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Hello - I hesitated to join the forum. THe last forum I joined, I was slammed immediately by internet bullies armed with scorn and disdain.
I have two purposes for joining a native american forum.
1) An interest in the various cultures of different tribes of north america. I recognize that while native americans have some things in common (as a group) their cultures are as varied and interesting and different as the various latin american countries or the english, welsh, irish and scottish. You want to upset a welshmen - call him english. My interest may have been kindled by my grandfathers claims that his grandmother was native american. We do not know if this is true or not. Even if there is not a drop of Caddo blood in me, i still have a deep regard for the music, artistry and culture of the native american.
2) If possible get some clarity on my families claims. Perhaps their are resource that can be shared with me about this. My Great great grandmother (on my mothers fathers side) claimed to be 100% Caddo or Tejas indian. They lived in the part of texas where the mound builders lived. All the research I have done finds only caucasin sounding names but my understanding is that her father changes their names sometime in the early 1800s. Their last name became West - which was what their last name had been in their native language prior to that. There was alot of name changing going on back then. My maternal grandmothers side of the family changed their name from MacLaren to Lawrence. Alice West - my supposidly Caddo Great great grandmother married a boy named Ruffin Bishop. The last name Bishop came from his father in the 1700s - John "son of the" Bishop - a ******* child of a priest who had no real last name. And thats just on my mothers side of the family. As you can see, getting understanding from her side is a bit tough. If Alice West was actually a Caddo indian, that means I have one great great grandmother who was indian and everyone else was Scottish (on my mothers side). Father is german through and through. But, chances are she wasnt a Caddo indian and we are just a bunch of redneck scotts. Either way I am curious about the culture.
Anyway - not sure why I am here, just - I want to learn more. I want exposure to resources to learn.
Thank you for reading.
I have two purposes for joining a native american forum.
1) An interest in the various cultures of different tribes of north america. I recognize that while native americans have some things in common (as a group) their cultures are as varied and interesting and different as the various latin american countries or the english, welsh, irish and scottish. You want to upset a welshmen - call him english. My interest may have been kindled by my grandfathers claims that his grandmother was native american. We do not know if this is true or not. Even if there is not a drop of Caddo blood in me, i still have a deep regard for the music, artistry and culture of the native american.
2) If possible get some clarity on my families claims. Perhaps their are resource that can be shared with me about this. My Great great grandmother (on my mothers fathers side) claimed to be 100% Caddo or Tejas indian. They lived in the part of texas where the mound builders lived. All the research I have done finds only caucasin sounding names but my understanding is that her father changes their names sometime in the early 1800s. Their last name became West - which was what their last name had been in their native language prior to that. There was alot of name changing going on back then. My maternal grandmothers side of the family changed their name from MacLaren to Lawrence. Alice West - my supposidly Caddo Great great grandmother married a boy named Ruffin Bishop. The last name Bishop came from his father in the 1700s - John "son of the" Bishop - a ******* child of a priest who had no real last name. And thats just on my mothers side of the family. As you can see, getting understanding from her side is a bit tough. If Alice West was actually a Caddo indian, that means I have one great great grandmother who was indian and everyone else was Scottish (on my mothers side). Father is german through and through. But, chances are she wasnt a Caddo indian and we are just a bunch of redneck scotts. Either way I am curious about the culture.
Anyway - not sure why I am here, just - I want to learn more. I want exposure to resources to learn.
Thank you for reading.
(sorry , couldn't help myself ! )
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