Why do a lot of people claim Cherokee blood but never Blackfeet blood or even Navajo blood, why it's always Cherokee but never other tribes?
26-30, F
DearAmbellina2113 · 41-45, F
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SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@bijouxbroussard I've known a lot of people in this situation (including my husband) who think they have an ancestor on the rolls but don't. They usually fall into one of two groups. They either double down on the bullshit or are DEVASTATED.
No one I know will shun the latter group as long as they're willing to learn and are respectful. A lot of them end up staying and doing good things.
No one I know will shun the latter group as long as they're willing to learn and are respectful. A lot of them end up staying and doing good things.
@bijouxbroussard my wife’s father grew up on a reservation too, and he was half native and very much looked it (she has a couple pictures) so… it was not really anything you could doubt.
Viper · M
@bijouxbroussard Also DNA testing seriously struggles with certain ones and Native Americans are one of them as they don't have enough DNA in the DNA banks and just claim they're Asian.
This includes people that claim they're 100% Native American and literally trace their direct family back for many decades.
So the DNA tests have their strengths and weakness areas... Native American and German are two of the weak areas (Germans because despite Hitler's claims, the German's intermingled with everyone), so their is much harder to isolate as it's got a little of everything in there.
This includes people that claim they're 100% Native American and literally trace their direct family back for many decades.
So the DNA tests have their strengths and weakness areas... Native American and German are two of the weak areas (Germans because despite Hitler's claims, the German's intermingled with everyone), so their is much harder to isolate as it's got a little of everything in there.
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
As far as I know, DNA tests still aren't specific enough to determine native ancestry, let alone tribal affiliation. Genealogical studies are the standard here but I can't speak for everyone.
At least I know where I'm from, most people have been told through the family lore that they have Cherokee ancestry somewhere along the line. Back in the day people thought they had access to land rights and some even managed to weasel in (not including the significant amount of freed slaves who were rightfully given land) So the stories were passed down through the generations. The rolls aren't perfect but it's the best records that exist to confirm or deny.
Of course that's in NC and TN. Where I live now everyone claims to be a "Seminole" 😁 I always thought people cling to the most popular regional nations but I haven't been too far away from home haha
At least I know where I'm from, most people have been told through the family lore that they have Cherokee ancestry somewhere along the line. Back in the day people thought they had access to land rights and some even managed to weasel in (not including the significant amount of freed slaves who were rightfully given land) So the stories were passed down through the generations. The rolls aren't perfect but it's the best records that exist to confirm or deny.
Of course that's in NC and TN. Where I live now everyone claims to be a "Seminole" 😁 I always thought people cling to the most popular regional nations but I haven't been too far away from home haha
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@JustGoneNow you're awesome, too.
I struggle to figure out where I identify, too. I had to get the creds to adopt but it's still really complicated. I didn't have to struggle like so many did.
I struggle to figure out where I identify, too. I had to get the creds to adopt but it's still really complicated. I didn't have to struggle like so many did.
@SwampFlower yeah. I get that. Love ya, girl. You fam by me. 🖤🤗
@SwampFlower And btw, can you believe I’m married? Crazy huh?
Lovesungoddess · 22-25, F
MethDozer · M
It's because prior to the Trail of Tears the Cherokee were one of the few Native tibes that intermarried extensively with whites, blacks, and other tribes in an effort to build trade relations. Then after the Trail of Tears the Cherokee sorta took on mythical status with white people. So claiming Cherokee became romaticised and also kinda easy because of the prolific intermarriages.
Fungirlmmm · 51-55, F
@MethDozer Yes. You are right on the money.
My great gramdfather was left on a doorstep by a young cherokee mother. She wanted her child to have better because he was of "mixed race." My great great grandparents took him in and raised them as tneir own. Many years later she came back looking for him and he was able to have a relationship with her. My grandmother my dad and my sister all have the skin color and dominant features and here I am pale and blonde. According to my ancestry report cherokee makes up a large portion of my DNA but I do not look anything close.
My great gramdfather was left on a doorstep by a young cherokee mother. She wanted her child to have better because he was of "mixed race." My great great grandparents took him in and raised them as tneir own. Many years later she came back looking for him and he was able to have a relationship with her. My grandmother my dad and my sister all have the skin color and dominant features and here I am pale and blonde. According to my ancestry report cherokee makes up a large portion of my DNA but I do not look anything close.
bijouxbroussard · F
@Fungirlmmm Which company did you use ? Most can’t narrow it down to a specific tribe.
Fungirlmmm · 51-55, F
@bijouxbroussard If I dont fall asleep before i can type it out. Ill message you. If not ill send tomorrow
bijouxbroussard · F
My grandfather was born on a Choctaw reservation. He took me to see it when I was a small child. In spite of that, I don’t have a large amount of Native dna. My niece, on the other hand, has a significant amount of Inuit dna from her father’s side. We discovered she still has an 80 year old great aunt who lives in Canada.
Romanticism, better documentation, longer trade ties with outsiders, and intermarriage. It’s lots of reasons… and often times it’s also a tale that’s false.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/10/cherokee-blood-why-do-so-many-americans-believe-they-have-cherokee-ancestry.html
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2015/10/cherokee-blood-why-do-so-many-americans-believe-they-have-cherokee-ancestry.html
akindheart · 61-69, F
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@akindheart people thought that anyway.
Magnolia21 · 22-25, F
TurtleEclipseOfTheHeart · 22-25, F
MayorOfCrushtown · M
akindheart · 61-69, F
Bluebirdsonmyshoulder · 46-50, F
@Bluebirdsonmyshoulder That’s cool. This all is making me want to take my wife to OK. And find out. My guess is she’s a quarter, since her Da was half. Could be less, though. Since her Da’s half could technically be less than that. 🤷♀️
I’m guessing close to, though.
I’m guessing close to, though.
Viper · M
I believe it's there are multiple reasons for it...
1) Cherokee were forced to integrate with non-native Americans more and interacted and socializing and a bread more than a lot of the more western tribes.
2) Part of this, was the great force movements of the Cherokee, where they were forced to either integrate with the non-Indians, or forced to go freaking long distances... to what was considered worse or unwanted land.
3) Piss poor records if any records at all... and if there was any Indian at all, they claimed to be Cherokee because that was more recognize more known, more supported, etc.
Such as my Uncle in law on my Mom Side clearly has some non-white and he has always claimed to be Cherokee. But his family is from where my dad grew up... and there was never any Cherokee there.
After decades and research, they have figured out that they are actually probably Lumbee Tribe and not Cherokee.
Well, the Lumbee Tribe, still til this day are not federally recognized as a tribe. And the Cherokee and Choctaw and still telling Congress that they should not ever recognize the Lumbee as a tribe.
For multiple reasons, including (but not limited to) they don't want to share the resources or the advantages that come with being recognized as an official Federal tribe.
So, everyone just says they're Cherokee, to make it simpler, to get officially recognize and get the benefits...
1) Cherokee were forced to integrate with non-native Americans more and interacted and socializing and a bread more than a lot of the more western tribes.
2) Part of this, was the great force movements of the Cherokee, where they were forced to either integrate with the non-Indians, or forced to go freaking long distances... to what was considered worse or unwanted land.
3) Piss poor records if any records at all... and if there was any Indian at all, they claimed to be Cherokee because that was more recognize more known, more supported, etc.
Such as my Uncle in law on my Mom Side clearly has some non-white and he has always claimed to be Cherokee. But his family is from where my dad grew up... and there was never any Cherokee there.
After decades and research, they have figured out that they are actually probably Lumbee Tribe and not Cherokee.
Well, the Lumbee Tribe, still til this day are not federally recognized as a tribe. And the Cherokee and Choctaw and still telling Congress that they should not ever recognize the Lumbee as a tribe.
For multiple reasons, including (but not limited to) they don't want to share the resources or the advantages that come with being recognized as an official Federal tribe.
So, everyone just says they're Cherokee, to make it simpler, to get officially recognize and get the benefits...
LeeInTheNorthWoods · 70-79, F
It seems like "Cherokee" is the generic Native American identity. Like our politician, Elizabeth Warren, there are people who claim to be Native but have no connection to Cherokee people or culture, many outright lie about it. I have to say that people like that make me angry.
ExperienceDLT · M
Montanaman · M
TurtleEclipseOfTheHeart · 22-25, F
@SW-User yes!
This message was deleted by its author.
calicuz · 56-60, M
revenant · F
Romanticism
why not Zuni
why not Zuni
akindheart · 61-69, F
I think it is called the Dawes Commission to determine who was Indian and who was not. My family married Cherokee
BohemianBabe · M
Because that's the one they know about.
Heavenlywarrior · 36-40, M
WolfGirlwh0r3 · 36-40, T
walabby · M
I know a family with Blackfeet blood.
11knaves11 · 46-50, M
Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M
Dino11 · M
Those Cherokee ancestors of mine were horn dogs...😅