Barbara, I, like, Patsy, beg to differ. The only difference, it seems, between you and I is that you had a chance to grow up with and learn the Choctaw culture from your family, elders, etc. I, on the other hand, did not have that luxury. Now, it's no fault of mine, nor of my family. They did what they thought best for the family at the time. OK, so does that mean that I am not as interested? NO. Does that mean that I can't learn a lot about it from the internet, books, elders, other tribal members, etc.? NO. Does it mean that I can become as knowledgable as you who grew up with it? YES. I will probably never know all that you do, nor will that bother me. I want to learn my family's history and culture. Does it mean that I may adopt some of the beliefs I learn about? PROBABLY since I've already adopted some of the Cherokee beliefs. Does it mean that you are a better "Indian" than I? NOPE. Does it mean that you are a better person, in general, than I? NOPE. I would appreciate your sharing some of the ways of the Choctaw since you are so educated in those ways. Now, I'm fully aware that there are some things that simply aren't meant to be on the internet, and I respect that. So, sister, I lay down my bundle of tobacco beside you and ask in a good way - will you help me learn? I ask this with all respect. But, with the same respect I'm also saying that I don't want to debate or argue. If you're willing to sharing information, I'm your sponge, here to soak it all up! Thanks, Barbara! Tsana ----- Original Message ----- From: Patsy Caleb <studentarchaeologist@home.com> To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 1:12 PM Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Elkdreamer, twinkies > can i disagree to that because the more i learn about my choctaw heritage > the more spiritual i become > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Barbara Ellison <greybird7@pisp.net> > To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 10:49 AM > Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Elkdreamer, twinkies > > > > "Our spirituality" is not "just an idea" and it is not something we went > to > > class and learned somewhere, or got off the internet...it is born in us > > (which is obvious to those Indians who were raised surrounded by a white > > society) and a non-Indian may be able to learn from us some things, but > they > > cannot "acquire" what they are not born with, and their attempts to put > > themselves on an "equal footing", with Indians, so to speak, is at best > > futile...and at worst, an attempt at cultural theft... > > B. > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Dusty" <dustyc@microgear.net> > > To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 8:59 PM > > Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Elkdreamer, twinkies > > > > > > > I shall play devil's advocate again and expose my rear to everyone's > > slings > > > and arrows... > > > > > > What about those people who do not "want to be NA", but just think our > > > spirituality, philosophy and way of life is a good idea. I've had > > countless > > > elders tell me, "I don't care what kind of blood you have, as long as > it's > > > human". Just because an Anglo wants to practice our ways because it > works > > > for them, doesn't mean they deserve to be belittled by a derogatory > name. > > > Are there really that many among us that are so arrogant to do so. > > > > > > Where did we ever get the idea that that we were so exclusive? Isn't > that > > > TRUE racism? > > > > > > dusty > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: John & Arla Williams <jaws@crosstel.net> > > > To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 8:45 PM > > > Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Elkdreamer, twinkies > > > > > > > > > > Elkdreamer, Where did the term come from? Arla > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Elkdreamer Wilkins" <elkdremr@hotmail.com> > > > > To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 8:38 PM > > > > Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] Elkdreamer, twinkies > > > > > > > > > > > > > Halito Fay > > > > > Mostly people that want to be N/A and really have no Indian blood at > > all > > > > > Walk in Beauty > > > > > Elkdreamer > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > > > To subscribe to CHOCTAW-SOUTHEAST-L genealogy mail list: > > > > Send msg. to CHOCTAW-SOUTHEAST-L-request@rootsweb.com > > > > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "subscribe" without the quotes > > > > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... > > > > > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > > Choctaw Home Page: > > > http://freepages.cultures.rootsweb.com/~choctaw/ > > > > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > Need more CHOCTAW information?? Visit Judy White's pages at > http://accessgenealogy.com/native for rolls, data, etc. > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > To subscribe to CHOCTAW-SOUTHEAST-L Genealogy mail list: > Send msg. to CHOCTAW-SOUTHEAST-L-request@rootsweb.com > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "subscribe" without the quotes > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com