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Post by Unega Uwohali Waya Adkins on Dec 29, 2005 2:23:50 GMT -6
My great Grandmother name is Jesse Lee Wollard (before married, her original last named is "Adkins" - found last name in Cherokee root book volume I & II but her name wasn't in those books. She has 1/2 of Cherokee blood, her father is Cherokee and I think her mother is white. My Grandfather - 1/4 My mother - 1/8 And me - 1/16 but I looks more Cherokee from my great Grandmother. I have other mixed blooded from whites: 1/2 French (Cajun) from my real father who has full-blood French from Point Berry, Louisiana. less Chekhovian and Dutch from my mother.
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Post by Annie Fawn on Apr 27, 2006 15:03:00 GMT -6
I usually hate this subject. My father was full blooded Creek, my mother around half Choctaw and half Scot. Since I was put up for adoption and no one wanted a half breed baby back in the 60s I'm not on any rolls and my birth certificate list my race as OTHER. My adopted father was Choctaw/Scots and raised me in the Choctaw traditions as I try to raise my girls. My husband is 1/8th Creek but his great grandfather paid to have all his children listed as white so they would be able to vote and own property.
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Post by Unega Uwohali Waya Adkins on Apr 27, 2006 15:41:46 GMT -6
I agreed that. Sorry to heard that but glad your adoption father did real good care of you. Your mixed blood sounds fine, no problems. The most mixed blooded Indians live in U.S.A present day.
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Post by Annie Fawn on Apr 28, 2006 21:10:45 GMT -6
I was raised in both worlds so I was lucky, but it also left me dealing with a great deal of racism due to pure bloods not considering me a "Real' Native and the whites considereing me not white. The thing that really ticks me off is there are many like me who were adopted and can therefore NOT get on the rolls so we are not allowed to claim our heritage even though we are considered Native by the American laws. I get tired of pure bloods saying you have to have a BIA card to be a Native. Daddy, my adopted father danced in pow wows and made very sure my brother Soaring Hawk and I knew our heritage.
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chickendad
New Member
Tribe: Appalachian Cherokee
Posts: 4
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Post by chickendad on May 5, 2006 20:37:40 GMT -6
1/8 Cherokee from the Mountains of Virginia. Hard to trace here too. Our elders who hid in the mountains listed all new births as white because in those days in Virginia you were either white or black. Went ahead and had a DNA test for myself. Still tracking my families history. Came across one name who lived on Cherokee intermite camp in Illinoise. Ain't sure if she is related to me or not. I don't care what other think, I try to walk the path and choose to be who I am, and that is Native.
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Post by Huronwoman on May 6, 2006 12:50:56 GMT -6
Never knew my grandfather who was full blooded Huron, Father would never acknowledge it was a full bird col. in Army and looked white (many Huron do), grandmother was Irish, other grandmother was Czech and Grandfather Czech & Kiowa so I am at lease 1/4 Huron and probably 1/16 Kiowa Know grandfathers blood all the way back to Deganawidah (the Peacemaker) and founder of the Iroquois conferedacy and his words were used to write the Declartion of Independance. He made the journey back in 147? . As my skin is fair and eyes are blue (many Huron are the same) I passed as white and was treated that way until I put my foot down and demanded that people know I was Native. I was never happy in my own skin unless I was on the reservation in Canada or until I researched my lineage and was absolutely sure I was Indian I have always walked the Red Road but now I know why and I am a happy camper. We are given choices in this life and I am proud to have chosen the Red Road!!!! The people who were my friends and now treat me differently well that's THEIR problem NOT mine, I will never carry a BIA card as my Nation is not recognized in Texas but it matters not to me or to the circle I am in I am a member of the Texas Intertribal Native Agency and that's good enough for me!
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Post by Annie Fawn on May 9, 2006 19:28:19 GMT -6
Would ya'll believe that here in Ga. they don't even have Native as a choice at the DMV? My drivers license list me as other where it says race. I put up a notice about the Canton, Ga. pow wow up at our community center since a friend of ours sponsers it and many from our area attend. Someone walked into the center and saw the flyer and asked who had put it up. When told that one of the community volunteers who's Native had, they said, I didn't know there was a reservation around here. lol Thats when they were told Oh, she just lives down the road and their reply was you mean she's allowed off the reservation? I didn't think that was allowed. When I found out about it I laughted so hard I had to sit down! It's amazeing how few others actually know about our people.
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Post by Patient Frog on May 16, 2006 11:50:14 GMT -6
I am so grateful to be among others who claim their heritage even when others try to deny it, of which is truly impossible to begin with! White Eagle invited me over and after reading all your comments, I joined without hesitation. My Great Great Great Grandfather, Joseph Dumey, was left as an orphan on the Trail of Tears and having the documentation from that time in history is so hard to find and retrieve for the authorities that be. I KNOW who I am and whom I honor with my life and I am grateful to be on this journey to grow closer to my ancestors and the Great Mystery. Thank you for accepting me as I am.
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Post by Unega Uwohali Waya Adkins on May 16, 2006 19:38:14 GMT -6
You're very welcome, we can helping you. And thanks for your comment.
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Post by Dweick on Jun 13, 2006 12:47:59 GMT -6
I was born in 64, placed for adoption at birth I was later adopted by my First foster home they were a white english family ( boy did we clash daily kidding) anyway I always knew that I was Native american, I knew the name I was born with because one of my foster familes were the ones to adopt me. I thought I was Native and polish because of the name but it turned out that My Birth name came from a step Grandfather a white man that Grandma was married to when My mom was born. My mother is Native but leagally listed as half because grandma refused to give her the fathers name
My grandmother is from Wapole Island My grandfather is from issabella county they met at Indian baording school way back when My mom has 5 other siblings I have 5 other siblings I have learned that I am 1/2 Native American ( chipewa/ potawattome) and 1/2 Mexican Fathers side Have not met biological father yet. but its clear that I drive my mom nuts at times cause she says I am a lot like him. I have met all my siblings and my living aunts and uncle its been a blast seeing myself and kids in all of them its been whirlwind of emotion and magical feelings I still have trouble describing. I have been on cloud nine for almost a year now. My mom put off her native american side for a long time becuase it was the 60s and she was separated from family for years her mother died early in her life. she was faced with a second pregancy ME and had to put me up for adoption she kept the secret for years until I showed up and then she explained to all my siblings the story of me I think it was harder on them than it was for me Cause I always knew that I wasn't the first born and I wasn't the last. I am the most ethnic looking in our family next to mom And spent years trying to find my info it seemed like it would never be I have no Idea why I am so lucky to find my biological roots but its the best feeling ever I enjoy ever moment I get to spend wqith my new found family and cherish the history of the family as they love to spill the good and the bad whenever we are together I have four children three all grown 22yrs, 21yrs 18yrs they are from a previous relationship thier dad is part Native too I am married nine years to man ( white) but has gone through it all with me we have a son 9 yrs old We have been together since 93 he acepts both families and all the crazyness that goes on in our life. I am a music junkie ans work in the food service business Right now I am a manager at a pizza chain but I plan to continue my culinary schooling to obtain my chef credentials. I live breathe and thnikk foos and music all the time turns out that my father has a restaurant in the mexican community in detroit and that how my mom met him years ago it was the family business Makes alot of sence that the smells and sounds of restaurants make me feel like I am at home everytime. I have been cooking since I was ten yrs old my adoptive parents thought they were going to have a musical kid on thier hands, I played piano for seven years clarinet for 5yrs voice for 6yrs I was singing tunes before I could talk But when the time came top make a career of music I ran stright ahead to the kitchen that where I am today.
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Post by Annie Fawn on Jun 14, 2006 15:03:50 GMT -6
You manage a pizza chain? Oh, man I would weigh 500 pounds if I had your job! I adore pizza! I'm really glad you had a nice reunion with your birth mom and family, most of the time it doesn't work out that way. My adopted mother was the daughter of a gospel composer who also played back up for his friends on the piano at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. I grew up playing piano, guitar, drums, one keyboard organ, and the autoharp. With food and music I think you have all your bases covered, 1 for the body and 1 for the soul. Can't wait to get to know you better.
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Post by White Feather on Jun 14, 2006 15:05:12 GMT -6
Hi ya'll, I hope to start posting more. You all seem so nice. White Eagle tells me all about you. I am always so busy with my grandchildren and working in my big yard. I have so many plants. It's a lot of work (but I guess I really do enjoy it). I've been spending a lot of time getting information to start tracing my family tree on my paternal grandmother's side. It takes a lot of time searching. I sent off to Fort Worth for my Grandmother's death certificate. It finally came. I found that I was spelling her maiden name wrong. It is "Adkins" not Atkins. Her name is Jessie Lee Adkins. Her father's name is Thomas Hillary Adkins and her mother's name is Emma Lavenia White. Emma was born in 1869 and died in 1956. She is buried in a cemetary that is in a town called Jamestown, Texas, but the town is gone now. I belive all of the records went to Tyler, Texas, but I'm not sure. There are several Adkins listed in different "census". Like I told White Eagle, when I was very young, my grandmother always told me her grandfather was Cherokee. I want to prove it. White Eagle belives that "Adkins" came from Cherokee tribe only. See ya'll later. Wado!
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Post by Dweick on Jun 15, 2006 22:53:48 GMT -6
I have some people with the white surname in my biological background
Lenas mother Grandma Lena white, I have a picture of Lenas mother Mary white
I know how time consuming searching can be good luck IT gets sparce on recorded information the farther you go back so keep at it and have fun too. Its a great feeling everytime you uncover more info
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Post by Annie Fawn on Jun 18, 2006 12:34:43 GMT -6
The reason it is so hard to trace our cultural history and family lineage is because our people used to have family story tellers who would pass the information along by memorizeing it. Each person in the family was required to learn their families section of that history, then when the whites came we let them write it down and trusted them. The whites not wanting us but wanting our land did not keep the records but destroyed most of them and by passing out the smallpox blankets, killed off whole families who knew and kept our history. The Navajo have good records but most of the southern tribes have lost almost if not all of our records. This makes it easier for the whites not to have to give us our share of per diem ect... less BIA cards and so therefore in their eyes less Natives to have to deal with. Change is coming slowly, but it is coming.
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Post by swampfox on Aug 15, 2006 10:06:58 GMT -6
My Dad's cousin and I are searching the Tucker line in TN for our connection. My Dad's Grandma and her Grandma were sisiters. Her Gran received a letter from the Gov't telling her to fill out the papers and get them in by a certain date. She was scared and didn't put them in until past the deadline so she was sent a denial. She didn't speak of it again. Turns out that this might be part of the Cherokee vs U.S. Govt lawsuit in 1910... where there were affidavits. These affidavits have been collected into books. Saw them on www.fyrelightbooks.com but my cousin remembers seeing them in a local library to her in KY. The affidavits, I'm told by the Firelight Bookseller, Debbie, read like a family lineage chart. If Cherokee you might want to get a copy of one of the books or use your libraries Inter LIbrary Loan system. I can't wait to see one! Swampfox/Jen
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Post by Huronwoman on Aug 15, 2006 15:43:31 GMT -6
Swampfox: Glad you are enjoying your search, it can be very interesting. Also happy to have more Cherokee here on the boards, Thank you for your wonderful information thank may be helpful to others as well! Wado I love your Avatar, I have a print of him in my bedroom!
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mikedart
Junior Member
Tribal Affiliation: Cherokee
Posts: 8
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Post by mikedart on Sept 19, 2006 6:05:22 GMT -6
Hey everyone, I am new. Found the link to this site through www.cherokee-online-comAnyway, I just wanted to say something here, and maybe I am out of line. I wish only to encourage, and hope I do not offend. I am an enrolled tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. I live in a large Cherokee community just north of the town of Stilwell, OK right in the heart of the Cherokee nation. All that beign said, Traditionally, blood quantum was not an issue with us. Blood quantum is a white man's invention to cause division among the Native Americans, and to ultimatly destroy the Native Americans. There is nothing "traditional" about blood quantum. That being said, I go to the Ceremonial Gorunds quite often. If you were to go around there saying that you are "part Cherokee" the elders will more than likely laugh at you, and say something like "Well, what part of you is Cherokee, your nose?" Among the traditional Cherokees you either are Cherokee or you aint. That being said, there is a group of Cherokee here in OK who require that you be at least 1/4 Cherokee. They claim that they are the "Traditional Cherokee". Well, they are not "traditional" because there is nothing traditional about blood quantum, or excluding people. And just for the record, the blood quantum on my CDIB card says 9/16 which averages out to be a little more than half. My dad was full blood and my mom is 1/8. Here is my web address if you care to take a look. I am an artist. I specialize in Cherokee basketry. www.gatlida.orgKi-la (later), mike
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Post by indian-heart-beat on Sept 19, 2006 7:19:12 GMT -6
Well, I am a bit sad...the only proof I got is this... This is an outtake of a family picture, taken in Germany. My Ggrandfather accompanied settlers to the US, fell in love with Maleelia---Virginia Thomas *1879, Gallup NM...but Gallup has gotten its name in 1880!!! So... They returned to Germany. She needed to be hidden because of Hitler, I have no further proof. I would love to know which tribe she belonged to. It is said (!) that on my Mother's side there was a Diné - her GGfather. He was here in Germany bacause of war. There is no proof but what is said. So again... Either I am 12.5% or 18.75%...I will never know. I thought about testing my blood, but this won't give me more info about my ancestry. I think it is more important what is in my heart and in my soul. I will never be a fullblood NDN - no way, right?
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Post by Huronwoman on Sept 20, 2006 3:57:33 GMT -6
What matters is what is in your Heart not what percentage of Indian blood you carry. One drop can put you on the red road, welcome to both of you to OUR FAMILY AHO
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Post by Patient Frog on Sept 20, 2006 8:46:28 GMT -6
Indian-Heart-Beat, I think the name you have chosen for yourself says it all! Do not worry about proof when it is your heart the moves your spirit down the path. I, too, do not have the paperwork to back up my oral history, but oral history is how our people have kept us alive anyway. Without that, we will become extinct. Keep up the oral history and live your life as your spirit and heart call you to live. This is what pleases the Great Mystery, not the quantum of your blood. Wado. Patient Frog
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Post by Unega Uwohali Waya Adkins on Sept 20, 2006 12:15:56 GMT -6
I AGREED that, Huronwoman and Patient Frog.
Thank you for correct information to her.
AHO!
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Post by indian-heart-beat on Sept 20, 2006 13:26:04 GMT -6
Thank you so much! You are very nice, friendly and without any prejudice against me. Again- thank Huronwoman, Patient Frog and White Eagle!!!
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Post by Unega Uwohali Waya Adkins on Sept 20, 2006 16:40:30 GMT -6
You're VERY welcome and I'm glad they're helping you!
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Post by indian-heart-beat on Sept 23, 2006 5:20:00 GMT -6
Hey everyone, I am new. Found the link to this site through www.cherokee-online-comAnyway, I just wanted to say something here, and maybe I am out of line. I wish only to encourage, and hope I do not offend. I am an enrolled tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. I live in a large Cherokee community just north of the town of Stilwell, OK right in the heart of the Cherokee nation. All that beign said, Traditionally, blood quantum was not an issue with us. Blood quantum is a white man's invention to cause division among the Native Americans, and to ultimatly destroy the Native Americans. There is nothing "traditional" about blood quantum. That being said, I go to the Ceremonial Gorunds quite often. If you were to go around there saying that you are "part Cherokee" the elders will more than likely laugh at you, and say something like "Well, what part of you is Cherokee, your nose?" Among the traditional Cherokees you either are Cherokee or you aint. That being said, there is a group of Cherokee here in OK who require that you be at least 1/4 Cherokee. They claim that they are the "Traditional Cherokee". Well, they are not "traditional" because there is nothing traditional about blood quantum, or excluding people. And just for the record, the blood quantum on my CDIB card says 9/16 which averages out to be a little more than half. My dad was full blood and my mom is 1/8. Here is my web address if you care to take a look. I am an artist. I specialize in Cherokee basketry. www.gatlida.orgKi-la (later), mike Hey Mike, I like your website very much- thank you for sharing all these info with us! Have a great weekend!!!
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Post by 2line on Oct 16, 2006 10:48:21 GMT -6
hi yall i sitting here reading all the post im and glad your all here.
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Post by Huronwoman on Oct 17, 2006 10:50:30 GMT -6
And WE are glad that YOU are here too! AHO ;D
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Post by bearfoot on Dec 25, 2006 18:29:07 GMT -6
I'm new to posting on this site. I am told that my Great Grandmother on my Dad's side was 100% Cherokee. My Grandmother would never admit to that, though. I have the high cheekbones that would seem to follow Grandad's take on this. I am looking to find out who this lady was. Grandad is now dead, so I can't get more info on it from him. In talking to my sister, she seems to think we might have been actually Creek (I don't care either way...just want to find out the facts). What is the best way to research history of Indian family (particularly when your family doesn't want to admit to it!!!...I hate prejudice!)?
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Post by cherosage on Jan 15, 2007 0:07:51 GMT -6
Hey there guys. I'm Cherokee on both sides of my family. My Dad was of the Osage, Shawnee, and Delaware from way back. My Mom was also descended of the Chicasaw people.
My Dad's GGGGGGGGGGGGreat, not really that many,Grandpa was a signer of the Cherokee Constitution of 1895. Not sure of too much about this Constitution. I was told that we were descended from Whanhawhashashe, Osage. I am from the Parrish family as well as the Smith, Hamilton, Littlefoot, Brown, Howard, Selby, Newland, Woolery, Manspeaker, Hixon, Hale, Snelling to name a few.
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