I remember reading at one time that when the Choctaw Nation was reestablishing itself that it was found that alot of whites had unlawfully claimed Choctaw land as their own and the Choctaw Nation did in fact have to bring many lawsuits inorder to regain this land that was, for a lack of a better word, stolen. I believe this may be just one of the reasons why paper proof has become necessary also. Sonja >From: Barbara Ellison <greybird7@pisp.net> >Reply-To: CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com >To: CHAHTA-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: Re: [CHAHTA] blood quantums, etc... >Date: Fri, 06 Apr 2001 13:50:35 -0500 > >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....... > > > > >==== CHAHTA Mailing List ==== >Need more CHOCTAW information. Visit Rusty Lang's pages at >http://www.choctaw-web.com for articles, censuses, etc. > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com