- This topic has 12 voices and 26 replies.
-
Posts
-
Has anybody ever considered forming a new Saponi tribe? It seems so many of us are without a home. We know who we are, but are lacking community among ourselves. Some of us are kept out of tribes because they want to limit who is enrolling, even though many qualify for enrollment. Also has anybody tried this before? It would be nice to have a Saponi settlement, where we all can be together. Any way I just thought I would run this by every one and see what everybody thinks.
That’s an interesting thought. But I don’t think we could do that. Where would the homeland be? I think we’re all spread out all over the country. Also, I sort of want to learn as much as I can about what the original Saponi/blackfoot folks were like and continue their traditions. But it would be nice if one day we planned a gathering somewhere central so we could meet each other in person, share stories, regalia ideas and native skills, etc. I’ll bet many of us would be willing to drive far or take a plane to get there. I’ll start uploading some photos and hope others will too so we can have more of a feeling of community here on this website.
We’ve tried to create a sense of that here in year’s past. At one point we had a very tight virtual group. We started talking about creating an ‘Eastern Siouan Descendant’s Association’ and forming a non-profit. Eventually the ‘wannabe wars’ reached us when debates got going over who would ‘qualify’ for admittance, and who wouldn’t. Then a newcomer got lambasted by some as a ‘wannabe’ and there was a big squabble over it and the whole community fell apart. It was devastating for me. At that point, it was a huge part of my life.
For a bunch of people who are, themselves, perceived as ‘wannabe’s’ by many other groups, to start pointing their fingers at others as wannabes is repugnant. I can’t tolerate it. I’ll let this site lie dormant for years, as I did, rather than support that kind of corrupt behavior. It’s bigot behavior, in my mind, I and will not be moved in my disgust with it.
Linda;36958 wrote: We’ve tried to create a sense of that here in year’s past. At one point we had a very tight virtual group. We started talking about creating an ‘Eastern Siouan Descendant’s Association’ and forming a non-profit. Eventually the ‘wannabe wars’ reached us when debates got going over who would ‘qualify’ for admittance, and who wouldn’t. Then a newcomer got lambasted by some as a ‘wannabe’ and there was a big squabble over it and the whole community fell apart. It was devastating for me. At that point, it was a huge part of my life.
For a bunch of people who are, themselves, perceived as ‘wannabe’s’ by many other groups, to start pointing their fingers at others as wannabes is repugnant. I can’t tolerate it. I’ll let this site lie dormant for years, as I did, rather than support that kind of corrupt behavior. It’s bigot behavior, in my mind, I and will not be moved in my disgust with it.
Good for you! Yes, that wanna-be stuff is really hurtful. I’ve hesitated to comment on many native american sites for that very reason. I’m an “invisible” member of a few sites because I’ve seen other people researching their history get attacked so viciously. I also heard a radio broadcast from a native radio station about mixed-bloods that was very disturbing. The hosts of the talk show said that when they have had shows about mixed-bloods mixed with African blood, particularly in the southeast, they’ve actually gotten death threats! What was comforting however, was the fact that the shows’ hosts were on the side of those of us who are doing our research. They recognized that the history of the tribes in the southeast was very turbulent and much of our culture was lost and difficult to document.
DStrait;36964 wrote: I submitted a reply and when I hit the submit button, it disappeared.
I think one of my replies disappeared too. I hope I’m doing this one right. This time I put something in the “Title:” box. I don’t think I did before. Try sending me your reply again when you get a chance.
Syd, I got your messages and when I replyed, it disappeared. If you want you can semd me messgages thru my regular email. I will try again.
I appreciate Linda, the administrators, and everyone else who have come here to share and commune with each other without prejudice and judgement. There are so many people that are searching for the connection to the culture and family that they love and may have lost due to the encroachment of people who became the authors of “manifest destiny”. I am a child of several tribes who barely survived, even if they are considered extinct as a tribe by the US government.
I relish the thought of being part of a tribe and I have had my fare share of wannabe nay-sayers, which has been discouraging at best. Several of them were members of the Dallas Indian Church where I was an associate pastor for five years and even in the mission outreach effort I have been a part of in the past. I could not blame them though because of my mix, I’m sure I look like the many people who have tried to steal from them. After they got to know me, I became one of them because I did not want what they had but was there to help them be who they are, and most of them were Choctaw.
For the record, I have applied to one of the tribes. Both my grandparents on my father’s side may be descended from them due to circumstantial evidences but that is for the tribe to decide. I have cousins on many of the reservations from the east coast to Oklahoma.
It is unfortunate these fights over identity are so common. The same thing happens in tribes between on-res and off-res members, between pro-casino and traditional members, between families where dis-enrolling happens for reasons of hatred and greed. Some would argue the whole federal tribal recognition system is fatally flawed and counter-productive.
It is a problem in every culture, like Irish and Italian citizens telling Irish and Italian Americans they are fakes, the list is endless. Often the people who argue the most to exclude people are the ones who are the least secure in their own identity. The ones who yell the loudest about fakes are themselves the biggest fakes. It puts me in mind of an old expression that goes something like, beware those who tell you who your enemy is for they are your enemy.
I think this board does a great job of achieving a sense of community all by itself without a descendants group or a tribe. I don’t think it is coincidence that the WWW is named after a spiders web. It is a powerful tool for people tracing their lines. I would argue it could even be called sacred. I commend Linda on her ongoing efforts, and her diplomacy.
I understand the sensitivity people have about identity. It took me nearly ten years of reading posts on this board before joining myself. To me the most important tribe is the human being tribe. There is no one who is not a member. We are all cousins if you go back far enough, and if modern genetic research is to be believed it’s not that far.
I agree with you about Saponi Town providing a sense of community to us. This site is probably the most positive Native sites out there. But something virtual will never take the place for real human contact. A Tribe for Native people was family and it was our way. We all have a longing to be part of a real family. If not it leaves a big hole in us.
I agree. A tribal based family is something a great many people yearn for. The hole you are talking about is likely what led many people here. All I’m saying is this board is a great thing regardless of it becoming an actual tribe or not.
MarcSnelling;36981 wrote: It is unfortunate these fights over identity are so common. . . . We are all cousins if you go back far enough, and if modern genetic research is to be believed it’s not that far.
I just love this post. no other comment than that. I read this post every couple of days to remind myself that we are far more connected than we are different from each other. I need to remind myself when trolling various native sites, that the divisions that seem to generate so much hostility are really false constructs anyway. I’m trying to become less sensitive to and offended by what I read elsewhere. Thanks Marc!
Question: Do you ever dance at pow wows? If so, how are you received by the other natives? Just curious. I’ve danced intertribal once, only because the head staff took my hand and asked me to dance. I couldn’t refuse, so i just did what I saw others doing and I had a shawl on, so I guess it was ok. But I’m making a buckskin dress and I’m REALLY nervous about trotting this sucker out in front of other federally enrolled natives. Have any of you ever been greeted with disapproval when dancing in traditional clothing – – even if dancing intertribal?
At a pow wow in Ottawa I got this dream catcher. The outside is a medicine wheel, except it all has all the colors together in layers instead of four separately. There is a longer story I was told about it, but it signifies the way people are today – mixed, versus the way they were in past – four separate colors. It’s a medicine for me, it reminds me of the story and it helps my spirit. I’ve never danced at a pow-wow. Most I’ve been too are tight-knit tribes that are welcoming me as a guest, or the huge many nations pow-wow in Albuquerque.
MarcSnelling;37001 wrote: At a pow wow in Ottawa I got this dream catcher. The outside is a medicine wheel, except it all has all the colors together in layers instead of four separately. There is a longer story I was told about it, but it signifies the way people are today – mixed, versus the way they were in past – four separate colors. It’s a medicine for me, it reminds me of the story and it helps my spirit. I’ve never danced at a pow-wow. Most I’ve been too are tight-knit tribes that are welcoming me as a guest, or the huge many nations pow-wow in Albuquerque.
Beautiful dream catcher and what a great meaning to the mixtures of colors. Another piece of “spirit” help to hold on to! thanks!
Becky and I are regular powwow dancers for about 10? years. We dance all over NC,SC and VA and are accepted and respected most places we go. We do not attend competition powwows and there are a few VA tribes we choose not to support but other than that, it’s all good. It is a way of life for us. We usually camp on the powwow grounds and dance at a dozen or more powwows each year. We do not have tribal cards and are very open about our mixed heritage. I think acceptance has a lot to do with attitude.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
