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Post by jctenpenny on Nov 2, 2012 13:25:38 GMT -6
I get my native blood from my mother's side. It was my Grandpa who taught me to be proud that we were mixed Cherokee that I get it from. But if he ever mentioned the fact in front of my Grandma, look out because she would throw a holy fit and get royally mad at him for bringing it up. (I would do it occasionally just to push her buttons) They've been dead for over a decade now, (God rest them) and I've always wondered why was she ashamed of him for being proud of it and wanting to pass some knowledge down to his grandkids. Come to find out just this week from my great Aunt that I have mixed Choctaw-Cherokee blood from HER side but also got stories pretty much trashing the full-bloods she grew up with down the road, my cousins for marrying Indians and having native ceremonies, etc. I understand that it wasn't a "good" thing to be an Indian back then, but gimme a break! Why are these people so afraid of their own history and culture? I'm not out to change her mind or anything, but I just want her to open up a little so I can learn more about where I come from before she's gone. She's 92 and the last one alive of her siblings that knows anything about that side of the family. Anybody else ever have family members that were ashamed of their Indian blood?
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Post by TsalagiPhoenix on Nov 2, 2012 15:30:32 GMT -6
My Cherokee blood comes from my dad's family and the people on his side of the family that I've met are proud of their Indian blood. They didn't know anything about the culture, or really anything though.
My grandmother's father and aunt were from the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina. For whatever reason, they moved to Pennsylvania and I guess just pretty much left their culture and traditions back. They told their children they were Indian, but nothing else. But I haven't met anyone in my dad's family that is ashamed. Maybe my grandmother's dad and aunt were though, considering they didn't talk about it or tell their kids much.
I've never been ashamed of being Indian, but for years, I was ashamed of being white (I'm a Cherokee of a mixed-heritage) and I can tell you that it was from what people told me, such as that whites are evil and since I'm white too, that automatically makes me evil and a bunch of other stuff.
So, maybe some people are ashamed to be Indian because that is what other people taught them, to be ashamed and think they are bad, or evil, or something.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 3, 2012 9:13:57 GMT -6
I get my native blood from my mother's side. It was my Grandpa who taught me to be proud that we were mixed Cherokee that I get it from. But if he ever mentioned the fact in front of my Grandma, look out because she would throw a holy fit and get royally mad at him for bringing it up. (I would do it occasionally just to push her buttons) They've been dead for over a decade now, (God rest them) and I've always wondered why was she ashamed of him for being proud of it and wanting to pass some knowledge down to his grandkids. Come to find out just this week from my great Aunt that I have mixed Choctaw-Cherokee blood from HER side but also got stories pretty much trashing the full-bloods she grew up with down the road, my cousins for marrying Indians and having native ceremonies, etc. I understand that it wasn't a "good" thing to be an Indian back then, but gimme a break! Why are these people so afraid of their own history and culture? I'm not out to change her mind or anything, but I just want her to open up a little so I can learn more about where I come from before she's gone. She's 92 and the last one alive of her siblings that knows anything about that side of the family. Anybody else ever have family members that were ashamed of their Indian blood? I didn't find out that I had Cherokee blood until I was 35, my great aunt told me that my great,great grandmother was full-blood. When I asked her sibling about this she said she was crazy there was no indian blood in the family. She passed in 2002 so don't know anything else. I put her pic on here.....supposedly there is a pic of her with, I think, two other women but haven't seen it yet! My dad told me he remember her having dark skin. I also believe there is blood on my dad's father's side but haven't found anything about that either. The above mentioned is from my dad's mother's side. No one talks about it!
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Post by jctenpenny on Nov 3, 2012 10:10:44 GMT -6
I suppose it's just the culture and time they grew up in. It's obvious they hid the fact they were mixed blood from people. Makes it hard to get any sort of unbiased information so I can pass it down to my kids. I know they would be discriminated against for being mixed-blood from the white community. But, Tsalagiphoenix, I never even considered they may have been discriminated against by full bloods until you mentioned your situation being ashamed of being white! We should start a tribe of mixed bloods. No whites or pure blood NA's allowed! GO MUTTS! Lol.
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Post by Lone4eagle on Nov 13, 2012 18:46:25 GMT -6
The bottom line is-----which is most important, having your blood facts straight or getting the religion & traditions of your ancestors right?
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Post by jctenpenny on Nov 14, 2012 8:39:37 GMT -6
The bottom line is-----which is most important, having your blood facts straight or getting the religion & traditions of your ancestors right? I agree. I think the tribes have forgotten this. They place too much emphasis on what a gov't issued card says and not enough on what it MEANS to have that ancestry.
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Post by dnorris1 on Nov 15, 2012 18:31:28 GMT -6
My grt grandfather never talked abt his family except to those close to him. My grt grandmother on the other hand loved to talk about the family and had no porblems talking about the NA connection. from my family i dont think it was being ashamed of there heretage. I never new my grt grandfather but it is known he wanted some things to be known in the family and my grt gradn mother who i did know, encouraged it. From my genealogy research i believe its was economical. ie, they were afraid of not being able to find employment.
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Post by TsalagiPhoenix on Nov 17, 2012 20:41:50 GMT -6
I suppose it's just the culture and time they grew up in. It's obvious they hid the fact they were mixed blood from people. Makes it hard to get any sort of unbiased information so I can pass it down to my kids. I know they would be discriminated against for being mixed-blood from the white community. But, Tsalagiphoenix, I never even considered they may have been discriminated against by full bloods until you mentioned your situation being ashamed of being white! We should start a tribe of mixed bloods. No whites or pure blood NA's allowed! GO MUTTS! Lol. Yeah, I've been called a wannabe, a fake, told I have no heritage and other things. I've experienced racism due to having white skin not just from other Natives, but people of all races. I experienced it a lot when I was a teenager, being told I was automatically evil and racist just because I was white and so many other things. Usually when I tell people that I've experienced racism because of having white skin, most people don't believe me. I'm just at the point now where I don't care anymore. I am going to celebrate my heritage no matter what anyone says. But, I agree. We should start a group just for us who are of a mixed heritage. No one else but mixed bloods can join lol
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Post by mattrambles on Nov 20, 2012 19:39:30 GMT -6
If what I'm reading about spirituality is right, it is to honor your ancestors. No matter of what blood decent they come from. To not honor your ancestors is dishonor to all of your family. Maybe I am wrong but it just a thought..
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