How much Native American Blood

[JanusAscending]

is considered enough to be a member of a Clan? I am of the Onondaga ,or Mohawk clan of the Iroquois Nation. Originating in the Catskill Mountains of N.Y. State. Still trying to get confirmation of which Clan.

[cleofus1]

1. it depends on the clan

contact the tribal council and ask them...some tribes are extremely liberal about this...for example...if your granpa looked at an indian once...the cherokees will let you in...other tribes can be much much stricter...

hey just joking...

[JanusAscending]

2. Thank you for replying to my post.

I've had discussions with H20Man in regards to this. Because my family settled in the Walton, Long Eddy, Oneonta areas of NY state, and because more than half of my heritage is Scotch/Irish, we arrived at the conclusion that my Gr. Gr. Grandmother Addison was from the Onondaga tribe (clan). She was full blooded and I am under the impression that makes me 1/16. Unfortunately I have no pictures of her. This is one "branch" of the family that wasn't discussed very often. I understand that the records are no longer available, so I'm relying on one of my remaining Aunts to find out where she is buried. H20Man said he was going to ask one of his Elder Aunts from the same area, if she has any recollection of the family name "Addison" . It's so sad that the history of an entire culture can be eradicated unless you have an Oral history. I feel that in my final years, I am missing much that I have a NEED to know. Understand where I'm coming from? Peace! Oye Mitakuye Oyasun DC

[cleofus1]

3. yes i understand

but it takes some real documentation to get on the "rolls"...have you contacted the tribal government as i suggested? the "impression" that you may be 1/16 seems to be mighty thin criteria for membership to a clan...you could not do that in most tribal entities...although i think there are a few that would...
sometimes i feel it is ironic that becouse of my brown skin and black hair and brown eyes and "indian" features...me and my wife (and our familys) have been hunted, killed, displaced and generally treated like shit by white people. and yet there are white people who feel compelled to trace every last drop of native blood...that they may or may not have...i am 2 gens removed from hunter gatherer farmers...my wife is just one generation removed...she was born in the villages and raised in the big city...where she was bullied and mocked by the white kids...
maybe the point, if there is one< to this post is that...you should not have to hire sherlock holms to verify your culture...or for that matter your lineage...i just look around me....and there it is...i just look in the mirror and there i am...for me and my family there is no escaping it...though i daresay none of us would given the choice...
once again call the tribal entity you feel you may be related to and ask them for assistance...perhaps a call to the department of the interior may help...

[cleofus1]

4. ok it's not like its an exclusive club...

do you have any family photos that look like this?




then maybe you're an indian (or eskimo)

[JanusAscending]

6. No , to my regret.

I think you misunderstand my motives. I'm alone now except for my grown children, and grandchildren. Just me and my dog are constant companions. I'm turning 67 in January. My Mom and Dad died within the past 3 yrs. and I lost my husband of 39 yrs. two years ago. I don't want to put in any claims to any one that I "am an Indian"My G.G. Grandmother Addison, walked her path home to her maker before I was born. Never saw her picture, or her parents pictures. This was circa mid 1800's. I doubt that anyone they even knew could afford a camera. My only reason for "my search" for my heritage, is so I can tell, and tell..and tell....my grandchildren (the 7th generation) as much as I can find out. Unfortunately my family didn't think it mattered enough to tell me, the first grandchild of the 5th generation. (that's as far back as I have been able to get on my family tree.) I guess when one gets older, things of this nature become more important.By the way, the PRINCE of a man that I married was also a black man. Inside my soul is crying, because you sound a little like I offended you. If I did I'm sorry. Are you a little bit bitter towards "white eyes" who claim to have Indian blood? If you are I couldn't really blame you! I FEEL your culture, deep down in my soul. Who knows, maybe I was living in the Sacred Mountains in a former life? Peace! DC

[Lowell]

14. My grandmother used to tell us

it takes a lot of fry bread and macaroni to make an indian. Of course some of her grandchildren were cotton tails and some of us had great year round tans, with no tan lines. I think the important thing is to have ties to your relatives and native community. Otherwise you loose your heirtage. If the bloodline is there it can be found.

[IA_Seth]

13. Lol..that almost pissed me off.

I wish it were that easy.

My grandma's mother (my great grandma) was full Cherokee, but unfortunately my 1/8 isn't good enough...at least as far as I know.

I am almost SURE my grandpa probably looked at her a time or two..

[Broken_Hero]

16. hmm....

Cherokee Nations blood quantum is based on a decendency rule...if you can prove that one of your ancestors was in fact a cherokee indian, you can get on the roles of Cherokee nation, hence Clefus earlier post, about looking at an Indian, and the cherokee might take you in. I have met many cherokee's who have such a small amount of indian blood get on the roles by proving decendancy....:)

[cleofus1]

5. can you imagine her thinking....

"i must try to confirm that i am part white!" (at least 1/16)..."my great great grandmother was one of the romanovs!"



i know i am about as subtle as a bull in a china shop...

[JanusAscending]

7. I get your drift .

It's also amazing how if a child has a black father, and she's almost as white as her mother, she is considered black according to American law. She tried to put bi-racial on her paperwork when she enlisted in the Army, and they told her if she had "one drop of black blood in her, she was considered black. But if I want to embrace my Native American ancestry, which I am sure exists, it doesn't work the same way. Why is that do you suppose? Help me understand this, please.

[cleofus1]

8. ok

merely my observations...you certainly don't have to buy into my thoughts...i'm just expressing them...
in closing i would like to say that good old fashioned ribbing is part of the native culture...in other words take what i have to say with a grain of salt and a smile...and once again good luck on tracing your roots...

[JanusAscending]

9. Gottcha Brudder!

Sometimes I'm just too sensitive for my own good! I do perceive others feelings, so all is good? I really ,really do have a good sense of humor, I do..I do....I do! I guess I'm getting frustrated with the way things are going in this world, and I need to lighten up. Thank you for your help.........:pals:

[cleofus1]

10. no problem

in fact i hope you forgive me for being a bit rough...

[Iktomiwicasa]

11. Onandaga and Mohawk....

...are seperate nations. Both of them were, and are part of the original Five Nations (later Six Nations with the inclusion of the Tuscarora Nation) of the Iroquois Confederacy.

[JanusAscending]

12. Thanks,

Sorry it took so long for me to reply. I was under the impression from my geneology that my G. G. Grandmother was Mohawk, but after corresponding with H20Man, he thought perhaps we were of the Onandaga, because of the area of N.Y. State my family was from. I was aware that they are both of the Iroquois "Nation"? (Confederacy) This is very confusing to this novice. I take it that a Confederacy is a group of Nations that consist of many tribes or Clans? Are Clans the same as ....say my Irish side of the family.....the Campbell Clan, or the Scottish MacRabie Clan? Would you be willing to fill me in a little! Ya know, help me get a clue?:hi: Our family is from Delaware County in the beautiful Catskill Mountains.

[Waya]

15. There are six Tribes....

in the Confederacy. The Confederacy itself is known under one name - Iroquois. The six Tribes are: Seneca, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga and the Tuscarora. The people of these tribes are also known as the Haudenosaunee - People of the Long House.
The Seneca are "Onodowohgah" ("People of the Hill Top")and the 'Keepers of the Western Door'.
The Cayugas are "Guyohkohnyo" (People of the Great Swamp.
The Onondaga are "Onundagaono" (People of the Hills).
The Oneida are "Onayotekaono" (People of the Standing Stone)
The Mohawks are "Kanienkehaka" 'Keepers of the Eastern Door'.

The Tuscarora are a Tribe which orginated in North Carolina and they moved to New York and partially into Canada.

Within each of these Tribes are 'Clans'. Clans are 'Families'. The Wolf Clan, Bear Clan, Turtle Clan, Deer Clan, etc, etc.
Members of the same Clan were not allowed to marry.

And the lineage is maternal. For instance: A woman of the Bear Clan marries a man of the Wolf Clan - the children are members of the Bear Clan.

Hope this gives you a little insight to start with.
If you have any further questions, just ask

;-)