In a message dated 03/25/2000 10:20:29 PM Central Standard Time, SandKatC@aol.com writes: << Those old relatives were a tough and strong group of people to save their homes and their families from destruction! They all, Native and white, are to be admired! >> Sandi and all, I am not NA, my Grandfather was born near or in Stigler, IT in 1893. I have no idea how long his family had been there before he was born but I do know that they stayed there all their lives. The story goes that my ggf would hide NA's (and others) from the soldiers, etc. Is it true? I may never know but I like to think it is. I think it is in the 5th grade that each of my 4 children have come to me asking what we are - I always tell them that we are Americans. My ancestors came to this country in the early 1700's, why would I want to say I am anything else? They have each gotten called on this by the teachers and I think they generally put down that we are "European" Americans. I may not be a Native American, but I am NOT European American. Somehow that seems to take away form what my family really was. They left England and came here, they kept moving away from populated areas and made it to IT. The hardships that the residents of this area had to face were many. I am very proud of them. Sandy P - near cool, windy St. Louis