That is a really sticky question you asked, and I admit I have always been really conflicted about it....I don't like that it ever became necessary to ask for proof, but because things happened the way they did, what with the white government forcing all the changes on everyone, the lawyers for the Tribe going against the Tribe's own Treaty about who would be members, etc., I see where now it is necessary to prove your family was Choctaw...it is only because of money, and unfortunately that is a reality....there are those with or without Choctaw blood who would be "official" members of the Tribe ONLY for whatever financial benefits they might get...and I know the Tribe does the best it can to cover as many people as possible with health care and such....The problem is that so many people from so far away would want to be members, and without proving they are Choctaw, then anyone could join, whatever their motives are...On the other hand, I know the pain and frustration it causes for those who ARE really Choctaw and have no paper proof...and all I can say to that is how bad do you want to prove you are who you know you are? There are more records than people realise in the archives, and there are more family members with information on the family than people usually realise.....so I doubt there are many Choctaw people out there who couldn't find some paper proof of their Choctaw lineage, even if it's not a "final roll number"...at least they would have it on paper for anyone who questioned them... Yes, when people were half or more, they would be appointed a "guardian" to handle their finances...which is why we had so many fullbloods claiming only a quarter, which is why the blood quantum thing is useless and doesn't tell you anything.... I have always known I was Choctaw becasue my great-grandmother made sure we all knew...but I didn't know I would ever have to prove it untill much later...and I do have paper proof I am Choctaw... Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Branum" <mamalin@1s.net> To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, April 06, 2001 1:03 PM Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] blood quantums, etc... > Thats true Barbara, but do we have to treat our people as the goverment > did and ask each one how much blood they have? I don't think so. I know you > are just explaining this and you wouldn't feel that one has to have proof of > Indian Heritage before you would let them in our circle. > I feel my ancestors drawing me back into them and want anyone who feels > the same to be my brother and sister. > I don't care if they are full blood or 1/250 its NA blood running in their > veins as in mine, only I have proof. > I only have rumors of Cherokee blood in me but proof on my Choctaw side > but my ancestors are calling me from both sides and I feel both are present. > There are many Indian's who didn't enroll as NA so the goverment wouldn't > get into their business. I am sure thats why lots of the ones who can't find > any documentation can't find that. I also heard that in some places if you > were NA and told you were 1/2 or more blood that the goverment said that you > had to have a white person take care of your business. Has anyone else heard > this? > Regards, Linda > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Barbara Ellison" <greybird7@pisp.net> > To: <CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2001 10:36 PM > Subject: [CHAHTA] blood quantums, etc... > > > > People need to remember that blood quantum was not an Indian idea..and it > was brought into use by those who wanted our lands...and who wanted to > divide us into oblivion...and they have almost succeeded, but not quite... > > B. > > >>-->CHATA SIA HOKE<--<< > > > > > > ==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== > > TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS LIST: > > Send msg. to CHAHTA-L-request@rootsweb.com > > Put "one" word in "body" of message:... "unsubscribe" without the quotes > > Nothing in the subject line... Turn off signatures....... > > > > > ==== 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....... >