i am australian but will be adopted as a cherokee this year

[NorthofAda]

ya'know, i never mean to belittle anyone who is of genuine herritage wanting to take part in the culture of that herritage.ive never bought into the quantum idea, i hate the 'im part this and im part that' thing. i think it shows such a degree of self lothing that we subdivide even our own persons. what ever portion or portions of a persons herritage they choose to celebrate is thier own business (or problem,depending on how you look at it) but this chick cracks me up. you cant get too much farther from the us of a than austrailia and still be on dry land. and shes been dreaming of being an indian since she was a kid.
i couldnt ask for a better example of why i sometimes feel sorry for the cherokee. here you have a people who have been so well documented throughout history that all a person need do is pick up a few books, learn some names and dates, key in on some select slang and boom, nstant ndn.

even with all the jokes i make about the cherokee people, my hat is off to all the true born cherokee who persevere and take the riddicule and abuse brought upon them by the crystal gripping hippie twinkie brigade. i salute you all

Very well said, Flutemaker!

Yes, it's sad that those of us who are mixed bloods with some Cherokee heritage are almost afraid to mention it because we get that almost instantaneous "wannabe" labeling from full(er) bloods. Doesn't seem to happen with any other tribes, that I know of.

[timmy tiger]

Again, Josiah is absolutely right. They will not ask you for money or a specific dollar amount. Now, I have heard of some taking up a collection for a person who has come along way to help people, but that is done by someone else, not the person themselves. I have always been told and it is drilled into me (because of where I live)---If someone asks you for money or tries to charge you for a ceramony, then they are not who they claim to be. Also, if someone comes up to you and says "I can teach you. Follow me." Run like H*** the other way and DON'T LOOK BACK.

FM-I thank you on behalf of my ancestor's, family, friends both in the East and West and anyone in between.

[timmy tiger]

Northofada--actually it does happen with other tribes. It's just that it happens more with the Cherokee for many reasons. One reason is because back in history the Cherokee are listed as being the biggest tribe in this country and two because of all the stories and talk about the "Trail of Tears", that gives some their "in" even if they know or were told that they are not Indian at all by their family, they can use that as an excuse that their family "didn't know".

As I said above it is happening with others. Right now there are alot of people who claim to be: Cherokee/Blackfeet--okay so there there is a claim to Cherokee, but there are many now claiming to be Blackfeet alone and there are many that I know of who are claiming to be Ojib/chippewa---I know many people who really are of these nations and some of the Elders and there are many, now, who are learning that way and then a year or so later all you will hear from them is ceramony this or ceramony that and many will say "I'm annishanabe" (spelling?) I can say some of the words, but the spelling is beyond me sometimes.LOL I have seen many people who claim to be of one nation this year, but then a year later, they are something else. But they never mention their ancestor's names. That's what makes me suspecious. Other then that: what you are is what you are and who you are is who you are. That's it.

[Josiah]

Is it Coincidence that you find these charlatans and confidence men and women far from Ndn Country???

That they seek out these "lost souls" and give them excatly what they are seeking. A measure of ndness and then take there money
Very smooth operators these conpeople of course they have been around for thousands of years

But ask your self these questions
1) Does it sound too good to be true?
2) All that I am asking for I am getting?
3) 500 dollars does not seem high

These should raise imediate flags!!! Hey wait a min should always be your next thought lets look at this

If you truly want to learn about a culture go and visit them
Reading a tourist guide will only tell you the things the Author thought was important!
Come to Oklahoma and drive to Tahlequah and see the Hertigage center which will give a look at cherokees 300 years ago
But to know us today
Drive North out of town to Gideon or RockyFord
Or South out to Bunch or Eveningshade
Or maybe West of town toward Hulbert or out in the woods to Lost City
Or to Stilwell east of town
you can drive all 4 directions out of town and hit a Cherokee

Or stay in town and come out to Birdtail where I lived growing up.

Thats where you come to meet a Cherokee and get to know them,

Or
Cherokee North Carolina

but certainly not in the middle of Kentucky

or

Indiana

or New Hampshire

Sheesh

[timmy tiger]

Yes, yes, yes--
If you truely wish to be a part of a community, you have to be there to participate and help those who need it or offer if anyone needs and listen to those who live there when they talk. Get to know the people who live in the territiories and have lived there for generations. Many of us were pulled away for many reasons as I have stated before (schooling, gov interference, divorce, etc.). And there are so many who are interested in different Native Tribes, the only way to find out----IS NOT IN ANY BOOK--it's by meeting and talking to the people who live it daily and have for generations, not a year or two.

These con people are quit a way from the Tribe when they pull this stuff and if the family finds out, they will take care of it--I found that out personally too. If you have a question ask someone who is of that Tribe what's what and they will set it straight on the spot, many of them will.

Wow, $500 is cheap, I have seen these people charge as much as $1500 for a weekend seminar and that's really crazy. But there are people who pay for it and go, it blows my mind. Many of these people read a book and you can read the same one from the library. But that doesn't make you anymore then they are---FAKES and PHONEY'S.

[superndngyrl]

Is it Coincidence that you find these charlatans and confidence men and women far from Ndn Country???

That they seek out these "lost souls" and give them excatly what they are seeking. A measure of ndness and then take there money
Very smooth operators these conpeople of course they have been around for thousands of years

But ask your self these questions
1) Does it sound too good to be true?
2) All that I am asking for I am getting?
3) 500 dollars does not seem high

These should raise imediate flags!!! Hey wait a min should always be your next thought lets look at this

If you truly want to learn about a culture go and visit them
Reading a tourist guide will only tell you the things the Author thought was important!
Come to Oklahoma and drive to Tahlequah and see the Hertigage center which will give a look at cherokees 300 years ago
But to know us today
Drive North out of town to Gideon or RockyFord
Or South out to Bunch or Eveningshade
Or maybe West of town toward Hulbert or out in the woods to Lost City
Or to Stilwell east of town
you can drive all 4 directions out of town and hit a Cherokee

Or stay in town and come out to Birdtail where I lived growing up.

Thats where you come to meet a Cherokee and get to know them,

Or
Cherokee North Carolina

but certainly not in the middle of Kentucky

or

Indiana

or New Hampshire

Sheesh

but would you really welcome some touristy type coming up onto your land wanting to look at your cherokee-ness?

[Josiah]

but would you really welcome some touristy type coming up onto your land wanting to look at your Cherokee-ness?

HAHAH
of course
we charge by the hour
or photo
What do you think the Cherokee Holiday attracts every year???
I heard it was over a 90,000 visitors this year that came to Tahlequah!!

All kidding aside, my point is that you need to go to the area that you would find these tribes and make friends if you are truly serious about finding your roots
Otherwise...

p/o

[Tiki]

sounds iffy to me

[FluteMaker]

Come to Oklahoma and drive to Tahlequah and see the Hertigage center which will give a look at cherokees 300 years ago
But to know us today
Drive North out of town to Gideon or RockyFord
Or South out to Bunch or Eveningshade
Or maybe West of town toward Hulbert or out in the woods to Lost City
Or to Stilwell east of town
you can drive all 4 directions out of town and hit a Cherokee

dude......this is pw.c.......you cant swing a dead mother board without hitting a cherokee around here

[timmy tiger]

Okay, I'm a little confused about that one.

Josiah is right. If people want to learn about Cherokee's they should go to either OK or NC and find things out first hand. Not read a book written by some idiot that maybe lived with a family for a month or a few months and thinks that they know everything about the life and how to live it and all of that. Many of the people who write stuff up aren't even Cherokee and have never been there or talked with anyone who has ever lived in the Territory. Too many people take a little of this and a little of that and throw it into a pot, stir it up and get SLOP. But this goes for anyone of any Tribal affiliation, they should go to where the tribe is and meet some of the people there and visit and learn about them. There's no big secrets or mystery there, just a normal lifestyle. NOt the hype that so many out there make it to be.

[Josiah]

dude......this is pw.c.......you cant swing a dead mother board without hitting a Cherokee around here

Dude! Precisely my point!
I know of only two others from my neck of the woods that are on here that can "legitimately" claim Cherokee not some great great grandmother who was ravished
But actual Brown Skin Cherokees
there is a difference by the way
hahaha
NOt speaking for NC because they are not my people

Enuff said

[Tiki]

so you have to be dark skinned or you are nothing?? in your opinion is someone who's ancestors aren't on the rolls for some reason not native? sounds messed up if that's what you mean. I hope I misunderstood.

[Josiah]

so you have to be dark skinned or you are nothing?? in your opinion is someone who's ancestors aren't on the rolls for some reason not native? sounds messed up if that's what you mean. I hope I misunderstood.

Tiki you need to read the entire thread and not try to read into what I was saying true
This conversation started 4 or 5 posts ago about Charlatans and CON Artists that prey on People that have no "Legitimate Claim to being Cherokee
And these People seem to take up shop FAR from CHEROKEE LANDS to prey on people that are trying to Trace there ROOTS
And get charged THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS for there help!

So what I was saying to these peoples that are searching out there roots is go back to the source and find out for themselves
They will find no one charging them!!!
If you read the over 1200 posts that I have posted on this website you will find out more about where my Opinions lie...
Click on my name and then click on Threads Started by Josiah

And if you still disagree with what I am saying
Then you are lucky!
Because you live in a country where you can have your Opinion...
Josiah

[Tiki]

I wasn't disagreeing with you Josiah, I was unsure of what you were saying. Thanks for clearing that up. Yea I read the thread. It does seem like something is off there...

[redthunder]

I wasn't disagreeing with you Josiah, I was unsure of what you were saying. Thanks for clearing that up. Yea I read the thread. It does seem like something is off there...

I think a little more than 'something'.


LOL...i love this thread...i gotta come here more often. I wonder what happened to said strumpet.