Post by gvnigeyona on Oct 13, 2013 22:23:05 GMT -6
Osiyo nigada!
Tsi Tsalagi Gvnigeyona daquadoa Missouri digegv.
I'm a 35 year old husband, father of three boys (1 boy and a set of twin boys). My blood heritage is that of a combination of Highland Scots and Lowland Scots tribesman, although I do tan pretty good if I work hard on it. When I was 2 years old, I was adopted by a woman who named me Small Bear (usdi yona), and explained that she was Cherokee, as was her mother and her grandmother. I've traced that part of the family back as far as I can, but there are complications.
Because of my unique situation, I have experienced a considerable amount of racism and anger coming from people who call themselves Natives. They tell me I can't be Cherokee because I'm white and adoption doesn't count. I've also been told that my ancestors were responsible for the suffering and problems of the Cherokee and other tribes, and therefore it would be an insult and disgrace for me to call myself Cherokee. I've been told I have no tribe and cannot claim one, even though my mother told me she was Blackfoot Cherokee. I want to make something perfectly clear, however. I am not looking for approval. I am not searching for an identity to latch onto. I have my cultures that are my roots and nobody can take that from me no matter how much they talk about blood percentages, rolls, or federal recognition.
My English name is Kevin, which has its roots going back to England and Scotland. My ancestors can be traced back to the Ogilvy and Douglas clans. I certainly look like them as well. I'm 5' 10 and tip the scales at 257. I'm a US Army veteran, former powerlifter, and played sports most of my entire life. I have a strong competitive spirit to me as well as a deep respect for my roots. I've studied Scottish history and am in the process of learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipes and am making very good progress.
But I also acknowledge and honor the Cherokee connection through my mother, who took me in as her own and raised me, cared for me, provided for me, and loved me, until her death two weeks before Christmas when I was only 17. To that end, I have begun to practice the old Cherokee traditions. I am taking classes to learn the Cherokee language and doing well. I study the Cherokee history, culture, and even wear a gift that was given to me when I was 5 - a Thunderbird seed bead necklace using all four of the sacred colors, with the tassels being the colors of the Western Band Cherokee Nation flag. The necklace is 30 years old and still looks almost brand new.
It is my hope that I will be able to meet other people of the Cherokee Nation online, because there are so few in this area and the ones that are do not have any kind of meetings, pow wows, or other gatherings. I understand that if I were to claim a clan, it would have to be the Long Hair Clan, "Strangers" subclan, as I am adopted, but I really don't care about all that. My parents showed me that family is more than blood. In the great tradition of the Scots Tribesman, anyone could be a Scot Clansman as long as they swore loyalty to the clan and lived accordingly. By the same right, what I believe makes someone Cherokee isn't their blood percentage, or their card, or any name on any roll. The division and self-destructiveness that I've seen among the Cherokee absolutely breaks my heart, as it seems that Native Americans are dead set on finishing the job of extinction that the US government began so long ago. It is my hope that people will come together in the true spirit of the Cherokee, which is a spirit of acceptance, kindness, and selflessness, to carry on the true traditions of the Cherokee which should never fade from this earth. But there is a lot of work to do because so much of the identity of the Cherokee has been lost and so many claim some divine blood right to be Cherokee but know little to nothing about the culture other than the inaccuracies of Hollywood and TV.
Now, as an adult, my name is Gvnigeyona (Black Bear), as I have now grown up, was a professional soldier, advocate for the oppressed, and as well a proud Scotsman (the American Black Bear was highly revered among the Highlander Regiments stationed in the US) and there is even an excellent traditional Scottish bagpipe song named The Black Bear which I can play. My wife has Cherokee blood, as well as Scot blood, and so our three boys are Cherokee and Scots. God save us.
It is a great pleasure to be here with all of you on this wonderful journey of sharing our culture and history so that we can pass it on in the true spirit of the Cherokee way to our children. Such a proud people cannot be allowed to fade away, and I'm proud to say I AM TSALAGI!
Osda sunalei dodadagohvi
Tsi Tsalagi Gvnigeyona daquadoa Missouri digegv.
I'm a 35 year old husband, father of three boys (1 boy and a set of twin boys). My blood heritage is that of a combination of Highland Scots and Lowland Scots tribesman, although I do tan pretty good if I work hard on it. When I was 2 years old, I was adopted by a woman who named me Small Bear (usdi yona), and explained that she was Cherokee, as was her mother and her grandmother. I've traced that part of the family back as far as I can, but there are complications.
Because of my unique situation, I have experienced a considerable amount of racism and anger coming from people who call themselves Natives. They tell me I can't be Cherokee because I'm white and adoption doesn't count. I've also been told that my ancestors were responsible for the suffering and problems of the Cherokee and other tribes, and therefore it would be an insult and disgrace for me to call myself Cherokee. I've been told I have no tribe and cannot claim one, even though my mother told me she was Blackfoot Cherokee. I want to make something perfectly clear, however. I am not looking for approval. I am not searching for an identity to latch onto. I have my cultures that are my roots and nobody can take that from me no matter how much they talk about blood percentages, rolls, or federal recognition.
My English name is Kevin, which has its roots going back to England and Scotland. My ancestors can be traced back to the Ogilvy and Douglas clans. I certainly look like them as well. I'm 5' 10 and tip the scales at 257. I'm a US Army veteran, former powerlifter, and played sports most of my entire life. I have a strong competitive spirit to me as well as a deep respect for my roots. I've studied Scottish history and am in the process of learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipes and am making very good progress.
But I also acknowledge and honor the Cherokee connection through my mother, who took me in as her own and raised me, cared for me, provided for me, and loved me, until her death two weeks before Christmas when I was only 17. To that end, I have begun to practice the old Cherokee traditions. I am taking classes to learn the Cherokee language and doing well. I study the Cherokee history, culture, and even wear a gift that was given to me when I was 5 - a Thunderbird seed bead necklace using all four of the sacred colors, with the tassels being the colors of the Western Band Cherokee Nation flag. The necklace is 30 years old and still looks almost brand new.
It is my hope that I will be able to meet other people of the Cherokee Nation online, because there are so few in this area and the ones that are do not have any kind of meetings, pow wows, or other gatherings. I understand that if I were to claim a clan, it would have to be the Long Hair Clan, "Strangers" subclan, as I am adopted, but I really don't care about all that. My parents showed me that family is more than blood. In the great tradition of the Scots Tribesman, anyone could be a Scot Clansman as long as they swore loyalty to the clan and lived accordingly. By the same right, what I believe makes someone Cherokee isn't their blood percentage, or their card, or any name on any roll. The division and self-destructiveness that I've seen among the Cherokee absolutely breaks my heart, as it seems that Native Americans are dead set on finishing the job of extinction that the US government began so long ago. It is my hope that people will come together in the true spirit of the Cherokee, which is a spirit of acceptance, kindness, and selflessness, to carry on the true traditions of the Cherokee which should never fade from this earth. But there is a lot of work to do because so much of the identity of the Cherokee has been lost and so many claim some divine blood right to be Cherokee but know little to nothing about the culture other than the inaccuracies of Hollywood and TV.
Now, as an adult, my name is Gvnigeyona (Black Bear), as I have now grown up, was a professional soldier, advocate for the oppressed, and as well a proud Scotsman (the American Black Bear was highly revered among the Highlander Regiments stationed in the US) and there is even an excellent traditional Scottish bagpipe song named The Black Bear which I can play. My wife has Cherokee blood, as well as Scot blood, and so our three boys are Cherokee and Scots. God save us.
It is a great pleasure to be here with all of you on this wonderful journey of sharing our culture and history so that we can pass it on in the true spirit of the Cherokee way to our children. Such a proud people cannot be allowed to fade away, and I'm proud to say I AM TSALAGI!
Osda sunalei dodadagohvi