Native American Speech

Native American is one of the least talked about nationalities. Part of the reason this statement is true, is because we only make up 2% of the United States population. I think it’s essential to talk about Native American history because the vision you see of us differs from the reality of who we really are. I am here today to tell you about my heritage so you can get a better vision of what Native American culture is actually like.   Now before I get in to this I would like to point something out. The first and most important point I’d like to make is that we are NOT Indians.  This is a common cultural misconception made by many Americans today.   6 centuries ago when Columbus got lost on his voyage, he ended up in North America. He assumed that this land was India, and that all the residents found there were Indians, which in fact was incorrect. The land he discovered was the Caribbean and the residents he discovered were people of the Taino tribe.  As word spread about his discovery, all indigenous people of the North American continent were classified as Indians. His mistake was recognized years later but the name had already stuck. Now that I have addressed this, I can tell you a little more about Native Americans from a more personal level.

My grandparents come from two different tribes, Cherokee and Waccamaw Siouan. I am sure you are all familiar with the Cherokee tribe because it’s federally and state recognized.  Waccamaw Siouan however is never even mentioned in school, let alone recognized by the government. *So I’d like to share with you the story of how we came to be* Thousands of years ago a meteor appeared in the night sky of the southwest, it hurdled towards earth flaming a brilliance to innumerable suns, when it finally struck it buried itself deep within the Earth. The surrounding swamps and rivers flowed into the crater and cooled it; creating Lake Waccamaw. And the indigenous people who lived there were people of the Waccamaw tribe. Today we are known as; people of the falling star.

As people of the falling star we practice many traditions and customs that are common in Native American culture. For instance we all have Native American names given to us the day we are born. In my family the person who chooses our Native American name is my grandmother. (Mine is Little Red Mountain).  Along with Native American names we have pow wows, chants, art, drumming, etc. The beauty of Native American culture is that each tribe practices in their own way.

Over the years people have viewed us as pagans, squaws, aggressive drunks, “Indian princesses”, impoverished, and noble savages. Although this is the image that comes to mind, these illustrations could not be any farther from the truth. When it comes down to it we are no different than any other American. Just one of the many flavors making up the big melting pot known as America.