Tommy Wildcat's life work is sharing Cherokee culture and history. We talk about what drives him to create a better understanding of the Cherokee people.
i’ve known all my life that my mothers side is cherokee, but only recently have i realized the importance of that, and i want to learn more about cherokee culture and language but i have hardly any native blood in me (my grandfather is 1/8). i want to learn as much as i can about my family and cherokee language and culture without being disrespectful, which i’m most afraid of i don’t know much about native cultures in general but i’m glad people like him still exist and are passing on their culture to younger generations
Native American culture is based on culture and not blood. Blood is a European heritage issue related to social engineering social status and social hierarchies... Nobles at one end and peasants and slaves at the other. You are born into your mothers people... The Native American cultural perspective of seven generations means that your Native American ancestors would recognize you as a member of the tribe... if you participated with the tribe and wanted to be a member of the tribe. The government bureaucratic purposes are destruction of Native American cultural heritage and cultural culture. The Native Americans are restricted and threatened by laws and social engineering agendas facilitating that destruction. As well as genetic isolation and social economic controls that creates exploitation’s and manipulations that are intentionally harmful. When tribes would meet at a pow wow and a couple would form... The man would leave his tribe and join the woman’s tribe... There are of course variations based upon the actual tribal culture and Tribal Nation. The United States government continues genocidal policies to this day. Many Native American children were stolen from their tribes in the 1950’s through the early 1970’s based upon phenotype appearance in order to facilitate their genocidal intentions.
Tommy has been humbly and respectfully sharing Cherokee culture for as long as I've known him - over 20 years. This is a great segment on his contribution to our tribe. Osda!
+Meschelle Linjean Do you actually know Tommy Wildcat, if you do, how much aside him do you know of Cherokee culture, cause I never had the luxury of hearing it from a genuine source speaking to someone rather than hearing a video(which isnt bad at alll but to speak it with someone brings about a connection you never got back then)
+DWolfLycanis Yeah, I know Tommy. I'm not a Cherokee speaker. It sounds like you're Cherokee but grew up outside the tribal community. If you want to know Cherokee culture the best thing would be to spend time in a Cherokee community getting to know people.
***** Thank you for your kind words Meschelle, probably down the line when Im older given my path in life differs from the Cherokee path at the moment, I more than likely will in the future, and yes im a 4th generation Cherokee, great grandmother was pure blood, grandmother, then my father, then me
Kode. American Reipublicae Semper Invictam I think it matters. I know I have Cherokee on my mom’s side. I’ve heard a couple times that there’s Cherokee on my dads side too but I haven’t looked into I. I think taking an interest in old cultures is important for keeping them alive and I hope that it’s okay that we want to take an interest.
This is a beautiful channel. Thank you. My mothers great grandmother was Cherokee .. born in around 1902 .. not sure what happened to her parents but she was in Knoxville Tn homeless and ended up as a border with a white family named Cruze.. she grew up with whites and married whites over the course of her life. Not sure how this came about but she would cross the bridge from Tennessee to Cherokee North Carolina to meet the chief and go visit the reservation established there every Sunday. She was a minor child during the finalization of the Dawes Rolls and it is very unfortunate for many of the people who stayed behind or chose not to go to the new land even the ones who died .. so there are many people who are Cherokee in the south east region who may not have any records or history of their Cherokee lineage .. my great great grandmother kept all the family information in a small book but after her some of her grandchildren have recent past things were left with other family hoping we can find more information about her parents and theirs. I wonder what did we call ourselves before indian. And what would our native names be? This is so sad we probably would be speaking our language and practicing our traditions of it was not for the Indian Removal Act .
One of my Great+ Grandmother's was full Cherokee making me 1/4. Unfortunately, all records of that burned down in a schoolhouse long ago when people kept records in places like that. Thank you for keeping this heritage alive so we can learn about it.
We're not American Indians!! We're not from India!! Nor or we even American! We didn't ask or choose to be American!! We resisted America ! We are Native people!!! NATIVE INDEPENDENCE!!!
Uh archaeologists actually found evidence that your ancestors long ago came to America by crossing the Bering Bridge. And that your race was born when East Asians and Europeans intermarried.
I’m an American Indian. I was born an Indian and I will die an Indian. It’s an English word, it just a combination of syllables. Words have many meanings. Indian- is for the people of modern day India and the The indigenous people of the US. In the US, until the 60’s Asian Indians were called Hindis! Maybe if we focused on important issues facing Indian people instead of words, we could become a stronger people.
Very cool. Thanks from fellow Cherokee that wasn’t able to Totally get in touch as you were, I am trying more now as I get older. Much love, and respect brother. Keep spreading the culture. Thank you.
Come to Korea. We have similar instruments and Rhythm and tune. Cherokee language is so similar with ancient Korean language. A lot of Koreans could understand some part of your national song. Especially osiyo is same meaning in Korea.
This I know is from right field my great grandmother was a full blood Cherokee, I have tried to follow her from my grandmother parents to this day,I am getting close to the passing and I have the thing that bothers me. I have let my hair grow for all my day's, but really does your hair allow you to pass to the hunting grounds,I ask because my son wishes to carry on the tradition.,but he want's to cut his hair,do you think he would be denied?
Speaking as mix breed I'm proud to be who I am my skin is white my soul is dark may we never forget her ways mother earth belongs to all not for hatred or war but peace
I barely found out I'm Cherokee maybe about a year ago. Idk why I'm barely trying to connect with my ancestors. But I really want to be with my people more than ever lately.
Its such a blessing to be able to find information like your on RU-vid like Vidéos etc. My self I've been going through a Spiritual awakening kundalini awakening, now its very clear Shamanic's. Well even more Shamanic's medicine healers ability Cherokee shamanism Indian when I had the Cherokee Indian rain dancing, the thunder, lightning, rain storm's, with the animals Spirit's coming directly at me amazing. Could actually hear the Eagle screech prior to seeing it, the, Bear, the Buffalo/Bison etc comme straight at me 3D imagines absolutely totally amazing wish that I could take everyone with me on my Shamanic's jury's. My DNA test shows no Cherokee at all but new my family was registered Cherokee and a little bit Choctaw Indian under the Baker roll. "CONTINUED"
Tommy is my cousin and I didn't know it nor did I meet him until 2008 at a pow wow at Smith lake national Park and I was and still am very proud to be CHEROKEE and to be a family member of someone who is also very proud to be CHEROKEE
My great grandfather was born on a reservation in cherokee county, south carolina. I wonder if they keep any records, it'd be awesome to get to see if I have family there
"It is the institution of Indigenous Resistance that unifies us, brown and red, all into one Movement." _Ya'at'eeh shik's_ Culture, Politics, Race to the side we need to stick together. _from Diné Nation_🕊️
I enjoy learning Cherokee ways, I'm one quarter Cherokee and don't know much about my heritage . all my half Cherokee mother taught me was how to make fry bread. Lol.,
My late grandfather was full Cherokee and was in love with his culture. Especially after serving in Vietnam. He unfortunately had a deep hatred for anything related to white people. That apparently changed after meeting my grandma Sandy. They had my dad, who obviously had me. My grandfather passed not long after my birth but he insisted my father teach me about his culture. If only dad wasn't so lazy and absent as long as he was, lol
i recently learned that my great-grandmother was fully native american, her, my grandfather, and my mom had all lived on a cherokee reservation in colorado at one point. i didn’t really know what to do with this information, but i am so interested in learning more about my culture. even though i’m an eighth native american, it spikes my interest intensely, i just don’t know where to start.
I love this. I have Cherokee DNA in me on my mother's, mother side. My mother's father's side, my great, great, etc. Grandfather took part in causing the TRAIL OF TEARS. I don't want that to be our only family history. Until now, with me, no one has tried to tell of my Grandmother's story. I'm Proud of whatever the amount of Cherokee blood I have flowing in me. But I choose to acknowledge the Cherokee part. I'm ashamed of the other side of my family. I choose to want to know my ancestor's ways.
@Rusell Shaw and? What difference does it make? I'm fully mixed and I cant claim any race because I look to some Filipino, Hawaiian, mexican, Chinese, Japanese, somoan, tongan, and whatever labels I've gotten because of my looks. Dont pass your insecurities onto others as you dont know their story. You judge like others have done, and show hate like others before you...now you turn the tables and keep cycling the hate. The same hate that caused massacres....I hope you find it in your heart to find the wisdom that can actually benefit everyone especially yourself.
@Rusell Shaw I get it but if she says she is then that's on them/her. Let karma handle it because you or any of us know her family tree and it only inhibits your growth as a person. I did read her comment on a little backstory. I believe you should read it. She made it in a separate comment. I wish you well.
we are having a Family Reunion this summer have Native Heritage from Buffalo Ridge in Charlottesville,How can we get in touch with him? We would love to have him come and share ,it would mean so much!
PLEASE HELP - Does anyone know of any books to learn about the Spirituality, Beliefs, Practices, and culture of the Cherokee people before European contact ? I want to learn so badly and can't find absolutely anything that isn't the trail of tears or whatever else that isn't what I listed....
my Great Grandmother on my Father's side was full blooded Cherokee and I am wanting to learn more about my heritage I am basically 3rd Generation of Cherokee/White
My family has cherokee in us on my fathers side I want to know more and be registered as such not white but native American is there any way you can help me and put me in the right direction I would love to visit a reservation also and learn the language
can the Tribal help me i was told by family we came from cherokee i went to the right site like 70 to 100 names with the same last name came up so im gonna ask him about the name we came from i wont to learn are people way and things
Osyio tohits Go to the Dawes roll. Find your ancestor there. If your ancestors are on the roll and the Guillon-Miller roll, they came from the east before the trail. On the Dawes will get you your roll# CDIB, which is your% of Cherokee and depending on if they are from the east or west. You can apply for citizenship of the Western band of Oklahoma aka CNO. There are many ppl that can help you at the Nation in Oklahoma. Tommy is Keetowah. UKB. If you find you're more than a 1/4 you can call them and see what it takes to become a tribal citizen of the UKB. Which in my opinion is held higher to some of us. And you can be a dual citizen of the CN and UKB or how ever you wish. EBC is 1/16 I believe. You can call them in Cherokee and ask them what roll your ancestors would be on, I'm sure they too have ppl there that do ancestory for ppl. Happy hunting styiu
From some of these comments I've read against or judging white people wanting to know about their Indian Heritage or talking about their ancestors..... How do you know???? People here talking as if all white people are of European descent. White people are nothing more than a color of skin. That's the same as saying that all Brown people are Mexicans or a descendant of Mexicans or black people are descendants of Africa . In this day of age we are all mutts of our former ancestors. And just like mutts there are some features that are more obvious than others as well as location will affect a dominant skin color/ feature and culture And if you think that you're a pureblood of whatever nationality you claim to be. then you may want to look closer to your family tree or crawl out from under that rock that your family has lived under for Generations. I am human I bleed I eat sleep and breathe the same air like anybody else. i live grow old and die just like any other person on this planet as well . I as a human have some Native American blood in me by a great grandmother on my mother's side and because of that I like most of these people are here to respect the culture and learn about the past that has been lost and flows through the blood that has been passed down by our ancestors. We as a culture need to get over ourselves. Learn from and let go of the past to better our future as a whole and not as a nationality or color of skin.
Proud to be native American Indian my late mother Gayle her granddad cleland Lee helvey was born in a full blooded Cherokee family which died on the trail of tears then adopted by a white family named helvey which never allowed him to claim Indian paperwork and my father Jesse self who is 94 yrs old now his mother my grandmother Josie Henson was 1/2 Alabama poarch band Creek Indian atmore Alabama being of Indian ancestry DNA she refused to acknowledge being Indian because of racial slander of white people made her stray away from Indian culture until she married dad's father who is white and later moved away from Alabama to live oak California I have been turned down by every Indian reservation to claim my paperwork so dad would be able to get his Indian benefits but it doesn't matter anymore because I know who we are I've tried every angle to obtain dad's rightful heritage and my late mom's too I look in the mirror I see native American Indian dad looks American Indian himself and Mom looked native American Indian herself everyone else would say to us growing up we're native American Indians take for instance I have a natural instinct to be put into the wilderness just the clothes on my back and survive and make it because I'm native American Indian put a white man from the city and do the same thing to him he will definitely die guarantee it
Also Rusell Shaw, I never said anything about an great, great, great grandfather or grandmother that was Cherokee. What I said was my great, great ,great grandfather on my grandfather's side who was white, helped to bring about the TRAIL OF TEARS! My Grandmother is Cherokee. She is passed but with me in Spirit. Now don't you feel foolish!!!
Related to (Great Grandmother Ida Lowery, Female, age 15, Roll# 28238, Married Claude Hammons)( Ida Lowery Mother Callie Crockett registered and her father William Henry Lowery, related to Major George Lowery "Assistant Chiefofthe Eastern Cherokee and Cousin of Sequoyah, he served Principal Chief John Ross from 1843 to 1851, that's was my father's Father'sside). Now my Father Mother's side, My Dads Mother's Father Thomas S Wilson, age 3, male, roll# 726 registered Cherokee, Father's Mother's Mom is Gussie Mae Michael May and her Mother is Lizzy Sarah Elizabeth Jones Michael 1876 - 1860 2nd Married to John Blaylock, Sarah 1st married John Franklin Michael 1873, Married date was March 1st 1896, it was easy to find this information because of the names. Now I really need to get all birth or death certificate and tie them to mine Amen ❤❤❤.
Rusell Shaw, why are you so upset? I know what is in my ancesters. I believe it is not only blood but heart and spirit. I am not hurting you by my comment. I am sorry for you that you got offended. Spirits knows no color. I know Grandmother is with me. I found her grave. My mother who has passed, it was her mother. They wouldn't even bury her next to my grandfather because she was Cherokee. They put a shrub bush on top of her headstone. Yes that made me angry! I claim my Cherokee heritage now more than ever. If that makes you call me a $5 Indian, then so be it!! Im proud of my heritage!! I don't care what color my skin is, it is what is inside me that matters. Have a good day.
Sharon stroud No u r wrong its only in the blood. U can't play indian n think ur indian! Take ur DNA. Maybe back in the day ur great great great great great grandma was a Cherokee princess well now in this present day u have no indian blood. So take ur DNA. 1/8th is soooo far removed or less means ur not indian. Be happy with who u are..white.
Don’t listen to them my great great grandparents walked the trail of tears but they had no anger towards white people when my uncle visited my great great grandma when he was a young child before she died she welcomed him with open arms she never judged him by his skin color. I was told that she was a very nice lady I wish I could go back in time to have met her in Oklahoma, but she passed before my mom was born. And my great great grandpa died of a gum disease because his teeth were rotten. Then my great grandpa fought in WWII in Okinawa he was a Cherokee tail gunner and he shot down most of the Japanese planes and was rewarded by the president a silver star.
Osiyo jo sda da hv tli Tommy! I’m Littlehawk I still play my flute, my elders told me to remember my Cherokee language and traditions. Go back to the roots
Osiyo, Do you have any highly melaninated Cherokee's in The Nation, and I don't mean Freedmen??? My Grandparent's on My Mother's side both of their Mother's were born on the Reservation!!!
George branam cherokee man 3 mole on cheek belong east side apache snow top moutain puma mole above eye Aaron Neville own pume county to Pume ends George Forman mole below knee Pawnee Ying Ying dynasty west coast
