When I was growing up my mom told me my dad’s mother (Evelyn Horn) was full-blooded Cherokee, so I was 1/4. I had no reason to doubt it. We all lived with Grandma for awhile when I was a baby, so Mom knew the family story first-hand. When I was 15, I met my dad….
Category: Indians
Were They Cherokee?
My dad was part Indian. Just what tribe and how much has been a matter of debate as long as I can remember. It seems as though there are a dozen different stories floating around my extended family. At some point I figured out the stories about Indian ancestry are concentrated around Rachel (Roberson) Horn,…
Were They Melungeon?
Early in my Roberson research, I investigated the possibility my ancestors were Melungeons. Strictly speaking, the term Melungeon applies to a group of families who lived in and around Newmans Ridge in Hawkins County, Tennessee. My Robersons, in contrast, lived at Wallens Ridge in neighboring Lee County, Virginia. “Beginning in the early 1800s, or possibly…
Land Back: Settler FAQ
A lot of people are saying #LandBack. The idea seems to be settlers should give back the land their ancestors stole. I hear about it more from Canadians than Americans, but the idea is circulating in both countries. I’m listening, politely I hope, but I’m not really sure about what I’m hearing. How far do…
Native Lands
I’ve been enjoying the increasing popularity of territorial acknowledgments. Here’s an artcle from CNN: Leah Asmelash. “This app will show you what Indigenous land you’re on.” CNN. Mar. 22, 2021, retrieved Mar. 25, 2021. And here’s the app it recommends. A bit confusing in the way it presents information, but workable: Native-Land.ca As expected, it…