There is a legend among the people that when the time and the need is right that the people will arise stronger than before. That the lost and forgotten people will return to the ancestral fires to help remind the people of what they have forgotten. There are many people in this country who have ancestors that were Native American. Many do not care, but there are many who feel in their hearts the call of the ancestral fires. That feel the heartbeat of Mother Earth when they hear a drum, who are seeking out their heritage. Most of us who are seeking our lost heritage have no clue of how to find the missing part of our souls. Most of us have walked in the world of the whites and have never even had any contact with our ancestors’ heritage. For the first time in our lives we are asking why do I feel the need to dig deeper? Why do I feel this irresistable call to be a part of a culture that is so foreign to me? The answer is that we are feeling ancestral memories. Many Native Americans believe that the ancestors can reach out and give our lives direction. These ancestors do not wish to be forgotten and they do not wish for us to be lost from the people. We are a part of a great and rich culture that we need in our lives to make us whole. We can not be content to be only half of something. Many of us will be content to verbally acknowledge that we have Native American ancestors and then continue to live our lives as we were brought up in the white world. Many of us will continue to seek out what our hearts are telling us is right. That we are a part of a people who walked this earth before the white man. That we are a part of a tribe, a clan, a family, and that we need to return to them and become part of the whole to be complete. Our ancestors have buried this longing deep within our blood because they knew that a circle had to be whole to be strong and that even we, the children of mixed blood, are a part of the circle.

Many of our full blood brothers will reject us because they have been taught not to trust anyone who is not Indian. They have very good reasons for their distrust. They are the children of the ancestors who have stood strong in protecting the way of the people. Even today in what is considered our enlightened society the American Indian is still fighting for equality. No other people in America must carry a card which is issued by the United States government that proves their race. No other people in America must have the approval of the government to say whether a person can be considered part of a certain culture. From the beginning of this country the government and the influential men who were the leaders viewed the Natives of this country as a problem to be eradicated from their path. It was easier to kill them than to deal with them. From being given blankets contaminated with smallpox and measles to a President stating that “nits cause lice, so kill all even the children”, the Indian people have systematically been fighting against the genocide of their race. There is no wonder in my mind why we as mixed bloods, who have been raised as whites, cannot understand the hatred, distrust, and venom that is shown to us by our full blood brothers. How can we truly understand all that has been passed down to them when our ancestors choose to hide themselves among the race which was dedicated to exterminating an entire people? This hatred and distrust is why we must prove ourselves to our brothers.

How do we as outsiders become a part of the people and become a welcome member of their society? First it is our responsibility to learn our history. Not just the history that is given from the white perspective, but the history of the tribe that our ancestors were a part of which is taught by the members of the tribe. The only way to learn this history is from the people. How do we do that if they will not accept us? We, the outsiders, must prove ourselves trustworthy. They don’t have to prove themselves, they have lived this everyday of their lives. We are the ones who have to provide the proof that we are sincere and wish to be honored with the teachings. We have to break down the barriers of distrust. To do this we must show respect. Respect for the culture, the elders, the people, the earth, and for ourselves. To explain this best I will tell you a story of what my Grandfather told me. He overheard me once telling a friend that I was one quarter Cherokee. After that friend left my Grandfather confronted me and asked me to show him which quarter of me was Cherokee. You may think well that is easy. It is my blood lines that is one quarter, but that is not the way the Native American looks at it. To us you are either Indian or you are not. A person cannot walk in two worlds or on two paths.

After learning the history of our people we have to learn about the culture. It is our task to insure that we do not insult the beliefs of the people. Each tribe has a unique culture full of customs that are a part of their heritage. You will be surprised at what you will learn. You may even discover that some of the habits that you learned as a child are customs that have been handed down from your ancestors to keep their tribal or clan memories alive.

The final step is patience. Acceptance will not be overnight. You must be patient and not try to force your way into the circle. Forcing your way in only proves how white you are. The process of being accepted by the people may take years and it will not happen until the elders of the tribe feel you are ready to be a giving and cherished members of the tribe.

Written 2.20.2003 by Whitemoonraven

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