Mattsmom277
Active Member
I don't know if I've ever posted here before about being a First Nations person.
Both my parents are first nations and yet I was never taught much from my mother, and of course I have no contact to my father.
I've been sleuthing for a few days to gather as much family history as I can in order to pass along to a man who is going to piece it all together so that I can apply for my official Native Status as well as so I can make a membership application to join my families band on my mothers side.
It is particularly hard since I have never known my dads side but have been found by an aunt in the past year, who I find it hard to ask for much info from. And I don't speak to my mother, most elders in my family have passed away. So I took what I did know, sleuthed the internet, hit the national archives online, looked up war records and obituaries and made a few calls to far flung long distance cousins I don't even know, etc.
I've found out most all I need for my mothers side, which is perfect since in itself that is enough to get my native status card and to apply for membership to my band (and I meet criteria for membership so should be no problem). I've had not as much luck on my fathers side.
Until today!!!
Turns out, I'm one of only a couple hundred (max) people left from my tribe. I learned my grandmother lived until she married in her late 20's, on our reserve with her father who was the band chief and that her grandfather was the band chief before her father took over. My grandmother only left because my grandfather wasn't native and he didn't want to live in a isolated community.
The band is really non-existant, with no official members actually residing on reservation land any longer. They've either mainstreamed or some have moved to a sister-reservation. I was stunned to read there's only a couple of hundred people left. That is shocking given it was once such a large population and a proud one.
Im a dying breed! Who knew?? I feel a bit weird even caring, or being interested at all, and even feeling a bit nostalgic and sad that after this generation there will be likely no more of us left since any of our children are probably diluted blood line, meaning they wouldn't be acknowledged by the government or indian affairs as being native at all.
My kids can get status since both my parents are native and the generational thing covers them (but won't cover their kids unless they marry another status indian).
I've found out that I have a cousin who is a high up for the countries indian affairs and another is a pretty well known (hall of famer) country music guy (I'd never heard of him for the record but apparently others have at least here in Canada).
The coolest thing? You often here how the Mi'qmak people were fierce warriors that were feared and yet revered. And apparently my people were known to be more feared and revered than them. That is pretty neat. I come from strong stock apparently lol.
Anyhow, thought this was all pretty neat and wanted to share with you all. I feel like I should be part of the next Ice Age movie to memorialize myself or something. If I live to be old, I'll be one of that last remaining members of my band. I find that incredible to imagine!!! Me? Last of something that big? I am looking forward to some info i have coming in a few days to give more of my history.
Both my parents are first nations and yet I was never taught much from my mother, and of course I have no contact to my father.
I've been sleuthing for a few days to gather as much family history as I can in order to pass along to a man who is going to piece it all together so that I can apply for my official Native Status as well as so I can make a membership application to join my families band on my mothers side.
It is particularly hard since I have never known my dads side but have been found by an aunt in the past year, who I find it hard to ask for much info from. And I don't speak to my mother, most elders in my family have passed away. So I took what I did know, sleuthed the internet, hit the national archives online, looked up war records and obituaries and made a few calls to far flung long distance cousins I don't even know, etc.
I've found out most all I need for my mothers side, which is perfect since in itself that is enough to get my native status card and to apply for membership to my band (and I meet criteria for membership so should be no problem). I've had not as much luck on my fathers side.
Until today!!!
Turns out, I'm one of only a couple hundred (max) people left from my tribe. I learned my grandmother lived until she married in her late 20's, on our reserve with her father who was the band chief and that her grandfather was the band chief before her father took over. My grandmother only left because my grandfather wasn't native and he didn't want to live in a isolated community.
The band is really non-existant, with no official members actually residing on reservation land any longer. They've either mainstreamed or some have moved to a sister-reservation. I was stunned to read there's only a couple of hundred people left. That is shocking given it was once such a large population and a proud one.
Im a dying breed! Who knew?? I feel a bit weird even caring, or being interested at all, and even feeling a bit nostalgic and sad that after this generation there will be likely no more of us left since any of our children are probably diluted blood line, meaning they wouldn't be acknowledged by the government or indian affairs as being native at all.
My kids can get status since both my parents are native and the generational thing covers them (but won't cover their kids unless they marry another status indian).
I've found out that I have a cousin who is a high up for the countries indian affairs and another is a pretty well known (hall of famer) country music guy (I'd never heard of him for the record but apparently others have at least here in Canada).
The coolest thing? You often here how the Mi'qmak people were fierce warriors that were feared and yet revered. And apparently my people were known to be more feared and revered than them. That is pretty neat. I come from strong stock apparently lol.
Anyhow, thought this was all pretty neat and wanted to share with you all. I feel like I should be part of the next Ice Age movie to memorialize myself or something. If I live to be old, I'll be one of that last remaining members of my band. I find that incredible to imagine!!! Me? Last of something that big? I am looking forward to some info i have coming in a few days to give more of my history.