Why Raise The Issue Of Cherokee Identity

December 12th, 2009 by admin

The question continuously comes up—why raise the issue of Cherokee identity? Why does it matter? Some assume it is about the money or a desire to fit in, but it is really a question of tolerance and survival. As an American I am not willing to accept that my country is one of the few to try to eradicate an entire people and I am certainly not willing to accept that they succeeded better than most. As a descendant of proud Cherokees, I am not ready to believe that when facing eradication, my ancestors did not survive- I am proof of their endurance even if in a different form.

Throughout history, nefarious individuals have wished to create better positions for themselves by eradicating competition—whether it be competition for resources, favored status, whatever. The most famous modern day instance of course were the Nazis in Germany. With economic problems and blind nationalism, the genocide of the Jewish people was a scarring and disturbing affair for the world. With no intention of undermining the atrocity of Hitler, it is shocking to think of the simplistic view of genocide where we forget the victims of so many other population eradications. Hitler may be the most prominent villain, but the Rwandan genocide killed more people in a shorter period of time with less advanced weapons. Meanwhile the Native American eradication was perhaps one of the most successful. The Native peoples barely exist anymore, those that were not massacred were bred out or isolated to inhumane reservations. These reservations today still endure conditions reminiscent of underdeveloped countries—infant mortality rates, rape, education, and access to health care are all issues that afflict these camps.

In an effort to eliminate the native peoples, the choices were limited, marrying white men or living in camps. Many people chose to marry out, but by doing so they survived, and in a small way were able to preserve their culture. While the intention may have been to make the people forgotten artifacts, oral history carried on their cultures. Unlike many European and Asian cultures, native peoples did not always preserve their way of life in writing, but rather chose oral history. Through intermarriage and offspring, the native peoples were able to retain their identity through oral history and shared experience. In doing so these individuals not only survived, but their culture did too. This survival is the key factor to identifying as a native person.

My ancestors did not entirely save themselves from eradication, but they saved their ancestors through their descendants. I maintain their identity, no matter how diluted, to preserve a peoples, to continue to fight their eradication, and to balance the shame I feel for the country I am so proud of for other reasons for carrying out one of the most successful genocides in history.

What are your thoughts on the subject?