In my heart over the years, I have grown more to accept the wisdom that it does seem foolish to say I am part this and part that. It is a mindset that we have become accustomed to though....to compartmentalize all our pieces and parts....ignoring the whole of who we are. In my previous way of thinking, I would have most likely introduced myself as that 1/4 Indian and 3/4 Caucasion man. Nowadays, I see myself as a man with Indian and Caucasion heritage OR simply a Caucasian and Indian man...a whole person....who in his heart and mind, tends to walk in both worlds.
So, in saying this, the roll call here acknowledges anyone with American Indian descent.
I am 1/4 Eastern Woodland (Pocomoke/Assateague). It was thought that all of the indigenous people had died off, however when I was young my father did a geneology search and found that my great grandmother was a "free black" which is what the natives were called here. Upon further searching we found that my great grandmother was the daughter of the "emperor (that is what the chief was called)" So, I am technically and officially the senior princess of the Assateague. My father is chief by descendant. My native name gifted to me is Shunkawakanwikana (horse woman).
I've enjoyed reading this this thread, I am a "Southeastern Mix" NDN non-carded at this time. I've been doing genealogy work for years trying to ID my tribal heritage and it is very difficult. My family denied our heritage, even though I can't figure out how my gran and her father ever passed as white. Several years ago I had an ethnology DNA test done and I'm 25% NDN, my heritage jumps the sex line so any other testing would be worthless. I had the test done to prove to nay sayers both in and out of my family that I KNOW I am NDN.
I have the "shovel teeth", olive skin etc. and several health issues related to NDN heritage.
I graduated from a really good Central Oregon LPN school in 1972 - yah ok I know the dark ages and now my nursing school is an ADN program..so am I grandfathered in as an RN ...LOL. I worked as an LPN for 12+ years and then burnt out. I'm now trying to re-enter the profession and hope to attend a refresher course if I can move out of Georgia to a state that will accept me into their program.
I am not sure what I am (although I know from the shot nerves and dark circles under my eyes that I am a nursing student!) My father was adopted from the Sisseton-Wahpeton Lakota reservation. I know my grandmother's name and that she is full-blooded, but I do not know who my grandfather was, so I am either 1/2 or 1/4.
I am full blooded Cree from Canada. I have a treaty card and a letter from my reservation stating that I am >50% blood line Cree.
I recently have run into a problem with the Arizona Board of Nursing....they don't have a clue about the "Jay Treaty " that allows "American Indians born in Canada" to work in the US without a visa screen.. I do hold an I-181 but the lady from Arizona doesn't understand what that is????!!!!! and she wants me to get a visa screen from CGFNS anyways which is almost 600 dollars...but I don't need a visa to live or work in the US so why would I do this????? I don't know what to do or who to talk too, any suggestions? Thanks
Can you provide them with the documentation stating that you don't need a visa from the state department?
I have my own BON battle going on very different from yours, but I've found they are very ridged and you have to provide them with the info - they won't understand without it.
I do have all the paper work but they don't understand what a I-181 is, and now I fear they are not taking my emails anymore.. I have told them that I would send them all the papers that I have but they don't know what to do with all of it.....very frustrating. To make matters worse the lady that I was dealing with at ABN , never addressed me by name and never signed off with her name, which I think is soooooo unprofessional.. Like who does that???? I have now contacted a lawyer and am thinking that I should just go ahead and get a visa screen ...it is probably cheaper than a lawyer...but it is a point of principle at this point.. I have never asked for anything my whole life, never on EI (not that there is anything wrong with that), never on welfare etc. I have worked for everything...and now I want to use my "status" to help with immigration and proabably won't be able to .....typical!!:)
Can you set up a meeting with the BON??? It sounds like they really don't understand what you are providing them with. If you are dealing with a staff member they have a list of acceptable documents and I'll bet the I-181 is not on the list.
As a child, I was always fascinated with the stories of my NAI heritage, and I still am. My mother and I are working to track down the bits and pieces of our family history from elderly family members before they pass on. It has only been since reading Thunderwolf's post about how all the parts make up the whole, that I no longer feel like a "wannabe" for claiming my heritage.
My great-great-great-great-great(?) grandfather on my mother's side was a Cherokee chief. The story passed down through the years is that he fell in love with a Dutch woman, but her family wouldnt have it, so he "stole" her from a wagon train heading west. They took each other for husband and wife, and she was disowned by her family. The addendum to the story is that when they returned to Alabama many years later, he was deeded land by the government. (I'm not sure if the last part is true or not)
On my father's side, there is also NAI bloodlines, though we know nearly nothing about his side.
I am made up of NAI, Dutch, English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, German, and French (that I know of). In some eyes this makes me a Heinz 57 or "mutt", but to me, it just makes me interesting. And yes, it still makes me NAI.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I could find more information about my grandfather on mom's side? Even just a suggestion of a starting point would be great!!
...LOL. I worked as an LPN for 12+ years and then burnt out. I'm now trying to re-enter the profession and hope to attend a refresher course if I can move out of Georgia to a state that will accept me into their program.
I have told them that I would send them all the papers that I have but they don't know what to do with all of it.....very frustrating. To make matters worse the lady that I was dealing with at ABN , never addressed me by name and never signed off with her name, which I think is soooooo unprofessional.. Like who does that???? I have now contacted a lawyer and am thinking that I should just go ahead and get a visa screen ...it is probably cheaper than a lawyer...but it is a point of principle at this point.. I have never asked for anything my whole life, never on EI (not that there is anything wrong with that), never on welfare etc. I have worked for everything...and now I want to use my "status" to help with immigration and proabably won't be able to .....typical!!:)
cadburypam
24 Posts
I am 1/4 Eastern Woodland (Pocomoke/Assateague). It was thought that all of the indigenous people had died off, however when I was young my father did a geneology search and found that my great grandmother was a "free black" which is what the natives were called here. Upon further searching we found that my great grandmother was the daughter of the "emperor (that is what the chief was called)" So, I am technically and officially the senior princess of the Assateague. My father is chief by descendant. My native name gifted to me is Shunkawakanwikana (horse woman).
Mitake Oyasin
Shunka (Pam)