Just sharing - hubby and I got our "Indian" names this past weekend

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My husband and I are both of American Indian descent (Cherokee for me, and probably Cherokee or Blackfoot for him), and recently we joined the United Native American People, a non-profit "cutural interest" group. It is basically a group of Indian descendents who, either through lack of desire or lack of ability have no paper "proof" of their ancestry, and who have gotten together to learn and share their heritage without the sometimes oppressive strictures that have to be followed in more "official" groups. The basic feeling is that paperwork is a white man's disease, and your word is good enough for us. It's not like American Indians left a lot of birth certificates or other records to work with!

In any case, every year they hold an Intertribal Living Indian Village, where we gather together for a weekend, living in lodges representative of our ancsestors housing and give demonstrations for the public on anything from flint-knapping to flute carving. There are Native American foods, crafts, music, dancing and ceremonies. At one of these ceremonies (usually held after the public goes home, just for the group) my husband and I were given our tribal names, which came to one of our elders, Winter Wolf, a week or so back. Three others also got their names (including my mother, who has had hers for a while, but this was the formal announcement).

My name is Dancing Leaf (Winter Wolf had no idea that I had been a dancer for the past umpteen years - spooky). Not only am I a dancer, but I am also very strongly connected to plants, leaves in particular, for healing and other reasons. Also, the phrase "dancing leaf" perfectly captures the spirit of my personal "totem", which is the dragonfly. All of this was in place in my life years before.

My husband's name is Stone Bear. He has a "connection" of sorts with the earth, caves and stones in particular. The Bear is a creature of strong medicine in our heritage, and Winter Wolf says that my husband must have very strong sprituality for such a name to come to him, which he does.

My mother, whose nickname is Crazy Woman, got her true name as well. It is Still Waters. Both are very true to her. She is a "jester" type of person who sometimes is excruciatingly weird by nature, a persona often associated with great wisdom and neccesity in tribal lore. The appellation "Crazy" often referred to "outside the box" type thinkers who helped the tribe see more clearly by acting the fool and doing things backward - such as reminding them of good times during bad and vice versa. But underneath that she has a very strange, haunting wisdom that knows a lot more than it shows. She knows things, dreams them (another "crazy" behaviour in tribal lore), and odd things and coincidences happen to her a lot (I've inherited some of this), which she uses to teach others and warn them of impending problems.

I know that some of you won't fully appreciate the deep level of importance this is to us, but to those that do I just couldn't help sharing the good news. Part of our moving back here was to start new lives, but this is an unexpected boost in that direction, and a chance to reconnect with family we never knew we had. I hope to wear my name with honor, and through it bring honor to my people. a-ho.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002

Answers

I am glad you had such a nice time , thank you for sharing.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), May 09, 2002.

Dancing Leaf & Stone Bear congratulations, what a wonderful experience. I am not native american but work with many from the local reservation around here (3). About 5 years ago when I was working on thw Lech Lake reservation for a summer program we ran, I was given a name by the women who ran the kitchen. They were very embarassed but I was falttered. They called me Chinoden (sp) it is Ojibwa for Big Wind. They said when I moved past them in my rush to get things done I created a wind.

Mine isn't as special as yours but to me I was flattered that they cared enough to give me a native name.

-- Susan in MN (nanaboo@paulbunyan.net), May 09, 2002.


Yah-tah-hey! That experience must of been pretty cool. It kinda reminds me about an experience I had at one of the reservations here in Minnesota. Ya see, almost every Minnesotan reservation has a very fine organizational establishment for "outsiders." These establishments are open 24/7 for anyone over the age of 18....bright lights, music, big name entertainment and good food are abundant. Anyhoo, the last time I visited one of these organizations I got an Indian name too..."Lost His Wampum!"

-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_mn@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

That is simply wonderful. I'm very happy for all of you. Thank you for sharing.

-- Cindy in IL (Ilovecajun@aol.com), May 09, 2002.

I think it would be so special!!! I am part Cherokee and some Choctaw too...from both sides of the family..about a 1/4 total I suppose. Like you said...no proof, but I know. Anyway..what a neat thing to do!!! I bet it was wonderful!! Congratulations!!!!!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), May 09, 2002.


That's very cool Soni, er Dancing Leaf, does the United Native American People have a web site? I have a god daughter (I'm more than a little proud of) with Metis parents and this sounds near perfect if and even if they can't get status. I expect if her dad can get his stat, so can she. Still I'm obliged to help with her education and I know even less about the RC faith than native American culture. Any info you can send would be much appreciated and a heart felt congrats to you and your hubby.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), May 09, 2002.

Glad you enjoyed your experence. Me and the wife are both 25 percent Indian, me Cherokee her Creek. Both have one grand parent full. After watching the reaction and the trying to make money out of pow wows and such we no longer use our heritage we are just Americans, and feel that is more to be proud of than one family line. We are if we look at it that way English, German and Polish, we are not we are Americans. Just our opinion. David

-- David in Norht Al. (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), May 09, 2002.

"Oh-si-yo, to-wi-ga".(Hello, how are you?) A-goo-lay is the name given to me when I was born. No spiritual meaning, just means "Acorn". I'm half Cherokee, raised right in the middle of Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. I hope to keep a lot of the old tradition alive in my children.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), May 09, 2002.

That is so cool, I for one can understand how much it means, and would really enjoy being part of such an event, my greatgrand mother chose (or was taught) to 'pass' and did not tell how much and of what tribe she was, or any thing else about it, so it is likely I will never know how much I am, could you send me more info about this, as to where and when? I feel very drawn by your experience.

-- Thumper/inOKC (slrldr@yahoo.com), May 09, 2002.

Hi! My boyfriends grandmother is a full-blooded cherokee and she is despratly seeking an indian wedding dress. ( she wishes to be burried in it next to her husband) Do any of you know where we might find one? Email me at lilsasami@hotmail.com if you do. Thank you crystal

-- Crystal Spencer (lilsasami@hotmail.com), May 10, 2002.


You must finally feel centered with Mother Earth, I feel your pride. Congratultations to all. A name is very sacred.

-- Sandie now in MA (thompson@greatpoint.net), May 11, 2002.

Soni, a thousand blessings upon yours, and your husband's new names. A name channeled in such a way is a gift of the Creator. It is an affirmation of who you are as a soul on this Earth. It is the your passport on the Beauty Way, on the Good Red Road. Thank the Great Mystery for the truth of a name. I have no Native blood, but I do work with First Nation's Youth, and I know other's not of North American bloodlines that have been given names in the same manner as you have. We all have the red blood in our viens, and we all are children of the Earth Mother, of the Universal Oneness, and of the Infinate Mystery. Perhaps one day I will be honoured in this same way, in the future of my path. Congratulations!!! All my relations.

-- roberto pokachinni (pokachinni@yahoo.com), May 11, 2002.

congratulations on your new names and good luck on your journey to discover your roots this is similar to the way a person of european discent feels about asatru. jkg

-- jason godsey (jasonkgodsey@hotmial.com), May 13, 2002.

That is truly beautiful, Soni! Thank you for sharing something so special and personal. I must admit to being envious of those with Native roots; I have none I am aware of, although I feel a strong past life connection.

Blessings,

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), May 13, 2002.


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