Cherokee Native Americans and Their Descendents - Descendants
The following post was on the CHEROKEE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEIR DESCENDENTS post on Facebook. We thought it was worth sharing. If you have thoughts or comments, feel free to email those to: northerncherokeenation@gmail.com.
-- The Northern Cherokee Nation
Some Folks Ask About This, so here goes:
ARE YOU AN UNDOCUMENTED, DISENFRANCHISED CHEROKEE?
It has long been prophesied by our elders and ancestors, that the return of the Buffalo, the new century and seven generations would bring forth many people of Cherokee blood that want to rejoin the heritage that had been hidden from them.
Hidden from them because of the fear left from the 1800's when the white man persecuted our people. These people coming forth now, maybe with just a drop of Cherokee blood, have been given the spark by the Creator to return to the Cherokee white path, to learn of their ancestors, of our old ways, and some may want to help in bringing back our history, customs, ceremonies, stories and language, or even to recognize and practice those old ways.
I now this prophesy is true as I was in the supermarket last week and they now have Buffalo at the meat counter.
However, heart warming and proud as they may feel about those of them /us who are on this path, there are still others who reject them /us. People who have appointed themselves above everyone else and say they are the Cherokee "Experts," and say that they are the real recognized Indians and that we are not.
They say, we are considered and called a "Wannabe," or a "Twinkie" by them. These people who claim they have the knowledge concerning our ancestor's and past are the ones who are quick to point the finger at others and accuse us of being a fraud. If our old traditions were the knowledge they hold, then they would know that to judge and call down another, or by even having bad thoughts against another is against the old way of teachings. It is wrongful and is also known as bad witchcraft to talk against another and to put them below you.
When it comes to being a Cherokee or not, it does not matter how much Cherokee blood you have, it is that you DO have even a single drop and that you wish to live your life as a Cherokee. This is the old way!
Why then do these "Experts" degrade those of less blood or those who cannot prove their Cherokee heritage?
In their opinion it simply comes down to selfish greed and / or the desire for money. Money from the same government that tried to exterminate and genocide our ancestor’s some two hundreds years ago.
They say, that some of theirs and our cousins think that they are trying to steal their money or government benefits away from them. Or at least dilute their power bases.
So, in unwarranted defense, they strike back and call them /us a fraud. This is a mind-set that has been instilled in their /our cousins over the last 190 years, by this same government who tried to destroy us as a people. They wanted to eliminate us altogether, and to assimilate us into another race. That did not work, but they did create a mixed blood race, which has caused a separation between us, that may never allow us to come back together, or at least cause it hard to reunite with our recognized cousins.
But these Cherokee people coming back to the way are strong, They say, that they /we are the descendents of the survivors and They won't give up. All they want is to be accepted, recognized by their own, not by the government. They just want to assist in gaining the benefits for their cousins, not to steal those benefits. Most of them could care less if they are recognized by the United States Government, or by any State organized unit, or to be a member of one of the recognized tribes, either. They say, no...we just want to be accepted for who they are, your brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers, they and we are all your relations. All Cherokee, despite how much blood they have, so know that we are all related, and to gain anything for our people we must unify, and not continue to be divided.
Call the Cherokee people wanting to return to the white path, "Returning Cherokee," "Disenfranchised Cherokee," or "Un-recognized Cherokees," but do not call them "Wannabes'" or "frauds."
Do not look down on them or talk about them behind their backs. Don't sneer, giggle or laugh at us.
Do not refuse to talk to them if they speak to you in a respectful way.
Give these Cherokee people the same respect they are offering to you.
These Cherokee People coming back to the ways of their heritage, which will not let anyone deny them from being who they are, they do not apologize to anyone on the quantum of their blood, or the color of their skin, hair or eyes and will let no one deny them the pride and privilege of being a Cherokee.
"The Creator gave no man the power to say who any other man can or cannot be".
It should also be recognized that these undocumented Cherokee, might also be the descendants of the Cherokee people who fought against the white man, the Cherokee people who refused to be placed in reservations. The Cherokee people who hid out in the hills from the white man and kept themselves "free." These Cherokee felt that they had held to their belief of freedom and did not give in or sell out to the white mans government. These were the Cherokee who felt that they were the true Cherokee, the true warriors for our freedom. These people went through a lot to keep hidden from the white man and to be safe from removal. They had to change their names and / or take on the names of non-Indians. They kept no records so that they could not be traced. All family history was by word of mouth. Soon, not even verbal history was spoken under fear of imprisonment.
So our/ their ancestors had to hide their pride. It became so bad that soon no one spoke of their heritage and unfortunately, some younger family members were not told of their heritage just so they would be kept safe.
Theirs, Our ancestors gave up a lot, just to be free. During and after the removal of the people, times became very hard.
So the government devised yet another way to assist in the extermination of the Indians. The government offered those Indian people their own plots of land and also gave them up to $5,000.00 in cash so that they could live and farm their own lands. They even offered them slaves. But this was not without a catch. To do this, the government required these families to denounce their Indian citizenship and heritage and to never speak of it again. The government wanted these Indians to live as whites and because times were so hard for these people, many accepted the offer.
In any of the cases mentioned above, they would have never thought that one day their descendants would return to their heritage and find that we could not trace their families because of the secrets.
Today, because of that, some of their descendants cannot find a history of their family, or it is hard to find the pieces of their puzzle.. So they cannot prove, by the white man's government standards, that they are Cherokee. Their ancestors never thought that they would have to prove to anyone who they were.
Does anyone have the right to put these people down because their ancestors were the warriors who fought against being a prisoner of the white man?
No! Actually it should be quite the opposite. We as a people are our own worst enemies. As long as we continue to separate ourselves, and have divisions between us, and do not acknowledge our other Cherokee people, we will never be united really. So until we are united we have not become ONE people and we will continue to lose the strength that we should have as one people. Until this in fact happens, we will never fulfill what the Creator has taught us.
So they say; stand-up, be proud of who you are. Tell everyone that you are a Cherokee Indian and proud to be.
Make sure you fill out job applications stating who you are; an American Indian or Native American.
Join a disenfranchised Cherokee band or community organization in your state.
We all need to make a promise as Cherokee, to learn the Cherokee traditions, stories and the language and each day, choose a time to practice telling these stories or speaking our language, especially if one doesn't know it. Because it is up to us to keep our heritage alive, as one or as a whole, a family, and a people.
Our Cherokee people have a very rich heritage, and very rich part of America’s history, which continues today; show your pride in that history.
Make your ancestors proud to know you are proud to be their relations..
Do not allow anyone to take away your birthright. Stand up and be proud of who you are...you will not stand-alone!
The following post was on the CHEROKEE NATIVE AMERICANS AND THEIR DESCENDENTS post on Facebook. We thought it was worth sharing. If you have thoughts or comments, feel free to email those to: northerncherokeenation@gmail.com.
-- The Northern Cherokee Nation
Some Folks Ask About This, so here goes:
ARE YOU AN UNDOCUMENTED, DISENFRANCHISED CHEROKEE?
It has long been prophesied by our elders and ancestors, that the return of the Buffalo, the new century and seven generations would bring forth many people of Cherokee blood that want to rejoin the heritage that had been hidden from them.
Hidden from them because of the fear left from the 1800's when the white man persecuted our people. These people coming forth now, maybe with just a drop of Cherokee blood, have been given the spark by the Creator to return to the Cherokee white path, to learn of their ancestors, of our old ways, and some may want to help in bringing back our history, customs, ceremonies, stories and language, or even to recognize and practice those old ways.
I now this prophesy is true as I was in the supermarket last week and they now have Buffalo at the meat counter.
However, heart warming and proud as they may feel about those of them /us who are on this path, there are still others who reject them /us. People who have appointed themselves above everyone else and say they are the Cherokee "Experts," and say that they are the real recognized Indians and that we are not.
They say, we are considered and called a "Wannabe," or a "Twinkie" by them. These people who claim they have the knowledge concerning our ancestor's and past are the ones who are quick to point the finger at others and accuse us of being a fraud. If our old traditions were the knowledge they hold, then they would know that to judge and call down another, or by even having bad thoughts against another is against the old way of teachings. It is wrongful and is also known as bad witchcraft to talk against another and to put them below you.
When it comes to being a Cherokee or not, it does not matter how much Cherokee blood you have, it is that you DO have even a single drop and that you wish to live your life as a Cherokee. This is the old way!
Why then do these "Experts" degrade those of less blood or those who cannot prove their Cherokee heritage?
In their opinion it simply comes down to selfish greed and / or the desire for money. Money from the same government that tried to exterminate and genocide our ancestor’s some two hundreds years ago.
They say, that some of theirs and our cousins think that they are trying to steal their money or government benefits away from them. Or at least dilute their power bases.
So, in unwarranted defense, they strike back and call them /us a fraud. This is a mind-set that has been instilled in their /our cousins over the last 190 years, by this same government who tried to destroy us as a people. They wanted to eliminate us altogether, and to assimilate us into another race. That did not work, but they did create a mixed blood race, which has caused a separation between us, that may never allow us to come back together, or at least cause it hard to reunite with our recognized cousins.
But these Cherokee people coming back to the way are strong, They say, that they /we are the descendents of the survivors and They won't give up. All they want is to be accepted, recognized by their own, not by the government. They just want to assist in gaining the benefits for their cousins, not to steal those benefits. Most of them could care less if they are recognized by the United States Government, or by any State organized unit, or to be a member of one of the recognized tribes, either. They say, no...we just want to be accepted for who they are, your brothers and sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandfathers and grandmothers, they and we are all your relations. All Cherokee, despite how much blood they have, so know that we are all related, and to gain anything for our people we must unify, and not continue to be divided.
Call the Cherokee people wanting to return to the white path, "Returning Cherokee," "Disenfranchised Cherokee," or "Un-recognized Cherokees," but do not call them "Wannabes'" or "frauds."
Do not look down on them or talk about them behind their backs. Don't sneer, giggle or laugh at us.
Do not refuse to talk to them if they speak to you in a respectful way.
Give these Cherokee people the same respect they are offering to you.
These Cherokee People coming back to the ways of their heritage, which will not let anyone deny them from being who they are, they do not apologize to anyone on the quantum of their blood, or the color of their skin, hair or eyes and will let no one deny them the pride and privilege of being a Cherokee.
"The Creator gave no man the power to say who any other man can or cannot be".
It should also be recognized that these undocumented Cherokee, might also be the descendants of the Cherokee people who fought against the white man, the Cherokee people who refused to be placed in reservations. The Cherokee people who hid out in the hills from the white man and kept themselves "free." These Cherokee felt that they had held to their belief of freedom and did not give in or sell out to the white mans government. These were the Cherokee who felt that they were the true Cherokee, the true warriors for our freedom. These people went through a lot to keep hidden from the white man and to be safe from removal. They had to change their names and / or take on the names of non-Indians. They kept no records so that they could not be traced. All family history was by word of mouth. Soon, not even verbal history was spoken under fear of imprisonment.
So our/ their ancestors had to hide their pride. It became so bad that soon no one spoke of their heritage and unfortunately, some younger family members were not told of their heritage just so they would be kept safe.
Theirs, Our ancestors gave up a lot, just to be free. During and after the removal of the people, times became very hard.
So the government devised yet another way to assist in the extermination of the Indians. The government offered those Indian people their own plots of land and also gave them up to $5,000.00 in cash so that they could live and farm their own lands. They even offered them slaves. But this was not without a catch. To do this, the government required these families to denounce their Indian citizenship and heritage and to never speak of it again. The government wanted these Indians to live as whites and because times were so hard for these people, many accepted the offer.
In any of the cases mentioned above, they would have never thought that one day their descendants would return to their heritage and find that we could not trace their families because of the secrets.
Today, because of that, some of their descendants cannot find a history of their family, or it is hard to find the pieces of their puzzle.. So they cannot prove, by the white man's government standards, that they are Cherokee. Their ancestors never thought that they would have to prove to anyone who they were.
Does anyone have the right to put these people down because their ancestors were the warriors who fought against being a prisoner of the white man?
No! Actually it should be quite the opposite. We as a people are our own worst enemies. As long as we continue to separate ourselves, and have divisions between us, and do not acknowledge our other Cherokee people, we will never be united really. So until we are united we have not become ONE people and we will continue to lose the strength that we should have as one people. Until this in fact happens, we will never fulfill what the Creator has taught us.
So they say; stand-up, be proud of who you are. Tell everyone that you are a Cherokee Indian and proud to be.
Make sure you fill out job applications stating who you are; an American Indian or Native American.
Join a disenfranchised Cherokee band or community organization in your state.
We all need to make a promise as Cherokee, to learn the Cherokee traditions, stories and the language and each day, choose a time to practice telling these stories or speaking our language, especially if one doesn't know it. Because it is up to us to keep our heritage alive, as one or as a whole, a family, and a people.
Our Cherokee people have a very rich heritage, and very rich part of America’s history, which continues today; show your pride in that history.
Make your ancestors proud to know you are proud to be their relations..
Do not allow anyone to take away your birthright. Stand up and be proud of who you are...you will not stand-alone!
POW WOW / CULTURAL GATHERING TIME
A Hot Success, June 17-19
* A Letter from the Chief *
Another POW WOW! I’m so tired I must go back to work to rest up. I am sure many others feel the same way, after three-plus days of 100-degree heat and Missouri humidity. But on the plus side, no rain!
We also had other events in the area and of course it was Father’s Day and still a good POWWOW. It helps a lot when you have the best Drum in the Midwest. HOST DRUM: WHISKEY CREEK
MC; Carrie Smith
HEAD GOURD DANCER: Jim Binkley
HEAD MAN DANCER: Jason Thigpen
HEAD LADY DANCER,
Ianuquan Lone White Eagle
Thanks to Joe Woodall, Roscoe, and the rest of the drum.
Equa Wado, to Twila Hawkins and everybody who donated to our auction. We had some great items from our vendors. Wado to Mike Wandering Wolf, Tina Two Horses, and everyone else who worked and stood out in the hot sun to make our auction a success.
Many Wados to Guner and Hunter Cornelison for their nonstop hard work. First class young men from a first-class family.
Before I continue, I would like to thank my Deputy Chief for all his hard work long before the powwow in getting our grounds ready. White Crow spent many long hours on ground preparations. (Remember the rain last year).
Wado to our Marshall, Tony Running Wolf and all your deputies for making sure we were all safe.
If I thanked 40 or 50 Tribal Citizens, I would still miss a few, so Wado a Hundred times over. Oh, just one more thing. Our Kitchen Staff, first my wife, Mrs. Chief (or Busy Red Bird) Jane Buffalo Sister, Cindy Little Bear and a special thanks to Michelle Mockingbird for helping to get the fry bread ready Saturday morning (while Buffalo Sister was working with the Chief) you were a life saver! Tons of thanks to all our awesome vendors and of course, you the audience, who braved the heat and made this another success
Until next year, Wado to all!
Kenn Grey Elk
Chief NCN
We also had other events in the area and of course it was Father’s Day and still a good POWWOW. It helps a lot when you have the best Drum in the Midwest. HOST DRUM: WHISKEY CREEK
MC; Carrie Smith
HEAD GOURD DANCER: Jim Binkley
HEAD MAN DANCER: Jason Thigpen
HEAD LADY DANCER,
Ianuquan Lone White Eagle
Thanks to Joe Woodall, Roscoe, and the rest of the drum.
Equa Wado, to Twila Hawkins and everybody who donated to our auction. We had some great items from our vendors. Wado to Mike Wandering Wolf, Tina Two Horses, and everyone else who worked and stood out in the hot sun to make our auction a success.
Many Wados to Guner and Hunter Cornelison for their nonstop hard work. First class young men from a first-class family.
Before I continue, I would like to thank my Deputy Chief for all his hard work long before the powwow in getting our grounds ready. White Crow spent many long hours on ground preparations. (Remember the rain last year).
Wado to our Marshall, Tony Running Wolf and all your deputies for making sure we were all safe.
If I thanked 40 or 50 Tribal Citizens, I would still miss a few, so Wado a Hundred times over. Oh, just one more thing. Our Kitchen Staff, first my wife, Mrs. Chief (or Busy Red Bird) Jane Buffalo Sister, Cindy Little Bear and a special thanks to Michelle Mockingbird for helping to get the fry bread ready Saturday morning (while Buffalo Sister was working with the Chief) you were a life saver! Tons of thanks to all our awesome vendors and of course, you the audience, who braved the heat and made this another success
Until next year, Wado to all!
Kenn Grey Elk
Chief NCN
Click Flyer to download a printable copy.
FOURTH OF JULY PARADE COMING UP
CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS COMING SOON
CHECK BACK FOR DETAILS COMING SOON
SUPPORT OUR NATION
Please consider a donation to the Northern Cherokee Nation. Make a donation through our PayPal button on our website, northerncherokeenation.com or mail your welcomed check(s) to Northern Cherokee Nation, P. O. Box 413, Cuba, Missouri 65453. We also accept Staples gift cards and Wal-Mart gift cards. Feel free to call anytime at 660-885-7779. Remember this is your tribe, we do not receive state or federal funding, we are a 501c3 not for profit. We depend on your help.
Also support our Northern Cherokee Nation with the latest information about you. If you are newly married, had a name or address change, let us know. Please update your email addresses, mailing address, marriages, name changes, and family deaths. Send updates to northerncherokeenation@gmail.com or call the tribal office.
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SCHEDULES, DATE CHANGES, CALENDAR: Our webpage has a complete listing meeting dates and times. Our Facebook page also shares the schedule of our events and activities. When all else fails, call the tribal headquarters in Clinton at 660-885-7779, Monday thru Fridays. Please remember Buffalo Sister is an UNPAID volunteer so she may not be there every day. Leave a message and return phone number and she will call you back.
BE PROUD TO SUPPORT YOUR NORTHERN CHEROKEE NATION!
The Northern Cherokee Nation always appreciates your support.
If you'd like to become a supporter, PayPal is available for your convenience to make
your generous tax-deductible donations to the Northern Cherokee Nation.
Remember, the Northern Cherokee Nation is a 501c3.
This is a secure and easy way to donate and help your tribe.
The Northern Cherokee Nation always appreciates your support.
If you'd like to become a supporter, PayPal is available for your convenience to make
your generous tax-deductible donations to the Northern Cherokee Nation.
Remember, the Northern Cherokee Nation is a 501c3.
This is a secure and easy way to donate and help your tribe.
ONLY AFTER ALL THE TREES ARE CUT,
AFTER ALL THE GAME IS KILLED,
ONLY AFTER ALL THE STREAMS ARE POISONED,
ONLY THEN WILL WHITE MEN REALIZE THEY CAN'T EAT MONEY.
AFTER ALL THE GAME IS KILLED,
ONLY AFTER ALL THE STREAMS ARE POISONED,
ONLY THEN WILL WHITE MEN REALIZE THEY CAN'T EAT MONEY.
REMEMBERING OUR PAST
PRESERVING OUR CULTURE
PLANNING OUR DESTINY
PRESERVING OUR CULTURE
PLANNING OUR DESTINY
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Kelsey "Earth Healer" Gaines kelseygaines@outlook.com |
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Keith "Buffalo Healer" Dobbs ktdobbs@msn.com |
