I have chose for this first picture to not be one of me in Regalia as I
abhor stereotypes. Native Americans walk across your path every day. We
work in every field out there-Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail,
Manufacturing, Law Enforcement, Legal, Security, Military, Music,
Hollywood, Education, ITT, Photography, and on and on.
Not all Native Americans ever used tipis and no we do not still live in them or other Traditional housing. Nor do we all live on or even have a Reservation or get a check from the Federal Government.
Yes, I have long straight, dark hair and dark eyes--that does not make
me "indian". My Mother is where the most of my blood comes from as she
more than a half-blood--her hair is black, her eyes a chocolate brown
and her hair is short and kinky!
I am a member of the
Waccamaw Indian People of South Carolina-the first Tribe to be recognized by the State of South Carolina.
As such
Federal Public Law 101-644 (The Indian Arts & Crafts Act of 1990),
all my handiwork can be legally advertised as "Indian produced",
"Indian made", etc because it is made by a real, true to life American
Indian.
I have also complied with my Tribe's governing documents and may
designate my handiwork as "Waccamaw" as I have met their guidelines.
This was achieved before I became the secretary of the Waccamaw Arts
& Crafts Committee. This is a volunteer committee with seven voting
members decided upon by the committee itself and approved by Tribal
Council.
Before a Ceremony 25 July 2003
My Wedding Day 14 February 2009
I was born in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1967. We proceeded to move, within two weeks, to Jacksonville, Florida. My parents did a lot of work for Holiday Inns, Inc. setting up corporate properties and assisting owners with their properties. I have lived many places in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama.
I was not raised in the knowledge of my People. Mother is Lumbee and Waccamaw with a bit of English--the English side of her family has not been in America but for a few generations before her.
Grandfather Hatcher raised his children in the Pentacostal Church and I did not even know this a few years into my first marriage (which church). However, there were things he did that he did not explain to his children (he was married twice and well into his 70's when Mother was born), that with the limited knowledge I now have, he was doing "Indian" things.
I have known since I was fifteen that Father had "Indian" blood. That his great-grandmother was a "full blood" or "mulatto" (census records say both) from Hickman County, Tennessee (where I now reside). A dear friend and Elder, who just passed away, emailed me a copy of her Dawe's Roll Card recently--She was a full blood Cherokee. So that made Father Saxon, Norman and Cherokee.
I was taught by a man named Jerry Brown to weave beads on a loom. Everything else is self taught.
When you pull in my driveway you will see all sorts of camping gear under the carport as I try to attend at least one Pow Wow a month during Season.
As you enter my home you will smell cedar and sage burning and see crafting stuff all over the place.
Although I am in Tennessee, 605 miles from my Tribe, I interact with many of the other members on an individual basis and participate with them as much as possible. I do my best to attend Family Day, Pau Wau, and to interact with Tribal Council.