Hi Blue Panther, Thank you for posting this. There is wisdom beyond words in it for all. Congratulations to Mr Young for his wisdom and ability to express it so beautifully. All the best Barbara On 7/21/2014 7:37 PM, Blue Panther via wrote: > I am Native American > > I am Native American; because I am Native American! > > Not because I carry a Certified Degree of Indian blood; not because I have a Federal Identification number; not because I possess a file of tribal papers; > > I am Native American; because I am Native American! > > My family heritage traces quickly to the Iroquois Nation; grandmother from the Onondaga, a grandfather born of Mohawk, a father adopted by relatives embarrassed by such parentage discarding family papers in order to hide the facts. > > I am Native American because I am Native American! > > Born of a mother of German descent I carry blue eyes and brown hair, but my heart is of this world of America enveloped by the spirit of my Native history. I am native American; because I am Native American! So often people are judged by unreal values. When I wear a certain style of hat I am a cowboy? Must I wear feathers and beads to be looked upon as Native American? I accept my physical appearance as it is and do with what I can. My heart, spirit, and mind are learning to be of my Native American culture. > > I am Native American; because I am Native American! > > Those who demand written proof ask the wrong questions. Those who need physical evidence ignore the essence of Native spirit. Those who search for proper identification seek paper gods. One needs to understand that a license to drive does not a driver make! > > G. Craig Young/Onondaga > ======*====== > List archives > http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index?list=cherokee > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CHEROKEE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >