Pensmoke's Views

The reputation of American Indian people in TN depends on the individual you ask. And lets face it ladies and gentlemen, it's not exactly flawless.

If you ask many of the non-Indian residents of the state of TN they may tell you that "There are no Indians in TN because old Andy Jackson drove them all out a long time ago," a statement that is not only false but both ignorant and arrogant. The fact is there were people who ducked off and snuck away during the Trail and it wasn't just concentrated to one area in North Carolina.

Yes, I am aware that every "Indian" group claiming Cherokee ancestry in TN uses the same story to explain how their group supposedly came to be in the area they live in. That doesn't mean that everyone who says that is a liar though. There are so many claiming this as "their own story" that people are beginning to take it as seriously as the "Cherokee princess" story. It's a shame that this is happening because, while the princess story is flat-out false, the other statement is not.

On a popular messageboard, Indianz.com, if you tell people you are Cherokee and from TN they will basically dismiss you as an "overnight Indian" or more likely "wannabe" without a second thought. Why is this? In my opinion there are many in TN who could be considered "wannabes" but also many who are genuine.

Too many people "discover" their Native heritage (or alleged Native heritage) as adults after living as white/black/other during the early years of their lives. They learn of the heritage (genuine or not) and decide they want to identify with it. Here is where they mess up.

If you want to honestly honor your heritage you need to learn about it and take the time to learn from people who truly know it. Do NOT just make things up as you go along. Do Not "wing it" so to speak. When you name yourself "Chief Sitting Grey Rain Bear" or "Princess Pretty Blue Dancing Flower" and try to form your own "tribe" seeking recognition after knowing about your alleged Cherokee ancestry for 2 weeks, you do yourself and all TN Indians a great disservice.

Many of these people don't know enough about their heritage to do these things and don't make any attempt to truly learn. They give themselves "Indian names" (not a Cherokee tradition by the way, names were given, not picked out on your own) and wear ridiculous "regalia" without knowing enough to do so.

These are just a few reasons why Indian people in TN are looked at as some sort of bad joke and not taken seriously. We have enough to deal with from non-Indians due to lack of accurate information about Indians via the media and schools, and from federally recognized tribes who look upon disenfranchised, unenrolled Indians as a threat for various reasons or consider them to be "just interested in tribal benefits".

My opinion is this: We have enough to overcome already without making things worse for ourselves from the inside. There are too many outside factors to deal with. Lets not let the whole world see our ignorance. If you truly care about your/our heritage, then please learn the traditions and history and ways thoroughly before you thrust yourself into the spotlight claiming to be a spokesperson.