Sioux or Cherokee..
Say...I am of the Mother Tribe.
This is the pain of our children..To return from the stars without a home or community...A tribe lost returns...scattered in the wind.
Those who hear must unite and reap the seed of this return...
ONE tribe...ONE Earth...ONE Heart...ONE People.
those with ears must build a fire and give thanks this night.
Be united with ONE soul...


I found this on the cherokee site for TN...nuff said

Thank you, Southernurse.

Here is the poem in its entirety:

It is not blood that makes an Native American...
It is the soul....
Too many... with fire of Native blood... walk ignored.
Do not say I am Apache or Kickapoo..
Do not say I am Sioux or Cherokee.
Say.... I am of the Mother Tribe...
This is the pain of our children...
To return from the stars without a home or community...
A tribe lost returns... scattered in the wind.
Those who hear must unite and reap the seed of this return.
ONE tribe...ONE Earth...ONE Heart...ONE People.
Those with ears must build a fire and give thanks this night.
Be united with ONE soul.
Oh, my Children come home...
Teachers step forward without fear...
You are real.

(Author Unknown)

http://www.cherokee-nc.com/poetry.ph...ative+American?