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I can recall when I was in elementary school, it happened one day that my markers were stolen. It did not take long before
I discovered a classmate using my markers as their own. I knew they were my markers, because of the famailar wear of them
and the small tear on the top of the package. However, when I informed the teacher of the theft, I learned there was a difference
in knowing and proving. Since, I had not put my name on the pack there was no way of proving it was mine, therefore I lost
my markers. The frustation I felt that day is very similar to the frustration I discovered when researching my American
Indian bloodlines. I knew it was there but proving it seemed(s) impossible.
About half way through my journey of dead ends and seeing ancestors listed as "white" on a census record when I knew very
well that they were full blooded American Indian, a remarkable thing occured. I no longer felt the need to prove it.
Much like the markers I knew were mine, my American Indian heritage is just as much mine as those markers were. My ancestors
were forced to hide their heritage due to the prejudice of their day. They denied their heritage just so that they could live
on the land that their people had called home for generations. They claimed "Black Dutch" or took on their spouse's heritage
and listed themselves as "white" while whispering the truth in the little one's ears, so that one day their descendants could
claim the heritage they were so proud of but had to deny.I will fulfill their hopes and I will claim that heritage for them.
I will speak, when they were forced to be silent.I will learn of the heritage they were forbidden to teach. I will do these
things because I owe it to them.
Therefore, everything listed on this page is "unproven" in the technical sense. Unproven on paper but proven in the heart.
-The Johnson/Walls
Lines-
This is the part of my family where the term "full blood" is used most often. And it is obvious to
anyone that my grandfather had a massive amount of indian blood. His father, Thomas Sherwood Johnson was said to be "full
blooded" Cherokee and Blackfoot indian. His mother, Cora Eva Walls, was said to have hailed from Oklahoma from the Western
Branch of the Cherokee Nation.
* SEE: "The Great Black Dutch Mystery" page for more info on the Johnson lines.
-McDonald/Helterbrand-
My McDonalds were always referred to as "Scottish Indians." While I am sure that some indian blood
was mixed in after my 3rd great grandmother (the appearance was too dramatic on my great grandfather and his siblings to solely
come from her.
Amanda D. Helterbrand was said to have been full blooded Cherokee indian.
-Burdette/Rudd
Lines-
Once again, that old saying "the proof is in the pudding" comes to mind. Unforunately, I have
no particular name to pinpoint in these lines. About all I know is my PawPaw Burdette's people were from the Creek indians.
Whether it was the Burdette family or Rudd family the Creek blood mixed with, I am not sure. However, I am leaning more toward
the Rudd side, since it is more visiable in the Rudds.
Matilda
Randolph Sims Splawn
Of my 4 grandparents there was only one that had absolutely no visual American Indian bloodlines.
This is my mother's mother. Therefore, I was surprised to find that there is actually some Creek blood back there.
Matilda Randolph Sims Splawn was said to be 1/2 Creek indian from the Alabama Creeks native to the
state.
Learn The Heritage They Left You:
Click on a link below to learn more about your American Indian heritage.
The Trail Where They Cried
Stories along the Trail
Native American Indian genealogy culture Cherokee Choctaw Chickasaw
History of The Creek Nation
Alabama Proclamation for Native American Indian Day
Indian/Native American History in Alabama
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