Some clanship education............................

[Micanopy]

I dont know if this is the proper place fer this,but I would like to offer you this bit of insight into sonme ndn heritage. I hope thats ok, if it offends anyone I apologize in advance as we are respectful people and we like to joke and poke fun.

1. An uncle is some one that takes care of you even when you get into trouble. He is a guide and a mentor towards adult hood.
2. Fry bread is a way of life, not just some thing to eat.
3. There are no squaws, a "squaws" is a body part belonging to a female. Dont use that term in polite company.
4. You are a warrior, act like one, dont disgrace yer faily or your name by acting like an idiot. Be kind and gracious to everyone that enters your lodge.
5. Turn extra care towards the elders, they are elders for a reason, they earned it. Treat them as such.
6. Never refer to some one as "Chief" he may not be a head man and he damn sure might lift yer hair for it.
7. Refer to people as you would like to be refered to, such as sir, uncle.
8. No, there are no "Prinesess " in or clan, thats a white thing, we dont do that.
9. Yes, we do take care of our elders, even if we aint blood kin, we make sure thay have food, fire wood and shelter.
10. If none of this makes any sense to you, get over it, its an ndn thing and you wouldnt understand.

[beowulf]

all makes perfect sense ! those should be considered rules to live by ! course my being part indian helps I guess , that or just being brought up right ! lot of folk in this country aint as white ,or black as they think , more folk should delve into the family history ! I knew one guy who was truly shocked to find out that not only was he polish , he was jewish polish ! he used to be antisemetic ,learning the truth took care of that little problem ! my family tree is just full of mixed nuts 

[NAULTRICK1]

My Father was native, as was his father and mother, always hated the word squaw, it's what they used to call my big sis, the rest of us were just called those halfbreed b*****ds, now I take great pride in calling myself halfbreed and this is over 50 yrs later, I honestly believe that we are learning to overcome the prejudice of the past, sites like this and people like you all prove it. I only hope that I can be deserving of your friendship and not let my own prejudices rear its ugly face, Bless you all.

[halfstock]

Micanopy: I have no NAI blood in my viens even though some of my closest Indian friends say I'm more Indian than most Indians? but evidently my Irish ancestors must have had the same clanship perhaps that's why our common people got along so well and also intermingled so readily.

[sean drake]

where it be a NDN thing or not it is not hard to understand

[Ranger]

Just like halfstock said, us "micks" understand that quite well. I'm only third gen american on my fathers side. Even the uncle thing holds true. Thank you for the insite good sir.

[Bulldog lady]

My Uncle ,and I always use that term for you with the utmost respect, thank you for sharing your clan's views on how to live your life,  they are truly words that are  universal, if people would only read and follow them , regardless of their heritage,( wish I had some Indian but alas it's all German, Danish and English, but I truly believe in my heart that I should or possibly at some time was at least part Indian, ) Thanks again  for sharing your wisdom and clan's history

[gordy]

        What you look like is in the skin ---------What you are is in the heart .                Gordy ----- aka Medicine Tree !

[kybackwoodsman]

myself personally i have been raised as was all my family in kentucky.. ive known that ive got strong NAI bloodlines, on my fathers side my grandmother is 1/4 cherokee her g-mother was a full blooded cherokee woman. on my mothers side we originated out of the mountains of north carolina before they made most of it into national parks ( i.e Great smokeys ect.) my uncles and grandfather are all dark complected and have the facial features of the native that are in my ancestry from that area.. im am proud of my heritage and consider myself in my heart more of a native american that i probly am.. my irish blood has took over more of my apperance.. but i am proud of my NAI bloodlines and try to embrace as much of the heritage and history as i can.. still learning more everyday about my families past so that i can keep our heritage alive through future generations.

[voyageur1688]

  Whats inside is what counts. I am more proud and accepting of the native culture than the modern culture.  My grandpa was a half breed and I am proud of that as well as the other native blood in me. The natives had it right in how they treated others in there villages etc.
Voy

[shootrj2003]

We may not all have native american blood,but no matter who we are we had ancestor's that lived as they did and if we reach back through the millenia we could find that in those simpler earth loving times the people were probably very similar in their clan rules and ettiqette, we need to talk with our ancestor's.Some modern men don't care anymore,I think most of us in this site yearn to know of our ancient tribal heritages,native americans are lucky in a way as they are not so far removed.

[Otter]

"tis the way I was raised by my Ozark kin.

[crazell]

i have lots of kin in kentucky,ohio. our family tree has a little bit of everything in it. cherokee,german and some african-american too!! on my mom's side. dutch and shawnee on my dad's side. i was raised to be respectful. now and again i forget. and karma has a way of bring you back .. i'm an on going student from the SCHOOL OF HARD KNOCKS... i might be a mutt, but i'm a proud american .