When I was a child growing up in school, we had a census starting in elementary school once a year, asking if you were white, black, Eskimo or American Indian. My mom always said to be proud of who I was and where I came from so I always checked: American Indian. I am born into the Mohegan Tribe through my mother's side of the family. Growing up was always a learning experience. My grand father was a positive role model for me and how I loved the man that he was. I was even named after him. How He loved animals and nature so much. I believe, that is why I respect nature and animals as I do because of him. My parents would teach us crafts; mostly Indian Lore of bead work, working on a bead loom, leather work, and history. Of course mom taught dad what she had learned from her parents.
Through this we were taught to repect nature, life and the differences of other people and their lives. My great great grandfather's included Uncas, the Indian Chief of the Mohegan Tribe as well as Ulyses S. Grant, President of the United States. Phil and I tried to visit his house located outside of Albany, NY a few years ago, only to learn that a state prison has been built around his house and is only open a few times during the year for visits. Imagine a piece of history sitting in the middle of a prison? Good Planning Again! duh! So through life of tee pees and wig wams and through Indian Reservations, my tribe has successfully reclaimed what is ours and we're
Pennsylvania. All tribal members which totals approximately 1900 Mohegan Indians benefit from the investments through an agreement with the American Government. 
So, as American Indians, we've come a long way from Tee Pees, Wig Wams and living off the land. As my mom always said, "Be Proud of who you are and where you came from....." I can proudly say that I am proud to be a "Real" American, I'm proud to be an American Indian. Thanks Mom and Grampa!
3 comments:
Interesting story, genelogy is very interesting but also very time consuming. Thanks for sharing...Maureen
Maureen,
I already knew alot of the family history that was handed down from grandparents. However, Phil, my partner has a great deal of patience and he managed to go back to the 1500's through thorough research with names and dates.
Thanks for reading.
Bill
Yes that's right, it took me few month, but it is very interesting, fascinating and a learning experience, and the first known "name" in William's Family tree is the one of a "squaw" in 1515, a Pequot Indian, ancestor of the Mohegan Sachem Uncas; Uncas was born Pequot in 1588 but formed the Mohegan Tribe in 1637.
It is absolutly amazing how, on the native american side, it was possible to research and to find trace of all the genealogy, as everything was recorded first by memory and then in writting (all by the medicine woman), and that in the oposite, in the British side, it was much more difficut and almost impossible as about no pieces of genealogy information were available prior a certain date.
William's family tree is constitued of about 350 names in different branches, with for all of them birth date, death dates and personal informations and data.
Philippe
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