tsalagi … November 7, 2007

One of my regrets in my life (and yes, I do have just a few) is not doing the research I should have to prove my tsalagi (cherokee) heritage.  The last living relative that we know of has now passed away.  I do know that we are of the Eastern Band of Cherokee that still exist in the North Carolina territory and that we did not go on the Trail of Tears.    I look more like my Scottish heritage than my Tsalagi heritage although my biological father definitely looks Tsalagi.   My father was raised in Northeastern Alabama and considered himself part of a poor Indian family.  He had several brothers and sisters but was so ashamed of his poverty that when he turned 18 and joined the air force he rarely spent time with his family.  During the time my parents were married (approx. 4 years) I met my paternal grandparents once.  In my Dad’s later years he does regret not spending more time with his parents as an adult and regrets feeling so ashamed of his poverty.  When I went to live in an ecovillage and was writing my Dad about it, he could not believe that I would CHOOSE to live the way he was FORCED to live as a child.    Because of my basic animist beliefs, I feel that my Tsalagi roots are very much a part of my DNA and I wish to learn more but it is hard to separate the truth from the made up Cherokee teachings.  I just try to go with what resonates the most with my soul and heart.  The mountains of North Carolina definitely feel like home to me.