| Osiyo! |
| Tsi-lu-gi a-s-gi waya o-we-nv-sv |
| Relax, enjoy, stay awhile. |
| Wado. |
| Do-na-da-go-hv-i. |
| Osiyo! |
| I am Debbie, and would like to welcome you to my home. I have been researching my ancestry for years-looking for my "niche"-so to speak. Really, I am searching more for the paper trail needed to prove my heritage - I know and have always known exactly who I am and where I belong. I am Cherokee. Unfortunately, Native Americans are the only people who are required to have documentation and paperwork as proof of their heritage. It is shameful that we must provide written proof of what we know in our hearts and our souls to be true. It has been a long and difficult search,with many brick-walls that may never be overcome. But I have faith that someday, when the time is right, that one vital piece of proof will present itself to me. Everything in its' own time... I am Tsalagi, as is my father, and his father. I have only been able to trace back as far as my great grandmother and have no written documentation, only the oral history of my family and the truth in my heart. Many of the elders in my family have passed on, so there are few left to hand down the family history. I was born later in my fathers' life, so I was too young to remember alot of my family...thus, my search continues. |
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| The Success of Assimilation |
| In some respect, the United States goal of Native American assimilation has been, at least, partly achieved. Broken blood ties and untraceable relations make the task of filling in one's family tree virtually impossible. What remains is millions of Americans caught in limbo- denied their heritage, the privilage of knowing their relatives, their ancestors, and their history. On August 24, 1978, the U.S. government enacted a law that continued the assimilation process.The Federal Acknowledgement Program stated that one's Native lineage must meet certain stipulations and must be traceable on paper. Once evidence is presented, your Native American heritage may be, or may not be, granted. Native people are the only group in the United States with such pedigree requirements. Author unknown |
| I have given credit for text and graphics I have used on my site when I am aware of ownership-if I have missed giving you credit for something here that is yours, please e-mail me and I will immeadiately correct the oversite or remove the item as you desire. Wado. |
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