I was told my entire life by my grandparent we had but a bit only of Indian ancestry..not enough to remember or matter. She did this to protect us from teasing as a child and predjudice as an adult that she went through and could hardly bare. Come to find out it was actually that her father was full chippewa. Her mother we are unsure of because we can't find the tribe even to begin with. Her parent was the Catherine
Loisel the daughter of Robert
Loisel and Emilie
MIgnier dit
Lagace that I was asking about. If Emilie or Robert were Indian at all then it helps my family to understand the connection between Catherine and her husband Henry. It helps us to know the story of why Catherine came to the US in 1897 and within a year she married at a very young age...and she assuming she is European only in descent feels free to marry a full chippewa man...and again she feels at home marrying a mixed blood by the name of George
Duffiney....
It would help our family a great deal yes, to understand our culture and our heritage whatever it would end up being but if it is Indian then we would like to restore our family to the tribe they were part of...Indian people were so seperated as it is...alienated by governmental and religious practices...you know the story.....that to "not care" because it "doesn't matter" is not something I want in my character. I know my European background and the rest of it whatever it may be...
I feel responsible to know. Mainly, for my children and their children and the generations that will come after them...so they will indeed know who they
are and where they came from.
So, yes it does matter.
Most people assume that it matters to mixed bloods only for some kind of money or benefit....and so we are "damned if we do and damned if we don't" so to speak. The European descended people tend to think we are ridiculous and the Indian people don't know quite what to do with us either....
But to me yes growing up with a native american grandmother who taught without telling...native american traditions and ways of thinking and believing....yes it most certainly does matter. Keep in mind this grandmother helped nurse me and my siblings back tohealth after illnesses..Brought food to our home when things got low....danced with us laughed with us and told us stories .....etc.
My mother's side is clearly mixed. My father's side is full of people who associated closely with or married native american people. It seems to bother some that we are mixed.But we can't help who we are and frankly I am proud equally of all my people...
With that, if you know of the Indian connection I would be greatly appreciative if you were willing to share the information.
If you know of the Acadian info or the French or Scotish likewise I would be also appreciative.
I will also share anything else you may be in need of that I have to give.
My family is unique ...we have within my family blondes with lovely fair skin and brunettes with skin that is a beautiful golden brown. We are a great mix of all that was and is good....so regardless ..I am just looking for the whole story...just like any other geneaologist.......for some reason when we mention Indian all of a sudden we find our selves asked why it should matter...but it matters as much as any other nationality would.
I do not mean to say tht I am upset ...I just want people to understand that my search is for the truth without predjudice....as much as is possible.