THE CHEROKEE Thread

[Osage_jingle]

Originally Posted by steelemagnolia63

I got one for all of you to rofl over... This nice gentleman about 60 told me recently that he was Cherokee, because his grandfather had a death bed confession of the family being Indian. I asked why do you think you are Cherokee?? This man told me that it came to him because he had always been a person who practiced, conservation, recycled and cared about the earth, tried to be kind to others and so on. Now being raised that you respect your elders, I bit my tongue for a minute or two trying not to laugh in his face and politly asked why did this make him Cherokee, not Souix, or any of the other tribes. He told me it was because he knew that only the Cherokee truly cared about the earth. This gent is sending off his money to prove that he is Cherokee by taking that DNA test, and getting someone to research his roots...
hey for his ndnnow that there is nothing that I can do to sway this man's belief that he is Cherokee. My Dad and I were talking about this and he says that it's because most people wants to be a memeber of one of the peaceful tribes, they don't want to be one of the tribes that have a reputation for being a warring tribe. I think that it's because Cherokee is the one of the first tribes that pops into their heads when they hear the word Indian, and they don't have a reputation for massacaring a lot of settlers...

My next HA...HA has to do with an Indian name... Everyone that finds out that I am Native American wants to know my NDN name, I explain that I don't have one(except for what my hubby calls me, falls over own feet), that not everyone has a 'Dances With Wolves' type name, I got tired of this and starting telling people when they wouldn't let it go that my NDN name is "Momma said, Knock you out". I know that it's not respectful but it sure shuts them up.... shhhh my secret ndn name is punch you in the head if you don't go away.... ROFLMAO

only the cherokee cared for the earth?..thatis really stupid remark by the person what do they think about ppl in different tribes who do tests on the water to detect for any types of chemicals or pulltants..so they dont care about the earth..well i ebt you looked at that man funny like eh?*lol*

hey with the ndndname ya should call him chief pain in butt*lol*

[upriver_tla]

You people have really been screwed by the American government haven't you. I'm looking at a nation who is undergoing a severe identity crisis. Up here in Canada we have several Metis orginizations who have alot of political say. Here in Manitoba for example is the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF). Metis is the term that was created since the time of Louis Riel, his generation declared themseves Metis. Metis people are the descendants of primarily Cree, Ojibway, Saulteux, and other Native affiliations. Before then they were called "mixed bloods" and "halfbreeds" and have been around since the era of the fur trade during the time of colonialization. The Metis are becoming a distinguished Nation here in Canada and as they grow so does their culture.

I suggest that all the Cherokees who worry about what fraction of Cherokee they are give themselves a new name, or perhaps the traditional Cherokee. Who cares about what your politicians and their say, all you can worry about is who you are. These are my thoughts about the issues going on there.

[steelemagnolia63]

I'm pretty sure that my mouth was hanging open and there was nothing that I could say that would sway him from his belief, so I just had to be as polite as possible and explain that there very many tribes that cared for the earth and that we are caretakers of Mother Earth and that almost all tribes believe this.

There are times that I honestly am still,after 45 years on this planet, very much surprised by peoples ignorance. Sometimes it just freaking baffles me.....

[Josiah]

Originally Posted by upriver_tla

You people have really been screwed by the American government haven't you. I'm looking at a nation who is undergoing a severe identity crisis. Up here in Canada we have several Metis organizations who have alot of political say. Here in Manitoba for example is the Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF). Metis is the term that was created since the time of Louis Riel, his generation declared themselves Metis. Metis people are the descendants of primarily Cree, Ojibway, Saulteux, and other Native affiliations. Before then they were called "mixed bloods" and "halfbreeds" and have been around since the era of the fur trade during the time of colonization. The Metis are becoming a distinguished Nation here in Canada and as they grow so does their culture.

I suggest that all the Cherokees who worry about what fraction of Cherokee they are give themselves a new name, or perhaps the traditional Cherokee. Who cares about what your politicians and their say, all you can worry about is who you are. These are my thoughts about the issues going on there.

Unfortunately its not just about political recognition but about money
So many of these so called Cherokee groups have sprung up in the last 30 years its hard to keep track
I have seen as high as 200!
What is there motivation you ask?
Most will say for Recognition in their plight....
But it don't hurt none as part of that recognition comes Federal money and the ability to join Indian Gaming!!!
Which rolls into alot of money for the people in charge of these groups
Funny thing is they have not tried to get recognition prior to the late 70's
hmmmm

[steelemagnolia63]

Josiah is right it's mostly about the money... I have seen very very few of these groups that are actually about our people....

[upriver_tla]

Then again being considered a a member of the Metis nation has its own problems out here too. Non-Natives only need to live in a Native or Metis community for about 6 or 9 months until they become considered Metis. Even without Indian blood you can be called a Metis. F***ed up. real confusing.
Oh yeah in my first post my main point was that look at how much people count themselves to see how much Indian they are. Its all just to get a paper from the government that they agree you are Native, theyre the ones asking you to count in the first place. All you can do is say for yourself that you know you are Native, and that's the most important part because Indian people cannot forget about who they are and where they come from. My next point is that there is a new nation of mixed bloods between Natives and other Ethnics, its these people who should call themselves your Metis. And the fullbooded people, oh these are overwhelming subjects.

Well with that I'm gonna leave this thread alone now. Sorry if I offended anyone, I was only expressing my opinion.

[FluteMaker]

this was a letter to the editor of the Tahlequah Daily Press Tahlequah Daily Press - CN benefits questioned



Published July 16, 2008 09:31 am - We have heard all the hoopla about the Cherokee Nation rejecting the Freedmen. Now, it seems if you aren’t dark enough, your aren’t one of them, either.

CN benefits questioned




Editor, Daily Press:


We have heard all the hoopla about the Cherokee Nation rejecting the Freedmen. Now, it seems if you aren’t dark enough, your aren’t one of them, either.

My 24-year-old son, Charles Brownell – a quarter Cherokee, according to his CDIB card – lost his job and the home he and his wife were renting. He has had to move into my home and his wife back to her parents. On my son’s first visit to the Cherokee Nation, to ask for emergency assistance, he was told he could get an assistance check and put into some short-term emergency housing until he could get another job and get back on his feet. That is all he needs – not a lifetime handout, just a hand up. He is proud to be a working man and proud to be Cherokee.

On his next visit, they told him they couldn’t help him while he was living with me in Siloam Springs, Ark. So he found three places ready to hire him in Tahlequah. Some friends in Tahlequah offered to let him stay there a short time, until he had a paycheck coming in. Well, these kind folks, who get housing assistance from Cherokee Nation, got told after a single Sunday night stay, that he’d better not be seen there overnight again or they would be out, too.

The job he started was a bust, so he had to go back to the Cherokee Nation and asked for help again. He was told there was nothing they could do for him. My son, replied, “You can’t help me, but that blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl ahead of me just now, walked out of here with a check in her hand?”

Now I – and I am sure, many other taxpayers whose dollars get handed over to them by the federal government, and Cherokees who are not seeing the kind of fair distribution of the government funds, and casino revenue that was also supposed to be distributed with fair and equal treatment among the tribe, like things used to be – are all asking why? Why are some Cherokees who are in positions of power and secrecy – knocking down $100,000-plus a year, and getting rich off the millions the casinos rake in, plus the millions in government funds – supposedly for all in the tribe, while if you are too dark, or not dark enough, or don’t have the right last name, or are not related to one of those names, you don’t rate squat?

I don’t know why the tribe puts up with it; there are more poor Cherokees than there are rich ones. Vote them out of any offices they hold and make them go out a find a real job for once, and elect tribal government that will take care of all its people fairly. I guarantee you those fat cats are not pawning their fishing poles and DVD movie collections, or their kids’ PlayStation games, for a few bucks to put gas in their tanks, and diapers on their babies. A lot of the poor ones are.

Federal assistance to the Cherokee Nation is part of treaties to aid and help all Cherokees equally, not some more than others. I knew when I saw them trying to reject the Freedmen that the too-white-looking ones were next, unless they have the right connections, last name, or relations. Tribal government has become a cross between a soap opera of who is doing what to whom, and micro-replica of our federal government, as to who is doing something similar to the rest of their own people.

If tribal politicians, who seem just like all other politicians to me, can violate their treaty with the U.S. as to the fair distribution of federal funding, and can play favorites, it is time for all federal funds to stop going to the fat cats, who keep most of it for themselves and dole out meager portions.

Help those among you in need, instead of stuffing more millions into the fat cats’ pockets. And only the Cherokees have the power to do this: Get political, attend political and tribal meetings, call for votes and referendums and special elections, and call those fat cats out on the carpet and make them answerable to you, the people of the Cherokee Nation! And if the answers aren’t honest and fair to all, vote them out on their ears.

Joe Brownell, Oklahoma landowner and proud father of a Cherokee man

Siloam Springs, Ark.

[Traditonal Lady]

Originally Posted by FluteMaker

this was a letter to the editor of the Tahlequah Daily Press Tahlequah Daily Press - CN benefits questioned



Published July 16, 2008 09:31 am - We have heard all the hoopla about the Cherokee Nation rejecting the Freedmen. Now, it seems if you aren’t dark enough, your aren’t one of them, either.

CN benefits questioned




Editor, Daily Press:


We have heard all the hoopla about the Cherokee Nation rejecting the Freedmen. Now, it seems if you aren’t dark enough, your aren’t one of them, either.

My 24-year-old son, Charles Brownell – a quarter Cherokee, according to his CDIB card – lost his job and the home he and his wife were renting. He has had to move into my home and his wife back to her parents. On my son’s first visit to the Cherokee Nation, to ask for emergency assistance, he was told he could get an assistance check and put into some short-term emergency housing until he could get another job and get back on his feet. That is all he needs – not a lifetime handout, just a hand up. He is proud to be a working man and proud to be Cherokee.

On his next visit, they told him they couldn’t help him while he was living with me in Siloam Springs, Ark. So he found three places ready to hire him in Tahlequah. Some friends in Tahlequah offered to let him stay there a short time, until he had a paycheck coming in. Well, these kind folks, who get housing assistance from Cherokee Nation, got told after a single Sunday night stay, that he’d better not be seen there overnight again or they would be out, too.

The job he started was a bust, so he had to go back to the Cherokee Nation and asked for help again. He was told there was nothing they could do for him. My son, replied, “You can’t help me, but that blue-eyed, blonde-haired girl ahead of me just now, walked out of here with a check in her hand?”

Now I – and I am sure, many other taxpayers whose dollars get handed over to them by the federal government, and Cherokees who are not seeing the kind of fair distribution of the government funds, and casino revenue that was also supposed to be distributed with fair and equal treatment among the tribe, like things used to be – are all asking why? Why are some Cherokees who are in positions of power and secrecy – knocking down $100,000-plus a year, and getting rich off the millions the casinos rake in, plus the millions in government funds – supposedly for all in the tribe, while if you are too dark, or not dark enough, or don’t have the right last name, or are not related to one of those names, you don’t rate squat?

I don’t know why the tribe puts up with it; there are more poor Cherokees than there are rich ones. Vote them out of any offices they hold and make them go out a find a real job for once, and elect tribal government that will take care of all its people fairly. I guarantee you those fat cats are not pawning their fishing poles and DVD movie collections, or their kids’ PlayStation games, for a few bucks to put gas in their tanks, and diapers on their babies. A lot of the poor ones are.

Federal assistance to the Cherokee Nation is part of treaties to aid and help all Cherokees equally, not some more than others. I knew when I saw them trying to reject the Freedmen that the too-white-looking ones were next, unless they have the right connections, last name, or relations. Tribal government has become a cross between a soap opera of who is doing what to whom, and micro-replica of our federal government, as to who is doing something similar to the rest of their own people.

If tribal politicians, who seem just like all other politicians to me, can violate their treaty with the U.S. as to the fair distribution of federal funding, and can play favorites, it is time for all federal funds to stop going to the fat cats, who keep most of it for themselves and dole out meager portions.

Help those among you in need, instead of stuffing more millions into the fat cats’ pockets. And only the Cherokees have the power to do this: Get political, attend political and tribal meetings, call for votes and referendums and special elections, and call those fat cats out on the carpet and make them answerable to you, the people of the Cherokee Nation! And if the answers aren’t honest and fair to all, vote them out on their ears.

Joe Brownell, Oklahoma landowner and proud father of a Cherokee man

Siloam Springs, Ark.

Another example of the way the Oklahoma Cherokees are "leading" the tribe! I feel that they have forgotten the old traditions completely. Especially the one that says if you are Tsalagi, you are always Tsalagi.

[neling4]

Does anyone have a link to the rolls? I could do an inter-library loan for the books, but a link would be quicker. I particularly need the rolls before 1841, which was the year my Great-Great Grandpa Taylor was married in Virginia. He was born in North Carolina and I am assuming he had left North Carolina by 1841. As he isn't listed on any of the North Carolina census records, I would like to know if he, or his family, were listed on the rolls instead.

Thanks.

[John Cornsilk]

Originally Posted by neling4

Does anyone have a link to the rolls? I could do an inter-library loan for the books, but a link would be quicker. I particularly need the rolls before 1841, which was the year my Great-Great Grandpa Taylor was married in Virginia. He was born in North Carolina and I am assuming he had left North Carolina by 1841. As he isn't listed on any of the North Carolina census records, I would like to know if he, or his family, were listed on the rolls instead.

Thanks.

This might be a good place to start:1880 Cherokee Census
John C.

[neling4]

Thanks for the link John! Do you know if the Reservation Roll listed only the heads of families, or are their children listed as well?

[Josiah]

Originally Posted by neling4

Thanks for the link John! Do you know if the Reservation Roll listed only the heads of families, or are their children listed as well?

seldom