Mountain Lion

I attended my first pow-wow today and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I really felt like an outsider. I am 1/4th native blood but know absolutely nothing about my ancestry other than a last name and a tribe (remember, it wasn't cool to be NDN back in those days!) I really want to learn more about everything - from ceremonies to songs and dances and stories. How does one "reconnect" to their heritage?

Dweick

I can't speak for anyone else,
but I started finding powwows about 5 or so years ago.
I am adopted but always new I Was Native american.
it was a long search for tribal affilitation and biological background.
so that outsider feeling I know where you are comming from.
Raised in the white world. it was hard to figure out traditions and info about history. ( my adopted parents never new how to teach me anything.
I love the Traditional powwows they always have some tidbits of explanation of Dances, and some customs and the origins of thier beginning.
this year My daughter and I are attending at least one a month as our schedules allow for travel etc.
Go to as many powwows that you can. and watch and listen to everthing going on.
Some places you can pick up books ( I mean good books) about history and things of the past. ( up in the Uper penninsula of MI there is a book store I love to go to and try pick up somthing every year.) check out your region and see if there are any around.
you will have to comparison shop becasue some books may turn out to be a glorified story of untruth.
It will be a continued learning process as you go along on your path.
but look here in the calender for the next powwow near where you can get to and go as often as you can.
it is a great experience and a way to meet others with your same situation.
many of us outside of the circle watching are there to learn more too.
Welcome and check out this site its is huge.
and has many links aboud to steer you all over.

Dweick

I havge felt that outsider thing you speak of myself,
My family and I havew been attending powwows now for about 5 or so years.
I was adopted at birth and raised in a white world so it took alot of time to find my biological background, and tribal affiliation.

the traditional powwows I love best.
there are always tidbits of history and origan of traditions or what the dances represent Etc.
somtimes poeple talk to us and we connect for a few moments.
I am starting to recignize other people from various powwows. and the same in return

My best advice is to watch and listen to all going on.
and go often.
as you go more the songs and dances will come more familular to you.
you would be suprized but there are many of us there at powwows in attendance watching and learning just like you.
you are not alone in this feeling.
I hope this helps you
now go check out the calender for the next powwow near you and make plans to go.


much can be learned from observance.

Ron S

The best way to reconnect is to contact tribal elders. I see that you are Cherokee, but you don't give your location. Perhaps if you disclose your location, someone will be able to point you to the right people. Best wishes.
Ron

WhoMe

That's an interesting comment.

My grandparents were proud of being Indian no matter what odds were against them. They kept their heads up high no matter what. They instilled this pride in their children and grandchildren.

Depending on what tribe you are, you can start with being accepted by you relatives from your tribe.

Once they accept you, THEY will help you reconnect.

__________________
"Today, recognizing and respecting the origins of powwow aids in our Cultural Survival. If enough people break the rules because they are not satisfied...."We will have no culture."

WhoMe

Swampfox

Mountain lion,

It's good to hear that you enjoyed your first powwow. You are very lucky to know which Tribe you carry blood from. I would look them up and make contact with them in the proper manner. But first, I would highly recommend that you look on this site at the General category of Community under Native News and Issues for Preserving History. Follow the thread because there are 2 excellent posts of what to do and how to correctly approach Elders. It's good enough to copy down and keep in a Journal.

Enjoy the journey!

Mountain Lion

Hello,

I wish my relatives were able to carry their heads high when it came to their heritage, but I believe they changed their names and such to avoid persecution. Unfortunately, none of them are still living to be able to teach me anything I want to know. The knowledge seems to have faded considerably from generation to generation.

Swampfox

Mountain Lion,

My family is much the same on both sides. Dad's side must have jumped off the Trail in TN because they didn't want anyone to know they were Indian, told the grandkids stories at a young age as well as keep it secret.
Barely knew extended members of the old family. We are reconnecting now 2 and 3 generations later. The Elders of the Tribes will be able to teach you, your sons and daughters a great deal if you ask them in the proper manner. Go to the Powwows and ask the ways. You'll see.

Mountain Lion

How do I find these people? What is the proper way to ask them? I'm starting with a base of practically nothing and growing from there.

Swampfox

Mountain LIon,
First, look at my earlier message in this thread and go to that thread, copy the information given of how to approach Elders properly. You should not just go charging in on them, you do it with respect and reverence, not impatience. Those things are not of the Spirit.

You know your tribe - do a Google search. Find out where they are. Do you know any relatives who have continued their connection with the tribe?

Think of it as a fishing trip. You don't just go to the water and say, "Hey Fish! Jump in my pocket!" You have to prepare the right offering for the fish, quiet yourself, listen to the wind, and put the offering out there without expectation of any kind - who knows, the fish could all be upstream from you attending school. And, don't be disappointed... eventually it will happen. Just keep going. Keep watching and listening.

Grey_Wolf

Mountain Lion, I completely understand what you're going through. I'm still very young and I'm trying to conect with my Indian ancestry. My great-grandparents also gave up their Indian identities to escape persecution and much of the culture and many of the old ways were lost when they did this. I wish you the best of luck with what you're doing.

Grey_Wolf

they_drag_him

Which means that your ancestors did not have the ability to fight and persevere. They should've sacrificed their whiteness which they embraced fully.

musicedu77

for some ppl they honestly could care less about the blood quantem. its more how you carry yourself...was it a powwow in the OK cherokee rez?cuz if you were attending a powwow on the rez you are going to feel like an outsider because ppl dont know you just yet and many ppl on the rez give them time to know you..being accepted among your community is hard because you would be considered an outsider. Give em' time. If you really wanna learn about community dances and such then visit the community your family is from and learn. Be patient. learning about your heritage isn't something that happens over night it takes years and years of learning. The more you participate in your community the better you are and the more you feel connected with your community. That is thee most imporatnt thing about being ndn. well one of the most imporatns things.

now if it was far away from the cherokee rez dont worry about it. focus on the good.