Helping my daughter

[violet13]

I am seeking somone who could help me find where to start with confirming my daughters ancestry and then teaching her about it. To start at the beginning, her father left when she was 6 months old and we only see him maybe once a year, and he is not very informative. I was always told by his family that he was more Cherokee than anything else, but proving this has been extremely difficult. His family were mountain people in VA, West VA and TN and didnt keep many records. His mother had been helping me by trying to get names out of family bibles and things like that, but sadly, she passed away last week. Not only did my daughter loose her grandmother, but she lost the only connection to finding out about her true ancestry on her fathers side. She remembers various family members who were indian, but, sadly again, most of the people in his family have passed away young so the old stories and traditions have died out. I have some Cherokee on my side, but only a little. My daughter is only 6 and she started showing interest in Native American music and culture when she was around 4. I took her to her first powwow not long ago and I have never seen her so happy. She even went down and danced the friendship dance. She asked me if I would make her her own regalia so that she could dance with the others. I have no clue where to start. I took her Cherokee NC last weekend to ask if there were any resources or people in TN (where we live) that could help us and I was told that TN has many organizations, but the are mostly fake and trying to make money. Any help or advice would be much appreciated! I would hate for my daughter to miss out on this part of her life just because her dad isnt around.

[short apache girl]

I am seeking somone who could help me find where to start with confirming my daughters ancestry and then teaching her about it. To start at the beginning, her father left when she was 6 months old and we only see him maybe once a year, and he is not very informative. I was always told by his family that he was more Cherokee than anything else, but proving this has been extremely difficult. His family were mountain people in VA, West VA and TN and didnt keep many records. His mother had been helping me by trying to get names out of family bibles and things like that, but sadly, she passed away last week. Not only did my daughter loose her grandmother, but she lost the only connection to finding out about her true ancestry on her fathers side. She remembers various family members who were indian, but, sadly again, most of the people in his family have passed away young so the old stories and traditions have died out. I have some Cherokee on my side, but only a little. My daughter is only 6 and she started showing interest in Native American music and culture when she was around 4. I took her to her first powwow not long ago and I have never seen her so happy. She even went down and danced the friendship dance. She asked me if I would make her her own regalia so that she could dance with the others. I have no clue where to start. I took her Cherokee NC last weekend to ask if there were any resources or people in TN (where we live) that could help us and I was told that TN has many organizations, but the are mostly fake and trying to make money. Any help or advice would be much appreciated! I would hate for my daughter to miss out on this part of her life just because her dad isnt around.

well that was a good step by taking her to a powwow. if she enjoyed it keep it in her heart to dance. u may find someone to talk to there. u can do a blood test to see if u r indian it cost about 100.00. and u can talk to maybe cherokee elders on going about making her a cherokee tear dress and about the traditions. if u r a good sewer u can look at the tear dresses on the internet for ideas. i hope i helped some. i don't know much about my apache heritage but i feel it in my blood and heart. and that's what is important. i know that my great grand ma was full. thats all i know its a shame when a person dies and there is no one else to ask about your identy.

[wanjica_the_one]

Cherokees do not have a powwow tradition. You need to hit up some northern or southern plains people for help. Take some tobacco and ask kindly. It could also be that your daughter's father is of Turkish or Lebanese blood.

[NDNQt]

This is none of my business but what would be the point of this "blood" test. It doesn't prove who you are, you are what you were born. I don't know anything about those tests but to me it doesn't seem like it has much validity. Even if it is a truly accurate test (which I have my doubts) it won't tell you what tribe or who in the family is native. That was just my 2 cents worth.

[wanjica_the_one]

Is Short Apache Girl bonafide? Why is she giving out wrong information? What tribe claims her?

[violet13]

I dont think he is Turkish or Lebanese lol. His family is very backwoodsy, they keep to themselves and are hard to get info from, but I do know that there have been pics and native art passed down from more than one member of his family, but I have no access to them. I dont think I would want to subject her to a blood test because that doesnt help her any. It wouldnt tell her about her family or who they were. At this point she just has a lot of questions that I dont have answers to. I appreciate all of the responses though, thank you all very much for taking the time. Apache girl- I really dont feel comfortable trying to make her a dress or anything like that because I feel like I would be jumping into something I dont know anything about. I would rather find someone who has experience that can help me teach her.

[NorthofAda]

Wanjica has some good advice. I come from a tribe, too, who did not have a powwow tradition, and I had to go to people with that heritage and ask in a good way.

[NancyJo]

Cherokee Nation

Check out the URL above.
Also, never never NEVER give money to some organization that promises to make you a member of a tribe.

[AmigoKumeyaay]

I dont think he is Turkish or Lebanese lol. His family is very backwoodsy, they keep to themselves and are hard to get info from, but I do know that there have been pics and native art passed down from more than one member of his family, but I have no access to them. I dont think I would want to subject her to a blood test because that doesnt help her any. It wouldnt tell her about her family or who they were. At this point she just has a lot of questions that I dont have answers to. I appreciate all of the responses though, thank you all very much for taking the time. Apache girl- I really dont feel comfortable trying to make her a dress or anything like that because I feel like I would be jumping into something I dont know anything about. I would rather find someone who has experience that can help me teach her.

Hope somebody can help you find a good youth dance program:

Native American Indian Association of Tennessee, Inc.
230 Spence Lane, Nashville TN 37210-3623
615. 232.9179 | [email protected] | Native American Indian Association of Tennessee

[neling4]

I am seeking somone who could help me find where to start with confirming my daughters ancestry and then teaching her about it. To start at the beginning, her father left when she was 6 months old and we only see him maybe once a year, and he is not very informative. I was always told by his family that he was more Cherokee than anything else, but proving this has been extremely difficult. His family were mountain people in VA, West VA and TN and didnt keep many records. His mother had been helping me by trying to get names out of family bibles and things like that, but sadly, she passed away last week. Not only did my daughter loose her grandmother, but she lost the only connection to finding out about her true ancestry on her fathers side. She remembers various family members who were indian, but, sadly again, most of the people in his family have passed away young so the old stories and traditions have died out. I have some Cherokee on my side, but only a little. My daughter is only 6 and she started showing interest in Native American music and culture when she was around 4. I took her to her first powwow not long ago and I have never seen her so happy. She even went down and danced the friendship dance. She asked me if I would make her her own regalia so that she could dance with the others. I have no clue where to start. I took her Cherokee NC last weekend to ask if there were any resources or people in TN (where we live) that could help us and I was told that TN has many organizations, but the are mostly fake and trying to make money. Any help or advice would be much appreciated! I would hate for my daughter to miss out on this part of her life just because her dad isnt around.

Talk to timmy tiger. She is the resident genealogist and she can help you.

[violet13]

Thanks for the links everyone. I look forward to helping her find out more about where she came from :)

[neling4]

Here is another link, to the Eastern Band:

Cherokee NC Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina

[Shawrakee]

There's more to it

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