History can teach us much about life, about the small decisions that impacted lives for generations, and about survival lifestyles of various Native people groups. From 1830 until 1950, it was illegal for Native Americans to own land in the South. Until 1970, it was against the law for Native Americans to speak their own language even in their own homes. Is it any wonder that so many of the Native Americans who had been able to escape the Trail of Tears had hidden their ancestry, even from their own children and grandchildren?
As America grew, colonists discovered the wonderful climate and lands in the South. More feuds broke out as Indian lands were usurped. President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act on May 28, 1830. The law authorized negotiations with southern Indian tribes for their lands to be exchanged for lands west of the Mississippi River. Lands were supposed to be similar in climate and sustenance. When the tribes resisted, the relocation of all natives was forced upon the Indian people. Thousands of Native Americans and some of their sympathizing friends died as they were force-marched by soldiers in mid-winter to go to an Oklahoma reservation. That relocation route was called the Trail of Tears.
There were some families who hid their Native American friends and neighbors. When possible, Native Americans married or were adopted into local families to hide their true ancestry so they could stay in this area. Other Native Americans escaped capture and hid in the forests, mountains, or caves. For a hundred years, the Mvskoke people in the East and South had been considered by missionaries as the five civilized tribes. They were the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes. They dressed like those of the white townspeople, had their own governmental systems, believed in one God and called Him “Creator” (which means “Giver and Taker of Breath”), lived in houses similar to the people in their areas, and had their own educational system. Those “civilized” Mvskoke tribes were forced to march on that fateful Trail of Tears because they were “Indians” and white men wanted their lands.
Today’s population has discovered ancestry DNA sampling and now seeks to discover whether or not their ancestors were Native American. Many people want the real story of their tribal affiliations. Proving lineage is tough, but discovering how Native Americans lived and the contributions they made to our area is easier.
The Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation is celebrating the Native American Heritage Month of November with a first-annual display of native history, art, and crafts. The display will be up from November 10th through the end of November in the Dragonfly Gallery. There will be an Open House Lecture night on November 17th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Open House evening will host various speakers and have ongoing demonstrations of basket weaving and flute playing. There will be displays of Native American artworks, regalia, blankets, gourd art, artifacts, jewelry, and wall hangings collected or made by the Etvlwv Cahtvhvcce tribe. Visitors will be able to hear Native flute music as they view the arts and crafts of present day descendants of some who escaped the Trail of Tears and a few in our area who have studied the crafting techniques of the natives in our area.
Come join us as we celebrate at the Dragonfly Gallery’s first annual Native American Heritage Celebration on November 17th from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Dragonfly Gallery is located in downtown Milton near the old post office and courthouse area, about halfway between Willing Street and Canal Street on Highway 90 and is open for viewing the art and display on weekends.
By Hoktvke Enhomahtv (Tribal Mother) Vicki Ford (White Dove)
Etvlwv Cahtvhvcce