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Greetings brothers and sisters,
I have been thinking of you all these many weeks, and am glad that I have a little time to check in on you all.
I see that many of you are living well…my heart leaps up.
I’ve been gone for so long that I could not find the thread where Linda was speaking from her heart on how the ancestors are calling to us….I wanted to throw some words to that thought.
Many things have been happening in my life, not all of them are good, not all bad….but I had occassion to think of her words. One morning, in extreme distress, I was speaking to my ancestors….I thanked them from my heart for showing me how to live. When I am confused, distressed, I remember all of their their plain living and simple words, and I humbly thank them for showing me how to live and be a good person.
Within a few hours I found a crow’s feather lying on the ground. Its funny, just a few days before, I had told my husband, that while I find many kinds of feathers, I have never in all my years found a crow feather. I felt like it was a kind of answer….and I remembered Linda’s words about how our ancestors are calling to us. I didn’t know exactly how to respond to her statement then, but I feel that she is right.
I got a great picture of my Dad holding my younger daughter when she was 3 days old……I was touched by seeing the old man again…..I had it enlarged and showed it to everyone at work. One of the people at work looked at my baby daughter and said: “who’s the half breed?”. I didn’t say anything……but it reminded me of the words of Optimistic, and Haliwagirl, and many others on this forum…..I was just so pleased to see my father’s face again, and how happy he was to be holding his granddaughter. I wondered what made this person say such things…..I felt bad. Then later I had to ask myself, “why did I feel so bad?” Its not like I didn’t know what other people think…….
Anyway, I wanted to say hello again. You are all, always with me.
warm regards,
Lynne
Hey KIddo! I have wondered where you were!
Sometimes Lynn you just have to hold your head up high!
Believe me I know what the good and bad days are like, I’ve had a fair stretch of them.
Recently I changed jobs, really for the better, the best is always yet to be given, the best stories , the best songs are still to be sung and Bill here said that there is never peace without Victory, I really remember his words when I am low, but that means when I am low I really know what high is when I get there.
People always told me to keep a stiff upper lip Tom!, but it’s always the bottom one that trembled, so when people can’t be tactfull, remember that atleast you know where the high road is and how to get there, when people and places become high maintenece and they aren’t worth the effort it’s time to move on.
Just Like today, you took the high road and chose to come and visit us at Saponi Town, I don’t get here often any more but when I do I can really relax!
Best Wish’s Lynn, from a freind on Saponi Town.
Tom.
Hi Lynne, good to see you around. I don’t remember which post you’re referring to, since it’s a subject I often broach, but thanks for remembering it and sharing the sentiment.
Hey KIddo! I have wondered where you were!
Hello Tom! Thank you for your kind words! My older daughter has gotten into some difficulty…well, a lot of difficulty…and I had to get on the overtime list to help her out. So I work about 10 to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, and sometimes 7. I’m just worn out.
Tom:
Sometimes Lynn you just have to hold your head up high!
Believe me I know what the good and bad days are like, I’ve had a fair stretch of them.
Recently I changed jobs, really for the better, the best is always yet to be given, the best stories , the best songs are still to be sung and Bill here said that there is never peace without Victory, I really remember his words when I am low, but that means when I am low I really know what high is when I get there.
Me:
I hear you. If life were one long dream without highs and lows, how could we really evaluate it?
Tom:
People always told me to keep a stiff upper lip Tom!, but it’s always the bottom one that trembled, so when people can’t be tactfull, remember that atleast you know where the high road is and how to get there, when people and places become high maintenece and they aren’t worth the effort it’s time to move on.
Me:
Only too right, Tom. It bugged me because it was about my Dad. My father was always very proud, but very private, about his Indian heritage. It just hit me with a double whammy. Of all the things that could and do bother me….I knew that I could come back here and tell this story and get complete understanding….it bugged me so much I just had to share it…..share it with people who would know just what I mean.
Tom:
Just Like today, you took the high road and chose to come and visit us at Saponi Town, I don’t get here often any more but when I do I can really relax!
Me:
I know what you mean about the ability to relax on Saponi Town. One of the best things, besides the warmth, is that you don’t have to explain the complicated stuff. Its mutually understood. I think that we all do have a lot in common.
Best Wish’s Lynn, from a freind on Saponi Town.
Thanks Tom. Its an honor to have you as friend.
Be Well,
Lynne
Linda wrote: Hi Lynne, good to see you around. I don’t remember which post you’re referring to, since it’s a subject I often broach, but thanks for remembering it and sharing the sentiment.
Good to see your face and read your words, Linda.
I know that you often broach the subject, and it is something that I have ruminated on for quite some time….living with the idea.
I guess that I just had to find the space to apply it within my own life…..but whatever my own reasons are….I believe that you are right in your assertion.
I think for me, my older daughter began the serach with her questions…and then as I missed my Dad more and more, I remembered how much it meant to him, and was an intergral part of him….and then it became an intergral part of me too. And then I would remember the fact that our ancestors tried so hard to remain intact…whatever strategies they chose, and they were many.
I think about many things that are mentioned here.
Good to see you again, Linda.
warm regards,
Lynne
Lynne!
It is so good to hear from you again. I missed you and your words–they make me think. I am glad to hear that you have found comfort from your thoughts about your family, too.
Red Metis
Red Metis wrote: Lynne!
It is so good to hear from you again. I missed you and your words–they make me think. I am glad to hear that you have found comfort from your thoughts about your family, too.
Red Metis
Thanks Red Metis…..If I can get my husband to fool around with his camera and the computer, I will post the picture of my dad and my daughter. It may be some days away…..so good to read your words!
regards,
Lynne
I would love to see them–your words about your daughter made me chuckle. When my son was born, one of the nurses was wondering if he had Down’s syndrome because of how he looked! As he got older, I’ve had sooo many people ask, did you adopt him? is he yours? is he mixed? and some plain flat out, What race is he? Is he Indian?
The last one was from a cashier in Target.
I just looked at her and nodded.
Blood will tell…if it doesn’t do that, then it will call. Rather neat when both happen.
Red Metis wrote: I would love to see them–your words about your daughter made me chuckle. When my son was born, one of the nurses was wondering if he had Down’s syndrome because of how he looked! As he got older, I’ve had sooo many people ask, did you adopt him? is he yours? is he mixed? and some plain flat out, What race is he? Is he Indian?
The last one was from a cashier in Target.
I just looked at her and nodded.
Blood will tell…if it doesn’t do that, then it will call. Rather neat when both happen.
It is neat when both happen. It also shuts other people up…eh?
Whenever I contemplate how much mixing has gone on among east coast Indians….I would like to show them family photos, and let them think about just how little there is to the idea of race. Scientifically, the idea was abandonded over a hundred years ago. Culturally the idea has stayed alive, and it confuses people. Most people aren’t ready to let go of the idea, because it has so much cultural cache.
*IF, I can get my husband to do this for me…the photography, I will post pictures of my father, my mother…my late brother-in-law ( who was Columbian), and the children he had with my sister; and my cousin.
My cousin was supposed to be Puerto Rican when he visited NYC. He isn’t PR of course. In North Carolina, he was presumed to be white. When visiting the Cherokee reservation he was photographed by tourists as a Cherokee…..it gets stupider……my brother in law was presumed to be white in NC back in the 60’s when he married my sister…nowdays he would be presumed to be Mexican…which he wasn’t. His children are accepted as white. Their birth certificates say white, so does his. All of this only points up how trivial, inaccurate, and haphazzard, as well as culturally “faddish”, the idea of race is.
My younger daughter’s boyfriend is Brazilian. He actually looks a lot like my cousin ( weird eh?) He is presumed to be Mexican by the Mexicans who live here….he speaks Portuguese and English, and a *little* Spanish…and…Japanese. I get really tired of racial typing. Its inaccurate, to begin with….to begin with all the other reasons that it can make one’s “ass” really tired hearing it.
“Race” is a product of Culture Wars. I, personally, would be more comfortable in talking about issues in the light of culture. Race is a dead horse. As a kind of short hand for culture, it has many red herrings that block clear thought on these issues.
Sometimes when I hear that members of our forum have had “words” with Indians who take them to task for not identifying themselves as Indian….I understand both sides of the argument. On the one hand, its inaccurate and foolish to deny that we are all mixed….in the fantasyland of “race” typing; and on the other hand, I sometimes think that the people promoting the Indian Only identification, are having some kind of problem in talking about culture, and cultural identification. The idea of a “race” is what is bollocking the whole discussion. As long as “race” remains a sticking point, nothing goes anywhere. I don’t think our ancestors became unglued on this issue. I think that, for the most part, they kept their heads together on the aspects of what made their culture and people live on. I feel that they were practical people. Perhaps I am a fool, but I feel that they would be pleased to see the way that we are trying to stay together as a people, and move forward into the 21st centrury.
Good talking to you Red Metis….I’ll see if I can light a fire under the Old Man to get the pictures going.
Best Regards,
Lynne
Lynn, again to the point and well spoken. We must never forget that even our ancestors were not free of “prejudice” based not so much on color but the tribe you came from. There were many instances of coperation and I would like to think even intermarriage among them for various reasons but there were all too many instances of attack and counterattack, killing and capturing and yes enslaving. You know what, this sounds like the entire HUMAN RACE ! That’s the only race I belong too but I have a wonderful heritage and great forebears and ancestors I would like to know more about and honor by passing their information on to my children and children’s children. We can allow ourselves to be sidetracked from this major task and argue foolish questions that will never be answered to the satisfaction of most of us or we can commit ourselves to the higher calling to dig deeper, search longer, study harder, and yes listen more patiently and intently so that we do not loose one more piece of our heritage. We cannot afford to allow one particle of knowlege to slip through our fingers while we foolishly claim to be so busy “saving” our culture. We have a high calling and it is not to see the Souan Nation restored to it’s former glory, whatever that might have been. It is not expect and strive for all “Indian Nations” to be restored to their pristine and original culture, status, and position. If that is our High Calling then we best stop and contemplate what that might literally mean for many of us. Not everyone was top dog even back then ! I believe it is to search out, discover, identify, record dilligently, preserve well for future generations so that no more will be lost and more can be passed on with dignity and honor to those who follow us. If the Elders before us could speak today many things would be good but really trivial in light of what they had experienced and knew, but the Best Things would be those I have shared. I wish to commend all of those who yearn to preserve this culture, cherish the heritage, honor the memory and strive for futher knowledge. That is why I feel this forum serves this High Calling of Honor to those who have walked before us and those who will come after us. Ed
Beautifully put, Ed. I couldn’t agree more. Oftentimes I long for the simple days, where all of the materialistic things in life has disappeared, and we live peaceably amongst ourselves as one people. Life has become so complicated that it’s mind boggling and I just want the quiet, slow days of old. Thanks again for your comforting words.
And Lynne and Red Metis, I haven’t had children yet. But my one desire is for her to look MORE ndn than I do. I mean we may look ndn in different ways, but just to see a hint of ndn in a child encourages my heart…”we are still alive and kicking” and we will NOT be lost.
blackindiangirl wrote: Beautifully put, Ed. I couldn’t agree more. Oftentimes I long for the simple days, where all of the materialistic things in life has disappeared, and we live peaceably amongst ourselves as one people. Life has become so complicated that it’s mind boggling and I just want the quiet, slow days of old. Thanks again for your comforting words.
And Lynne and Red Metis, I haven’t had children yet. But my one desire is for her to look MORE ndn than I do. I mean we may look ndn in different ways, but just to see a hint of ndn in a child encourages my heart…”we are still alive and kicking” and we will NOT be lost.
Dear Roni,
I can understand what you said about the way that your future child would look. I can understand how simple it would make your truthful statement about your heritage and how proud you are of it. I admit, that I have also felt this way too.
When the time comes, you will be proud of your kids. You will enjoy the fact that they either look like you, your beloved, or someone that you knew in your own family. You will often speak how how they remind you of one of your kin. Whether or not they look like Chief Dan George, or his sister ( if he had one).
This is one of our ongoing problems….people look at us and decide things based on our looks that ( may ) simply not be true, such as…you don’t look Indian enough, so you can’t be Indian. How many cultural groups actually have to put up with this problem? Not many. We are still carrying the burden of this “identification”, that has been plaguing us for 400 plus years.
Your kids will be beautiful. Your kids will look like your kin. This is the real basis of tribes. The rest of it….is politics.
When politics split up your family…and your extended family, your tribe, then its all over for us.
warm regards,
Lynne
Ed Yancey wrote: Lynn, again to the point and well spoken. We must never forget that even our ancestors were not free of “prejudice” based not so much on color but the tribe you came from.
Me:
You’re so right, Ed. I think Collins mentioned this in another thread. Tribes are still trying to tell other tribes how to suck eggs. And you’re only too right in reiterating that this is an Ancient Problem. This kind of thinking “helped” to destroy us in the first place….( of course it wasn’t THE reason, but it deprived us of some kind of defence)
Ed:
There were many instances of coperation and I would like to think even intermarriage among them for various reasons but there were all too many instances of attack and counterattack, killing and capturing and yes enslaving.
Me:
True, friend. This was the past. The past can be a pretty bad place.
Ed:
You know what, this sounds like the entire HUMAN RACE ! That’s the only race I belong too but I have a wonderful heritage and great forebears and ancestors I would like to know more about and honor by passing their information on to my children and children’s children.
Me:
Our ancestors don’t want to die on this earth. It sounds maudlin, but we are all that they have left on this earth. They wanted to live, and they wanted their children to have food and to live, and they were willing to do what it took to ensure their future, but in their hearts they wanted to remain what they were, Indians. And they wanted their children to know that they were Indian. And we stand at a gateway now, together, to let them die on this earth or to continue in their task. On this forum, we have chosen to continue in their task.
Ed:
We can allow ourselves to be sidetracked from this major task and argue foolish questions that will never be answered to the satisfaction of most of us or we can commit ourselves to the higher calling to dig deeper, search longer, study harder, and yes listen more patiently and intently so that we do not loose one more piece of our heritage.
Me:
You’re right Ed. So much has already been lost, we actually stand a chance to discover and reclaim whatever we can, while we can.
Ed:
We cannot afford to allow one particle of knowlege to slip through our fingers while we foolishly claim to be so busy “saving” our culture. We have a high calling and it is not to see the Souan Nation restored to it’s former glory, whatever that might have been. It is not expect and strive for all “Indian Nations” to be restored to their pristine and original culture, status, and position. If that is our High Calling then we best stop and contemplate what that might literally mean for many of us. Not everyone was top dog even back then !
Me:
Well spoken, Ed.We live in the 21st century. If there ever was a Golden Age, we can only use the idea of it as a template for what we wish to create, now.
Ed:
I believe it is to search out, discover, identify, record dilligently, preserve well for future generations so that no more will be lost and more can be passed on with dignity and honor to those who follow us. If the Elders before us could speak today many things would be good but really trivial in light of what they had experienced and knew, but the Best Things would be those I have shared. I wish to commend all of those who yearn to preserve this culture, cherish the heritage, honor the memory and strive for futher knowledge. That is why I feel this forum serves this High Calling of Honor to those who have walked before us and those who will come after us. Ed
Me:
I agree with you, Ed. We must research, and live by our ancestor’s ways. We are doing this for ourselves, our children, and our ancestors. We are not doing this for other tribe’s acceptance, or for the government. We are doing it for ourselves and our people, living, dead, and yet to come.
regards,
Lynne
Lynne,
You’ve given me great food for thought. I guess I’m still a bit young and naive, even at 35yo about the importance of my children looking ndn…..I don’t know. You know how parents tend to put upon their children things and ways that they always wanted to be or have. Maybe I think I’ve got to prove it to myself that I AM ndn, when I KNOW IN MY BEING that I AM! Thanks for making me think. (and please remind me more and more:) )
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