Ya' Hear Jimi?

JIMI HENDRIX

In the depth of his genius and originality the gem of his words, "When the power of love is greater than the love of power the world will know peace." came forth like the hot waters of geysers in the lands the Americans stole from the Nez Perce, the Absaroka and others to establish the worlds' first national park: Yellowstone.

Jimi Hendrix being a Black Indian meant a great deal to Native people who knew this and to Black Indians who understood the danger of being or admitting to being a mixed breed in those days... It took great commitment to his art to free himself as the musical conduit, and others in the 1960's collective struggles to change lives, and to change the world as they knew it. Jimi Hendrix represents many things. In 2012 he is strange because the concept of freedom he lived and embodied then does not live in the current phenomenon of today's dictatorial patriotism stilted in an idea of freedom in the narrow spheres of one class of people. – Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 5/23/12 

Symbols worn by Sher Nero-Mejia. 

White force on NDN lives.

Not every Colored man was not from a tribe. Many Native men and women had to make a choice in the early 1900's between what kind of 'nigger' they were to be. Many Indians, even centuries earlier amongst the 13 colonies, chose to be mistaken for Negroes.

A sad piece of history. - Dawn Wolf, Keeper of Stories Nov. 22, 2016 

Negro men, some Indian. Early 20th century.

NDNs, the Government & the Pipelines

art work by Dolly Assinewe

"Thinking about the controversy about oil pipelines on the land of Indian nations it must be known that what needs to be understood about the concerns of big business and big government is simple. When a people have been rendered invisible governments and corporations can do with us as they see fit. We don't exist except as an idea, or a character from a romantic past that was least of all romantic.

How do we make Americans see us?" - Gregory E. Woods, Creek, African, Crow

A.I.M symbol.

Telling old stories as new ...

Cooking pot over coals.

Afro Texan Meals of the enslaved.

Afro-Texans described in great detail how they prepared their food. Corn became hominy, corn dodgers (formed into pones by the fingers of the cook), fried corn, roasting ears, hoecakes and ashcakes—corn mush formed into thick patties and wrapped in a collard or corn shuck leaf, corn meal dumplings, hush puppies, crackling bread, and coosh-coosh—a corn mush dish of Senegambian origin eaten with milk or syrup—or kush—a cornbread scramble made with onions, salt, and red peppers. 

Corn cobs were added to green wood to smoke meat, and parched grains of corn or toasted corn meal were used to make ersatz coffee. Rice could accompany fish dishes, and stews. Wheat, a common plantation crop, rarely found its way into the homes of the enslaved as a staple. Many formerly enslaved Texans reported having a special biscuit a week—strictly on Sundays, and only rarely did they taste waffles (which required a special mold), pancakes, white bread and other delicacies usually reserved for the slave owner’s table. Some of this wheat flour became a special dessert dumpling, boiled in reduced mustang or muscadine grape juice in the manner of the Cherokees, Creeks and Choctaw. - anon

house of Iyonna Brown's grandfather born 1895 died 1985.

This is a piece of my history.

"...my grandparents home.. he raised 10 children here..no running water.. there is a outhouse in the back.. there use to be an old swing on the porch...no glass windows.. just wooden pull to. The kitchen was off the back porch....they drew water from the well out back...

My grandfather came to Quitman as a railroad man and met my grandmother at her sister's boarding house. my grandfather was born in 1895 and died on 1985. Before he died.. he was honored as the oldest in his church. With the most grandkids, great grandkids and great-great grandkids.....

my dad was the 7th child.. and there are 14 of us.. and all his other siblings had more than 5 children....." ~ Iyonna Brown 

To Be Separated



art by Victoria Hogan, a mixed-blood as she describes herself. (2016)

Indian Mixed Blood Medicine Circle


There are so many of us mixed blood out there in the world who feel cut off from their heritage but feel the red spirit within their hearts. That is the purpose we have come together here to learn and share with each other in this medicine circle.

So many of the ways have been lost and so many times we find that when we turn to some of the full bloods or full blood groups they are more concerned about percentage of blood that flows through a person's veins then they are keeping the old teachings alive for future generations.

In the teachings I received many many years ago as a young woman the first teaching I learned was that of the medicine wheel and it's meanings. There are 4 colors to the medicine wheel....red, white, black, yellow. If one stops and thinks about it there are also 4 colors of mankind..red, black,white, and yellow

Through Wallace Black Elk's teaching (he was old Black Elk's son).whom I met in the summer of my 17th year I was taught that when all four colors join together in peace that would be the time there could be a lasting and true peace. I have followed that all my life.

I had a dream one night almost a year ago that woke me up in the middle of the night feeling angry. I dreamed of sitting at a fire with native peoples of different tribes who had gathered to share teachings of their respective people. They were angry and had asked those of mixed blood to step away from the fire so they could begin.

I realized that many groups here on Facebook are the same way. They are more interested in blood quantums than they are about anything else and so many are turned away from the good red road that Creator would have his children walk.

I had to question within myself these actions and beliefs for do we not start and end many ceremonies with the words Mitakuye Oyasin (We are all relatives)? Then how can any be shut out, turned away or shunned. Do they not hear the teachings of our elders as they hold so tightly to what some believe is for them and them alone?

Black Elk taught that if a person has one drop of native blood he or she is native. He also taught that it is what lives within the heart of each person is much more important then the color of their skin for is not each of our hearts red?

Did not Black Elk teach that if a person has one drop of native blood he or she is native. He also taught that it is what lives within the heart of each person is much more important then the color of their skin for is not each of our hearts red?

I got up out of bed, went to my laptop and put this group together. It eased my anger enough that I was able to go back to bed and fall asleep. Now look at us. We have turned into a small nation, a tribe unto ourselves where we can hold our heads high and be proud of who we are!

We are over 15,000 in number. Can you picture a village that large in the old days? That would mean a pony herd of at least 45,000 plus. Can you smell the 15,000 cooking fires? An overwhelming thought to say the least. Of course that would have been impossible as we know for finding enough game to fill those cooking pots and finding grazing for that many ponies....lol. But as in the old days we are scattered across the land, even the continents, each with our own dialects and traditions.

This fills my spirit with a feeling I have no words for. Do each of you realize what we have accomplished here? We in a way are living the vision that Black Elk had, bring it to life so to speak.
We are here together, red, white, yellow and black sharing the teachings peacefully as ONE TRIBE...ONE NATION....IN UNITY !!! I am overwhelmed at seeing this happen.
Blessings to each of you in our tiyospia (extended family).

May Creator look upon us in a good way as we journey together down this red road, down this path to our ancestor's teachings and the ways we have felt dormant in our hearts as a big piece missing from our souls.
Welcome home!

Mitakuye Oyasin (All my relatives). Jean Wolf
Ska Anpetu Wichapi Winyan (White Morningstar Woman)

 

July 23, 2015



the 4 Colors, the 4 Peoples Circle

 

Flags embody . . .

Art work of Woodland Indian war party



 Black Indians like me find it is and has always been a contradiction of fact and emotion to be in the presence of the American flag, and causes the spirit to recoil from the obligation to pledge alleigience to the flag. Beautiful women wearing them as attire do not distract from the anguish the flag has covered up with dictatorial patriotism. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 4.7.16
















Taino Indians of Puerto Rico live in the DNA of 61% of the country's people



Sweatlodge set up at Abrams Creek, their first.

 

PAPER

When Four Guns of the Oglala Sioux spoke his words those many years ago saying, "The white people must think that paper has some mysterious power to help them in the world. The Indian needs no writings; words that are true sink deep into this heart, where they remain. He never forgets them. On the other hand, if the white man loses his papers, he is helpless." 

This world view or perception of the world has been altered by paper, time and oppression and loss. The minds of the People are shaped differently because of the introduction of paper. Paper has reshaped our right relationship with our land, and it has subjugated us in ways our prophets shuddered in the telling of their dreams and visions. 

In this reality of paper our memories and the strength of remembering weakened under the weight and power of paper.When the white man wrote away the existence of whole people we saw the powers of paper. When the white people created the idea of blood quantum on paper our nature was changed, and who we are was no longer defined by our tradition. We became Indians by some else's powers on paper." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 7.10.14 

Black Native Americans... True Story of the Indigenous Peoples {aka Trib...



my Great Grandfather Samuel Issac Montgomery Adair (Pops, as I knew him) 1882-1962.



Gregory (Creek/African) & Naazima (Cherokee/African) drumming at Gail & Yani's wedding november 2014



Nakai Diné'é woman Radmilla Cody by Robert Doyle



Crispus Attucks, Natick - African man first to die for Revolutionary War

of The Pope

When the Pope was visiting Washington DC my evening was with a small group Black Indians. We were in a mosque on Pennsylvania Avenue meeting about the upcoming anniversary of the Million Man March coming up on the 10th of October. Someone asked about thoughts on the Pope's visit. Silence fell on the People. Finally, a friend of mine from Cameroon said, "The Pope? You mean the one who blessed the slave ships? Who said we were not people and agreed the Doctrine of Discovery was enough?"

We all fell out laughing and that was the end of the discussion about the Pope. - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories (Oct. 6, 2015)


 

African-Native Americans: We Are Still Here!

Kaiyentowah Rose, Cherokee/Shinnecock

African-Native Americans

Many people believe racial and ethnic groups in North America have always lived as separately as they do now. However, segregation was neither practical nor preferable when people who were not native to this continent began arriving here. Europeans needed Indians as guides, trade partners and military allies. They needed Africans to tend their crops and to build an infrastructure.

Later, as the new American government began to thrive, laws were drafted to protect the land and property the colonists had acquired. These laws strengthened the powers of slave owners, limited the rights of free Africans and barred most Indian rights altogether. Today, black, white and red Americans still feel the aftershock of those laws.

In order to enforce the new laws, Indians and Africans had to be distinguished from Europeans. Government census takers began visiting Indian communities east of the Mississippi River in the late 1700s and continued their task of identifying, categorizing, and counting individuals and "tribes" well into the 20th century. In the earlier days of this process, Native American communities that were found to be harboring escaped African slaves were threatened with loss of their tribal status, thereby nullifying their treaties with the U.S. government and relinquishing all claims to their land.

Despite the restrictions imposed by the U.S. government, Indians and Africans still managed to form close bonds. Some Native American communities ignored the laws and continued to aid fleeing African slaves. Some free Africans aided displaced Indians. Sometimes the two groups came together in "prayer towns" -- European communities that welcomed and protected converts to Christianity, regardless of race. Sometimes, Indian women married African men when the number of men in their own communities was decimated by war or natural disaster. Some Native Americans listed themselves as "Negro" or "mixed" in order to retain ownership of their land.


DID YOU KNOW ???

At the time of Columbus, the subcontinent of India was referred to as Hindustan or the Deccan. The European term for indigenous peoples all over the world was "Indians" from the Spanish "In Dios" meaning "God's people".

Some Native Americans refused to sign the census rolls during the 18th and 19th centuries, some refused to register with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or to allow themselves to be "removed" to "Indian Territory" in Oklahoma during the 1800s. As a result, many of their descendants grew up in urban environments instead of on reservations. This isn't the image of Native American experience most people carry in their heads but, in this part of the country, it is quite prevalent.

There are no villages tucked away in Suffolk county -- or anywhere else, for that matter -- where people live in teepees, hunt with bows and arrows and cook over open fires. Our lives reflect the same diversity as any other cultural group in America. We are wealthy, middle class and impoverished. We are educated and ignorant. We are employed and unemployed. We are Americans.

What sets American Indian cultures apart from many others is our attitude toward life. Simply stated, we believe we were not born ON this Earth, we were born OF this Earth. In other words, the Earth is our mother and we would no sooner mistreat her than you would the woman who raised you. This is the primary ingredient in the cultural glue that holds us all together.

Hollywood has taught us to associate the facial features you see here with red skin and sweeping Southwestern vistas, yet these people have skin tones that range from coffee to cream and most live in the New York metropolitan area. They are of African descent but they are also Blackfoot, Canarsie, Caribe, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Lenape, Matinecock, Mohawk, Munsee, Ramapo, Shinnecock, Seminole, Unkechaug, Taino. They have spiritual names in addition to the names that appear on their birth certificates; they dance at powwows wearing full regalia; they have naming ceremonies for their children. Some of them speak indigenous languages, some fast on the full moon in accordance with ancient religious beliefs, and all are extremely proud of their mixed heritage. They embody the intertwining of two of America's most stalwart and dynamic ethnic communities.

DID YOU KNOW ??? The first slaves in the "New World" were Indians. However, colonists found them difficult to contain -- they knew the surrounding countryside and those who had not been captured often organized successful rescue efforts. For a time, slave merchants continued to raid Native American communities along the central and southern shores of the Eastern Seaboard and to encourage local warriors to barter captives they would otherwise kill for European trade goods. The women and children the merchants acquired were sold alongside Africans to buyers in the north while the men were shipped to plantations in the Caribbean.

"AFRICAN-NATIVE AMERICANS : WE ARE STILL HERE" is based on an exhibit, curated by Ms. Eve Winddancer and with photos by Mr. Louis B. Myers, at the William and Anita Newman Library, 3rd fl.

Eve Winddancer Young is an artist, advocate, and independent producer in NYC.
Louis B. Myers is a Freelance Photographer in NYC. In addition to the current exhibit, he has done two additional ones for the Newman Library, Latino Entrepreneurs in New York City and African American Entrepreneurs in New York City.

Dawn Wolf in ceremony in Washington DC 2015

 

WHO IS A LADY?

Asian beauty of Yunjin Kim 

Qi Shu ¹⁹

Link to Elle MacPherson 

pure white beauty of Elle MacPherson, model

I was talking to an Elder, a Clan Mother yesterday. We often talk at length at least twice a week on a variety of subjects. There is a lot to discuss as an Elder about the many things that gather life together. A lot of joking goes on in Native communities despite the concerns threatening the edges of our identities and validity of our existence and between us it was no different. Clan Mother and I share a spiritual heritage with our African and Native bloodlines, so you can imagine how deeply and encompassing our talks are. 

I brought up a subject. Setting it up I had to speak about the panel of the CBS television show, The Doctors. I am not a fan of the show. The tone of it turns me immediately off, but occasionally I tune in, or like yesterday when the TV came on it was on. There are two new members, two women. I described the first as a Black woman with a wig, I suspected and the other a white lady with... The Elder cut me off.

"You see what you said?"

"What?" 

"Did you hear what you said?" 

"Yes. No. What did you hear?"

"You referred to the Black lady as a woman, and the white woman as a lady!" I didn't get it. She continued with an edge in her voice to simply explain the language I used was tied to an insistence that women be distinguished by classifications denoting superiority of one over the other. The Bible, she explained, talked of women being made after man, and women not made, but fashioned by God. White people insisted and drummed it into Black people that a woman is a lady if she is white, and forever a woman, but never referred to as a lady is the lot of Black women. I didn't realized this. I'd no recollection of Mommy talking about these things. I knew the word 'lady' vacillated between a woman who was dignified, or trashy. The vernacular of the word was in songs and roughly referred to in the language of tough men on film and on any given corner men congregated to talk about women and leer at them. I sat for a while bringing it all in. If I summed this up I'd be talking about language; the language of what is pure white standards. 

Gregory E. Woods

Keeper of Stories 9.18.14 

 

Eva Mendes wearing a white shirt.

Julianna Margulies ⁷⁸ Eva Longoria ⁸⁰⁴ Bridget Moynahan ⁵⁴ Lauren Hutton ²² Traci Bingham ¹⁰⁵ Tyra Banks ¹⁸⁸ 
Carrie Anne Moss ⁶¹ 

pretty legs of Ann Margret, actress 

eyes of a beautiful woman of color

dark beautiful woman's seductive allure 

STRENGTHEN by word & deeds

fetish model Psylocke by Anna Ósk Photography

Anna Ósk Photography

"... We should live our own lives according to our own Destiny – in other words, how we want to live and not how others want us to live. There is a lot that can be done, even when you’re living in a high rise apartment and trying to hold down two or three jobs. There is always something, even if it’s just a crumb, a breadcrumb, that you will have left over at the end of the day, which you can give and in doing so, give with a deep and heartfelt intention to be part of the Life Spiral. It will be like the widow’s mite. It comes back a thousand-fold....” - Ishtar Babilu Dingir  

Black Seminoles 

Black Indian United Legal Defense & Education Fund

triracial

An interesting study...

http://linux. library.appstate .edu/lumbee/ 18/DANI003. htm

Provides a brief, helpful discussion of "triracial isolate," a social 
science term, noting at the outset that "many of their members reject 
such labeling, and they are not a single identifiable group. . . . 
The common attributes of these communities have less to do with 
cultural bonds than with similarities in experience and in living 
conditions that unite them in their refusal to accept the United 
States binary racial project" (p. 68). Daniel also notes, in defining 
this concept, that there are approximately two hundred triracial 
isolate groups in the eastern United States (especially the 
southeast); that they have varying amounts of Native American, 
African American, and European American ancestry; and that they tend 
to live (at least, they did during the formation of the community) in 
the edges of towns and in isolate rural areas. He characterizes them 
as pluralistic in terms of their stance toward race, meaning that 
they believe an oppressed group should work to "recover its own sense 
of itself and become more effective as a collective force in the 
world. They envision . . . a process of dissimilation that would 
create intergroup accommodation, or a mosaic of mutually respectful, 
separate social and ethnic pluralities with equal status both in law and in fact" (pp. 119-120).

The specific discussions of the Lumbee are brief, recounting basic 
historical facts. In another section, Daniel discusses an incident in 
1954-1955 involving Allen Platt and family, who moved from Holly 
Hill, South Carolina to Mount Dora (Lake County), Florida. When 
Platt's children started attending school, their classmates 
speculated to their parents, who then talked to the county sheriff, 
about their racial background. The White supremacist sheriff visited 
the Platt home, urging the children to stay out of school until the 
matter could be investigated. The principal, school board, and 
superintendent agreed. The matter escalated into a court case (Allen 
Platt et al. v. the Board of Public Instruction of Lake County, 
Florida). The defendants' case alluded to the fact that on some 
public records, the Platts were called Croatian (Daniel's error for 
Croatan) Native Americans, ". . . and Webster's dictionary defined 
Croatians (sic) as people of blended Native American, European 
American, and African American ancestry" (p. 71). See PLAT001 for 
more details on the Platt case.  

July 23, 2008 

REVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT

"The key is not to argue and bicker over who is allegedly more worthy. But, instead honor our ancestors who were, and are our mentors and role models. By uniting behind an agenda which advances all of our relations, our best interests, etc.; any alleged  leaders, (Red, Black or other), who aren't a reflection of that aren't worth even mentioning...FYI!" 

- Charles Thompson Jr. 9.7.14 

Native American art - MEN

Native art - Grandmother sharing 

POSTPONEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT !!!!

July 12, 2014
To whom it may concern:


There is a long tradition amongst the many tribes of North America respecting the authority of tribal councils, and the power of a person's vision. A vision was born in Jay Winter Night Wolf that led from receiving the dream, to learning how and where to lay the vision from one of our Grandmothers, to the planning and the practical work involved in the manifestation of The First Gathering of the National Congress of the Black American Indians and “All Our Relations”!

In the last of the month of June 2014 the tribal council that was formed to make ready the First Gathering of the National Congress of the Black American Indians and “All Our Relations” made a decision and agreed to postpone the July 19, 2014 gathering, as advertised. We were not structurally ready, in the short time frame imposed by He Who Carried The Vision, to give an excellent gathering for the People.

I sit on that tribal council. We voted. I voted. Our chief had the last word.


Gregory E. Woods, Tribal Council member
Juliette Porter, Tribal Council member

Black Indians And Intertribal Native American Association

My Black Don't Crack

Walking the Red Road
 

 

In 1986 when I started Binay AKA Black Indians And Intertribal Native American Association. I have to admit I knew we would get flack. Also, we would stir up the world. I knew that it was something burnt in my heart because Creator had put it in my heart. Now nearly 30 years later I still find it that people have a problem with the word black in front of Indian. So maybe I can shed a little bit of why I feel this is a good thing.

Everyone knows about Natives, Whites, Blacks, Chinese  and so forth. But most do not know about Blacks and Natives. Now the reason why you see the Black Ancestry come through so much in a mixed blood Native with Afro inside of them is because those who came over here of African pure blood was the strongest Africa had in Genetic pool. Just think of the rigoress atrocities they went through to get chosen, then weened out and then cast inside a boat like sardines and those who where weak died off and those who where of the strongest breed and strongest health and strongest spirit and strongest of everything inside of them to live on were the ones that made it here....................

With that said, being of such strong genetics if you mixed with anyone of a different race you would see the stronger gene show up in the children. And thought that is thinning out quite a bit as we all mix that is the way it was in early America.

The Colonials gave the 5 so called Civilized tribes thousands of pure African Slaves to assimilate them. Those who married had children and thus here you and I are: Black or African Indian. I love the word Black its full of Power and Might its the best of Africa!! Its awesome Word and though we are not from Indian we are associated with the Native word. So we are BlackIndians!! And those who don't like it must contend with the truth and facts that we exist and we are a Proud people. Moving forward with Power spirit and heart to keep our ancestry alive.

I had a Hidatsa Mandan woman enroll her children onto our tribal rolls of our association and when I asked her why she said I love my children and they are Black Indians. I also had a Hawaiian woman enroll her daughters into our tribe because of the same reason. We are a people who do not need BIA to tell us who we are. We are who we are not by choice but by Creation by our Creator. And so we must accept ourselves and we a people who can shine a light into darkness and make aware that which is not known. That our people exists and alive and well today.

Yes, 30 years ago I created our own Tribal rolls long before Katz wrote Black Indians a Hidden Heritage and long before those books came out because I saw the problems of racism at Pow wows and festivals and events where Black Natives where shunned. I didn't like what I saw and made sure that just because I had long hair and red-brown skin I made sure that those at the drum with me treated those with African Blood were treated equally. That is why I formed BlackIndians.com. It was time to create our own way keeping our ancestry in tacked and making sure that we continued in our ancestors foot steps. I love the word Black Indian because its empowerment of two great people who forged themselves together to create a great people. I love the word blackindian because it speaks of a duality that sings to my spirit that says I know who I am, and I am proud. And I do not have to chose to be one or the other. But I can be who our Creator created me to be and that is the love and power of them both.

Can you say that about other races? Sure you can, if that's what you want to do but no one has our legacy and it takes Black + Indians to = BlackIndians. That is who we are.

Comments welcomed

Chief Jerry Eaglefeather
BlackIndians.com

STORIES OF BLACK INDIANS

The question came from Elias Provitt: "Why do so many White individuals and White mixed Natives get so angry at the thought of Blacks Natives? Many get so upset, have anyone else noticed this?" The responses came in a flood. Here are a few including mine! 

Tanya Joubert-Auzenne Yes, it happens all the time...even with black people. My great grandmother's tribe doesn't want to hear about any blacks "claiming" to be part Native. They think people are after their money which comes from the casino. Also, most blacks think I'm lying about being part Native American.

Cathy Nottingham Well whites think they r the true natives n blacks natives for some reason want to proved they have more native blood then most black natives.



Sherri Eddowes-Plummer Elias Provitt: Yes, I have noticed what you mention . . . But the matter of "Bloodline" is a long-standing "Value" in so-called "American Culture/Society" . . . Perhaps it's a response to the presumption of Privilege/Authority derived from & enforced by European Nobility/Aristocracy(?)


Edward Brownbear I guess it depends on the tribe, cause most natives I know absolutely despise white folks and only accept a handful of a chosen few.

Black Indian children in regalia 

Yolanda Rowe I've noticed it. I'll share a bit (well, maybe more than a bit) on the subject.

My cousin who lives in Norfolk, VA was approached by a member of one of the southeastern tribes. Out of the blue, he asked my cousin where he was from, meaning which tribe. My cousin explained that we are not affiliated, but identified the locations where kin are found. This dude was not pale, blond or blue-eyed. He'd recently attended a pow wow in Virginia (don't know which one) and was made to feel most unwelcome. He told my cousin that the attitude was best conveyed by, "Boy, you don't belong here." The attitude didn't change much, even when the gentleman presented his tribal identification.

Memories are long. The Virginia Indians have lived through the efforts to disestablish their tribes and remove them from their reservations because they have too much African blood. So, they fought in the courts and their mixed relatives moved off the reservation. Isn't it funny how It only ever mattered if the non-native blood was African? English or any other European group never counted against them.

Family may recognize you, but not when it comes to anything official. They are still just as determined to keep what belongs to the tribe. That's my experience. I have found more acceptance here, but I did have a 'lady' come up to me at a pow wow and berate me for photographing. The sign said, "No flash photography." Lots and lots of cameras and cellphones cams were out and flashing. I was the only one who had a bit more color and was using fancy gear. I wasn't the only one with pro-level gear. She walked right by one guy using a big ole strobe to attempt to intimidate me. Can't imagine why that was...

Virginia being Virginia, many of her residents of European ancestry never got the memo that the Confederacy lost the dang war, slavery has ended and not every person of color has to kiss their behinds.



Cypreunia Simmons I agree Tanya lot of Native Americans have an issue with blacks.I experience it ALL the time here in AZ. Native Americans have had more of an issuse with me being Native then any other people. Thats sad Smh


Cathy Nottingham Well Edward FBI's we're not the problem with me. My experiences in the 70's were with black individuals n it were not positive. Has it changed I think so but still has a very long way to go. I attended a hobbiest powwow in the early nineties in Illinois. My daughter n I were dressed in our regalia n as we approach the circle I noticed it was roped off. We simply lift the rope up n sat dw. A white lady came up n said, miss I am sorry that section is for dancers only! I stood up and said what the hell do u think I have on a Halloween outfit!! Are do u think indians are white? If u think that then I will filed a law suit against u. She immediately said she was sorry n walked away. I looked around n behold every one was a pale face. There are many non indians that blends in with Indians and passed with no problems. If u noticed in the circle there are many mixed natives claiming family ties to full bloods and they are not related. Why hmmm maybe it gives them a feeling of acceptance?


Yolanda Rowe Cathy Nottingham, you're on point about non-Indians passing as and blending. Folks put too much stock in appearance. There are people that would willingly believe that I'm Latina/Hispanic before they would believe that I am of African and Native American descent. And with some of the hoops that a placed before us, I'd more likely qualify as Latina; I can read and speak Spanish. I do not speak or read Virginia Algonquian.


Tanya Joubert-Auzenne It's true, whites are accepted more by Indians. Many are married to them and have children where I'm from. You will never see them with blacks.

I am not affiliated with my Native relatives in fear that they wouldn't accept my family and me .

Years ago, I worked with a member of my great grandmother's tribe, and I explained to her about my relation. All she said was "they did that back then". What she meant was they were with blacks.

I also asked her how I could go about contacting the tribe concerning my ggmother. She told me a few things, and made me promise I wouldn't mention her name. Her response told me a great deal about what to expect.

I would love to find out more about that part of my heritage, but sadly I don't feel confident nor comfortable pursing it.

Cathy Nottingham on the left in yellow.
December 12, 2010 

 

Yvonne Almore Cathy Nottingham, when my family started participating in pow wows in California, covertly the issue was there. However, we had visited our reservation, MS Choctaw, and we had contacts that helped us in many ways. We had some Mexicans and Samoans, who were perpetrators of Native Americans, felt justified in questioning our ancestors surnames. I had family oral history and research on my own and the help of the reservation. The coup de gras was when a tribal member attended the Long Beach pow wow and came up and embraced us. Never heard another mumbling word!

Jay Winter Night Wolf (Cherokee/Shoshone/African) clowning with Swift Otter (Ojibway )

This has been an interesting read and revelation! Here in Washington DC a small group of us have decided to organize into the National Congress of Black American Indians and "All Our Relations". For more information contact, or pay attention to my wall, or Verona Iriate's wall, Jay Winter Night Wolf's wall. We are gathering July 19 of this year at a church in DC...

Scholarship shows there are more Black Indians than 'other' Indians recognized by the Federal government. That being said we are in competition and war with the blood quantum laws and the defensive motives of white Indians and full bloods which has to do with survival, desperation and a peculiar affiliation with white American's fears in rather complex ways. Many of us African Indians, like myself, have spent their lives deep within the teachings of our Elders, grandparents and the spirit of the land (Turtle Island). That connection is deeper than the political ties and the adoption of white ways of existence. We need to focus our connection to Turtle Island. We need to listen to our ancestors stories and what they are telling us. 

The reason we decided to create this group is based upon the experiences similar to most Black Indians and focus on what is most important: who we are and why we became important in history and the survival of many tribes! ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 6.4.14 

Tanya Joubert-Auzenne November 6, 2013 

 

Cathy Nottingham
November 17, 2013 

 

Yolanda Rowe 
May 20, 2014