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
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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
Tennessee · 46-50, F
@SwampFlower And in Alabama they claim Cherokee blood too.
bijouxbroussard · F
@SwampFlower In some states the Seminole were removed from eligibility for federal reparations given to Native tribes, supposedly because of a large percentage having mixed with whites and blacks.
@SwampFlower My wife’s Da was half and half white. He was from Oklahoma but I think that’s where they were brought to from the Trail of Tears, so I have no idea before that… and he’s passed, so there’s no one to even ask.
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@DarkHeaven Maybe you can look through the museums?
@SwampFlower Maybe. I know next to nothing about all of it but I know she’s been curious, even learning some Cherokee words. It’s all Lakota people where we live in the US. She was raised with the black side of her Mum’s family but never really felt like she belongs there. She’s as much black as she is Cherokee (1/4 each,) so I think she feels like the native side would be easier for her to belong. I don’t know. She’s beautiful but I feel bad for her because I think she feels like she just not enough of anything to belong to anything, but still not white either… if that makes sense.
@SwampFlower And we’d have to go to OK. We live in a different state. He grew up in OK but met her Mum here.
bijouxbroussard · F
@DarkHeaven Honestly, it depends on the people. I met my Native relatives when I was small and was taken to the reservation. Some embraced me, others didn’t.
@bijouxbroussard she just wants so much to belong somewhere. I told her she belongs with me. 🖤😊
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SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@DarkHeaven She absolutely belongs somewhere and with you is as good a place as any ❤️
My dad grew up on the land trust and decided to raise us elsewhere for personal reasons. We get it. A lot of people do and a lot of people don't.
My dad grew up on the land trust and decided to raise us elsewhere for personal reasons. We get it. A lot of people do and a lot of people don't.
@SwampFlower You are kind of awesome, I hope you know that. Her Da did too, but traveled out and met her Mum in a different state. She’s spent her whole life… in some ways, trying to figure out where she belongs. A 1/4 black, 1/4 Cherokee, and have mixed white European ancestry lesbian, raised among her Mum’s black family… has been interesting. I just love her, that’s all I know.
SwampFlower · 31-35, F
@DarkHeaven 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?