You know what that
means if you’ve read the Cherokee Tourism billboards around the state, and in
case you haven’t it means “Hello” in Cherokee. My family has always been proud
of our Native American blood. We are card-carrying Indians, from my paternal
grandfather’s Dawes Roll Number. When the American government did an Indian
population census, my grandfather was alive and was entered onto the roll books
as a Cherokee. Since our family can trace that lineage, we have the benefits
that the tribe offers its members. My sister and I grew up in a family where
some had dark skin, some didn’t.
Some were talkers, some were very quiet. We
were a clan, and I really never thought about “being” an Indian. There were
kids in our classes that were much darker and quieter, and they seemed to me to
be more “Indian-like”, whatever that means. I do recall reading the brief
explanation of the Trail of Tears in
our history books and being confused and thinking that a big part of the story
was left out. I certainly didn’t question the teacher.
I travel and have
conversations with people whose only concept of Oklahoma is what Hollywood or
Broadway has portrayed. I really do appreciate the OKC Thunder basketball team
as I think that has helped get us out of tepees for some people. But I surprise
people when they ask about the Indians and I’m able to say, “I’m one.” This
will launch into PB’s mini speech of what “Indian blood” means, especially for
the Cherokees who follow a matrilineal society. The savage Indians swinging
tomahawks depicted in the movies certainly looked like they needed to hit the
trail (of tears), but when I describe the removal being more like kicking the
affluent people in the nicer neighborhoods out of their homes….well, people are
surprised.
The 65th Cherokee
National Holiday was this past Labor Day Weekend in Tahlequah. Thousands of
tribal members and tourists make the trip to enjoy traditional games,
competitions, music, plus arts and crafts. There were plenty of food vendors
and even the chance to eat some fry bread. The evening Powwow was alive with
beating drums and songs in age-old tongues. Dozens and dozens of dancers in
their tribe’s costumes entertained us with their unique dance styles. The moon
was bright in the sky, the elderly and the babies sat and shared the evening
together. I was with my people.
The Cherokee Cultural
Center is worth a visit, especially if you haven’t been in the last few years.
The tribe certainly has benefited from casino income, but they reinvest their
monies into education, health, and homes for their own. Cherokee buildings like
the prison and the women’s seminary are able to be toured. There are plans for
restoring many other historical buildings, but in Chief Baker’s state of the
Nation address, he said they won’t go into debt; they will build when they have
the money. Now there’s an idea for a way to run a government.
I encourage you to
learn more about the Native American’s in your state. Wado. (thank you)
