Remembering Corp. Hiawatha F. "Hi" Tuggle

Corporal Hiawatha F. Tuggle was born May 27, 1921, the son of Hugh Tuggle, a non-Indian, and Elizabeth Fisher, a Cherokee by blood who was listed on the Final Dawes Roll.

Hiawatha attended Chilocco Indian School for 4 years and studied auto mechanics. He graduated with the Class of 1940 and participated in Trades Club and the National Guard. He was on the Honor Roll two years.

A quote about him from his yearbook, "Tuggle takes things slow and easy. He says that's how the tortoise won the race with the hare."

Hiawatha was killed in action July 12, 1943 during the invasion of North Africa. He was in the 45th Division. If he had lived, today would have been his 92nd birthday.

Thank you for your service, Hi. You are not forgotten.

****

Tribute from the 1946 Chilocco Indian School Yearbook listing those former students who had died in service during WWII.

* Hiawatha Tuggle was my grandpa's first cousin. Their mothers were sisters.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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175 Years Ago, the Round Up Began

Late May, 1838, the U.S. Army, under the command of General Scott, started the round up of the citizens of the historical Cherokee Nation. The Cherokees were then taken to stockades and held for removal to west of the Mississippi River. This is the sad chapter of history now remembered as the Trail of Tears.

The Rev. Daniel S. Butrick recorded his observations of the round up and the removal in his journal. I think his entry from Brainerd. May 26, 1838. [Saturday] explains the brutality and horror the Cherokee people experienced during the round up. 

"The daily words in the United Brethern textbook were, "I am thine. Save me." (p.s. 119:9) This day a number of Georgia citizens near New Echota took sixteen Cherokees and drove them to the fort and then requested permission of General Scott to take them out and whip them, though in this they were not gratified. This was done probably to remind General Scott that no farther delay would be made with regard to collecting the Indians. The soldiers at the various posts now commenced that work which will doubtless long eclipse the glory of the United States. General Scott gave orders that no improper language should be used towards the Indians, and that in case any of them attempted to escape by flight, no gun should be discharged at them. But these orders were, in general obeyed or not, according to the disposition of the under officers, and soldiers. 

In Georgia were supposed to be about 8,000 Cherokees. These, in general were taken just as they were found by the soldiers, without permission to stop either for friends or property. 

As the soldiers advanced towards a [unreadable] house, two little children fled in fright to the woods. The woman pleaded for permission to seek them, or wait till they came in, giving positive assurances that she would then follow on, and join the company. But all entreaties were vain; and it was not till a day or two after that she would get permission for one of her friends to go back after the lost children.

A man deaf and dumb, being surprised at the approach of the armed men, attempted to make his escape, and because he did not hear and obey the command of his pursuers, was shot dead on the spot.

One man it is said, had shot a deer, and was taking it home to meet the joyful salutations of his family, when at once he was surprised & taken prisoner to a fort.

Women absent from their families on visits, or for other purposes, were seized, and men far from their wives and children, were not allowed to return, and also children being forced from home, were dragged off among strangers. Cattle, horses, hogs, household furniture, clothing, and money not with them when taken were left. And it is said that the white inhabitants around, stood with open arms to seize whatever property they could put their hands on.* Some few who had friends to speak for them, were assisted afterwards in getting some part of their lost goods.

This in two or three days about 8,000 people, many of whom were in good circumstances, and some rich, were rendered homeless, houseless and penniless, and exposed to all the ills of captivity. 

In driving them a platoon of soldiers walked before and behind, and a file of soldiers on each side, armed with all the common appalling instruments of death; while the soldiers, it is said would often use the same language as if driving hogs, and goad them forward with their bayonets.

One man, on being pricked thus, and seeing his children thus goaded on, picked up a stone and struck a soldier; but for this he was handcuffed, and on arriving at the fort, was punished and on starting again was whipped a hundred lashes.

Those taken to the fort at New Echota, were confined day and night in the open air, with but little clothing to cover them, when lying on the naked ground."

Cherokees did not have to go on the Trail of Tears.** They had the option to relinquish their citizenship in the Cherokee Nation and become citizens of the United States if they wanted. They could stay in the east if they did so. The ancestors for those in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians had done so***, and were allowed to stay in the east. 

The reason our ancestors, the ancestors of authentic Cherokees, were rounded up like cattle and hogs; held in stockades like animals; given food unfit for human consumption; and marched across the country in terrible conditions, is because they refused to relinquish their citizenship in the Cherokee Nation. They were tribal people and they stayed with their nation of people, no matter what. They are the reason the Cherokee Nation exists today. Never forget the sacrifice our ancestors made so that we could call ourselves Cherokee. Never, never forget.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.





Butrick journal entry from "The Journal of Rev. Daniel S. Butrick"; May 19, 1838 - April 1, 1839; Cherokee Removal; Monograph One; The Trail of Tears Association, Oklahoma Chapter.

*Edited by me from "they could they put their hands on" for readability.

**Article 12, Treaty of New Echota

***The Oconaluftee Cherokees claimed the 1835 treaty did not apply to them because they had left the Cherokee Nation under the Treaty of 1819 and had become citizens of the state of North Carolina and of the United States.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Cherokees Demand Truth from Carolyn Emerson Durvin (aka Little Deer Durvin)

Carolyn Emerson Durvin (aka Little Deer Durvin) claims she is Eastern Band Cherokee.

On her facebook page, as of 5/21/2013, she says,

But she isn't from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. Call them. Ask. I assure you, they have no one by the names Little Deer Durvin, Carolyn Emerson, Carolyn Emerson Durvin, Carolyn Durvin, etc...enrolled. This has been verified more than once by fellow Cherokees.

According to the definition at Merrian-Webster, a fraud is a person who is not what he or she pretends to be.

Carolyn Emerson Durvin (aka Little Deer Durvin) pretends to be Eastern Band Cherokee but she isn't. Therefore, she is a fraud.

This is not one of those cases of one saying, "I'm Cherokee but can't prove it." This is worse because she outright claims to be Eastern Band Cherokee KNOWING she isn't.

In 2010, she was presented a blanket from then Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Chad Smith.

From an article about the blanket dated October 13, 2010, Durvin is described as Eastern Band Cherokee. But, less than one month earlier, in an Ancestry.com message board post, she was looking for help with her "Cherokee ancestry". And two years later, in another message board post, her husband was still trying to help her connect to her "Cherokee ancestors." This means that, as of 2012, Carolyn Emerson Durvin, knew she still had nothing to connect her to the historical Cherokee Nation, but she continued claiming to be Eastern Band Cherokee.

To make matters worse, the woman has engrained herself into the Cherokee Nation At Large communities and fooled at least two of our Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation, Chad Smith and Bill John Baker, by claiming to be Eastern Band. If she would have claimed to be a Cherokee Nation Cherokee, she would have opened herself up to their inquiries about her citizenship. I guess she couldn't risk that, so she went with something she saw as more "safe." Of course her lies started to unfold when, in November 2011, Durvin used words that would make it seem as if she was a citizen of the Cherokee Nation (instead of the Eastern Band) by using the word "our" as in OUR people and OUR new principal chief. I guess Miss Eastern Band Cherokee forgot Bill John Baker was elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, not the Eastern Band!

Check out the pictures of her with our chiefs and current deputy chief. Doesn't it just make you sick?

In another interesting turn, though Carolyn Emerson Durvin claims to be Eastern Band Cherokee, a few months ago, on a Facebook page for Deputy Chief Joe Crittenden, when a real Cherokee asked her, "Are you a citizen of the Cherokee Nation?" instead of claiming to be Eastern Band, or simply saying "no", she said,

"My 6 great grandmother was Elizabeth Pack the daughter of Chief John Lowery. She was on the Trail of Tears. I lived back in North Carolina and Va for the first 13 years of my life until I moved to Ca. with my first husband. I have been in Ca. for over 45 years now. My mother just passed away a little over a year ago. I just received this information about my family after my mother passed. My father's side of the family also has Cherokee heritage. I am working on becoming a citizen of the Cherokee Nation." [emphasis mine.]

 

Click to enlarge

While I'm sure Durvin thought that was a good answer, it backfired. You see, we Cherokees are used to the type of answers fakes give when questioned. They beat around the bush and avoid a simple answer of yes or no. Also, we knew she had previously claimed to be Eastern Band Cherokee. If she was already enrolled with them, why dig to try to register with us? She was fumbling for an answer and her lies caught up with her. Also, Elizabeth Pack is well documented and she only had two children. Durvin claims to be Cherokee through Isham Pack, but he was not a child of the Cherokee Elizabeth Pack. After a short debate on the topic of her purported Cherokee ancestry, Durvin deleted all her comments from the page.* 

Durvin isn't registered or enrolled as a Cherokee. She can't even prove she has Cherokee ancestry.  But for some reason, she believes she has the right to get up in Cherokee business, running an At Large group and rubbing elbows with our tribal leaders. She goes into her community and misrepresents herself as Cherokee. She even claims to be an Eastern Band Cherokee storyteller and goes to schools and community groups sharing what she says are our stories and legends! Fakes and wannabes, like Durvin, wiggling their way into our At Large groups is why real Cherokees are now leaving those groups. They are tired of wannabes thinking they know best and that they should be in charge of everything.

Enough is enough. Ms. Carolyn Emerson Durvin, aka Little Deer Durvin, has gotten on the last nerve of many authentic Cherokees. Either she is Eastern Band Cherokee and can prove it or she is a fraud who has been deceiving a lot of people for a long time.

Cherokees Demand Truth from you, Carolyn Emerson Durvin. Put up or shut up. You want your genealogy? We got your genealogy, and guess what...........

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.





*Several Cherokees made screen prints before the comments were deleted so we could show the inconsistencies in her story. We have been watching her for a while, well aware that she is not what she claims to be.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Pray for Oklahoma!

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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ATTENTION: At Large voters!!!

ATTENTION AT LARGE VOTERS: All ALL AT LARGE VOTERS who ordered Absentee Ballots should call the Election Commission to verify they are on the list for the Absentee Ballot - I am hearing people who requested an Absentee Ballot are not on the list put out by the Election Commission.

918-458-5899 or 1-800-353-2895
Fax 918-458-6101
election-commission@cherokee.org

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Friday Funny - Even a Cherokee baby knows....

...it was wrong for Elizabeth Warren to claim to be Cherokee when she isn't.

Hope you enjoyed our Friday Funny! Have a great weekend, everyone!


Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Limited-Edition Cherokee Genealogy Tees

Do you get tired of hearing, "I'm Cherokee but can't prove it"? Make a statement and help Warpony Community Outreach, a Cherokee run charity, at the same time! This shirt would be perfect for genealogists; those who work at genealogical archive libraries; registered/enrolled Cherokees; American Indians of other tribes who constantly hear the false claim; and those who want to send a clear message to Senator Elizabeth Warren and others who can't prove what they say about their purported Cherokee ancestry.

My goal is to have 100 shirts ordered so the design can be printed. The price is set at $1 over the cost of the shirt, so we can raise $100 for Warpony Community Outreach.  



Note:Your account will only be charged and this shirt will only print if we reach our goal of 100 pre-ordered.

Front

Back

You can pre-order the shirt at this LINK.

Sizes run from S - 3X. If you need a different size, contact me for options.

The campaign runs from now till June 5th, so don't delay if you would like one of these shirts. Because they are a Limited Edition, this is the only time this particular design will be available.  


Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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It's Your Song, Mom - Happy Mother's Day

From the earliest I can remember, my mom was telling me the stories of her life and how it was for her growing up in the Cherokee Nation. She told me not just about the things she experienced, but also the things she observed. Though my mom probably had it easier than some Indians back in the day, her life was, by no means, easy.

When mom first started school, there was a little girl, approximately 6 years old, who was much darker than the other students and the white teachers treated that little girl really bad. They called her things like a "dirty old" Indian and the little girl withdrew from everyone at school. My mom tried to befriend the little girl, but the girl kept her head down and refused to talk to anyone. My mom has never forgotten that little girl or how sad it made her, knowing the hell that child went through each day she went to school.

Later, when mom was a little older, there was no money to feed her and her siblings, so her parents told her they were considering sending her and her three younger sisters to Indian school. They wanted to know what she thought about it. She said she thought, "Oh no. Please don't ask me that!". She knew if she said she didn't want to go, her parents would not send her, but she also knew they wouldn't ask if it wasn't a desperate situation. So, she said, "It will be okay. Maybe it will be fun." She knew it wouldn't be fun, but she wanted to ease the burden on her parents.

Indian school wasn't easy. There was a teacher that walked around with a metal ruler that would hit them, just spur of the moment, hit them, with that ruler. My aunt, the youngest of the four who went away to school, witnessed a little girl taking such a bad beating with that ruler, that to this day, she has flashbacks about the horror of it. This type of thing is just one of the memories mom carries with her from her time at Indian boarding school.

Mom lived through the racist ideas people had about Indians and she grew up in a time when the only Cherokees were real Cherokees, for the most part. Real Cherokees were not ashamed of who they were and fakes weren't crawling out of the woodwork like roaches to claim to be Cherokee. Those real Cherokees paid the price for us to have a better life, an easier life, than they had. Now that there is really no cost for being Cherokee, everyone wants to claim to be one. My mom is too quiet to ever question or call out a fake, but she is proud that I do it. I don't think she realizes that when I speak, it is the song of her life that inspires me, that drives me, to share the truth about who we Cherokees really are and to keep our history, the good and the bad, for us, and with the people it truly belongs to.

My mom might be proud of me, but it can never come close to how proud I am of my mom. I am proud of her for overcoming great obstacles in her life yet still maintaining a positive attitude. No matter what she has been through, she still always sees the good in everything. In the last year, I got a lot of media attention. When my first op-ed appeared in the Cherokee Phoenix; when I was on America Live with Megyn Kelly; when I went to Boston and spoke there, mom was proud and thought I did "good."

If I did "good", it was only because of you, mom. It's always been your song that inspires me. I would be nothing without you. I love you mom. Happy Mother's Day. 

See all music videos Garth Brooks

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Congratulations to Cody Blackbird and Frank Waln!

Congratulations to Cody Blackbird and Frank Waln for being awarded the 2013 Native American Music Award for Song/Single of the Year for their collaboration on Hear My Cry. It is a moving and powerful song from two talented young men. If you haven't heard it yet, I encourage you to listen.

Note: Some of you might remember Cody generously allowed the group, Cherokees Demand Truth from Elizabeth Warren, to use his music in one of our videos.


Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Propaganda and the upcoming Cherokee Nation election

Propaganda is the art of persuasion - persuading others that your 'side of the story' is correct. ~~~ Be careful what you believe. Research everything yourselves.

Ah! Election time again in the Cherokee Nation! If you thought the U.S. elections were nasty, then you have never seen a Cherokee Nation election. There is a boatload of propaganda being spread around about many of the candidates. If you are a voter in the Cherokee Nation who wants to know the truth about any candidate -- do your own research and then decide for yourself who you do or don't want to vote for. Talk to the people who have decided not to vote and ask them why. Do whatever you need to do in order to learn about the candidates and how they were before all this election business started. Please don't believe everything you hear. Remember, the purpose of propaganda is to persuade people into believing what one wants them to believe. It is most effective "at those times when we are too lazy to think for ourselves." Do not fall victim to it. Think for yourself.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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The Two Faces of America: Elizabeth Warren v. Baby Veronica

America, as a whole, clearly does not understand sovereignty or how it applies to Indian tribes. According to the Bureau of Indian Affairs website,

"federally recognized tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (i.e., tribal sovereignty) and are entitled to receive certain federal benefits, services, and protections because of their special relationship with the United States."

How does this apply to Elizabeth Warren and Baby Veronica?

It applies because, time and time again, Americans repeatedly want to make both situations about race when they aren't. While many Americans said Warren had a right to claim her purported Cherokee ancestry, even if only a drop, and had a right to "check the box" based on family lore, many Americans are now saying Baby Veronica only has a "drop" of Indian blood, therefore, it isn't enough to matter.

When it was Elizabeth Warren claiming to have Cherokee ancestry, even though she couldn't prove it, there were plenty of Americans who spoke out in her defense, calling anyone who stood up against her false claims "a racist." Her supporters believed a drop was enough for her to claim, even though she couldn't show she actually had "a drop" of Indian blood.

Now that the focus is on Baby Veronica, a child with documented Cherokee ancestry, Americans have a different perspective. They say the little girl only has a drop of Indian blood and it isn't really enough to matter. They claim anyone who supports the idea she stay with her biological father and tribe is basing the opinion on race, when she really isn't "enough" to be considered an Indian.

Ah...the two faces of America. In one case, they want to tell us Cherokees we should accept someone who isn't, because her claim is good enough for them, yet in another case, they want to tell us who we should not be able to claim because that claim isn't good enough for them. Hmm...

But guess what. America's opinion doesn't matter. The sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation  does.  

Federally recognized tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (sovereignty) and are entitled to receive certain protections because of their special relationship with the United States.

That is key. The Cherokee Nation, a federally recognized tribe, decides its own citizenship. The Cherokee Nation is allowed to decide this because of its inherent right of SOVEREIGNTY. We define ourselves based on our criteria, not America's. By meeting the citizenship criteria defined by our nation, our citizens are entitled to certain protections. Baby Veronica is entitled to such protections, (i.e. the Indian Child Welfare Act,) while Warren is not, (i.e. Affirmative Action programs.)

But still, America doesn't seem to get it. The "two faced" remarks by Melissa Harriss-Perry is a perfect example.

In discussing Elizabeth Warren's claim, possibly politically motivated, Harriss-Perry said, 

"If candidate Warren grew up thinking she is Native American by heritage, who are we to say she is not?"

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And then later, when discussing the importance of the Indian Child Welfare Act...

"there is one group that does have a right to feel actual threat and concern about that and that is in the context of this country and Native Americans."

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Props to Harriss-Perry for getting it right the second time around, but she, like others in America, is still talking out of both sides of her mouth. First, she basically said we (Cherokees) had no right to say Warren wasn't "Native American" (remember, because she claimed us, we were speaking out, but MSNBC ignored that fact), and then, she turned around and said if anyone has a right to feel a threat in this country, it would be Native Americans. Well no kidding! That is why we were protesting against Warren in the first place! We were trying to protect OUR identity as citizens of the Cherokee Nation......for our children that non-Indians keep trying to take away from us.


Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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Chilocco Annual Reunion, Pow Wow and Stomp Dance

For more info, please contact Garland Kent, Sr. - 580-352-2670, and for vendor info. please contact Jr. Kent at 580-401-3352.

First posted - 3-5-2013

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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"Press 1 for English" - The Ugly History Behind It.

First, I want to make it clear that I only speak English. I know a few Cherokee words, but do not speak the language. But, I am the first generation in the direct line of my Cherokee family to be born into a non-Cherokee speaking household.

Everyone is probably aware of the "Press 1 for English" memes that are shared on facebook, passed around time and time again. 

Every time I see these shared by a fellow Cherokee, I wonder if they have forgotten our past and how many of our relatives and ancestors were forced to give up their native language for English. Emphasis on the word FORCED. When I see a Cherokee share something like any of the photos above, to me, it feels as if they are celebrating the near decimation of our own native Cherokee language by the colonizers who brought and forced the English language upon us. It is troublesome.

A little over one hundred years ago, my family was still speaking Cherokee, as shown on the 1910 US Census. All the people listed, from Tiger Tadpole down to Nancy Fisher, are my family members. Nancy was my great grandmother. The census specifically said, "Whether able to speak English; or if not, give language spoken." This means my Cherokee family was not able to speak English.

From Ancestry.com - edited to show the names and languages spoken columns together.

So what happened in the last one hundred years that caused my family to become an English speaking only family?

My mother was a product of the Indian boarding school system and only spoke English after leaving the schools.

I know we live in America. I know that English is the main language used, but I also know why American Indians primarily speak English now. It was not by choice, but instead, because of forced assimilation. According to "Enduring Voices", Oklahoma/Southwest U.S, is one of the "hotspot" areas in the world that has languages nearing extinction. The threat level is rated as high. Is the extinction of our indigenous languages something we want just so we don't have to "Press 1 for English"?

If you are Cherokee, the next time you complain about having to pressing 1 for English, stop and think about why you probably don't speak the language of your ancestors. 

Our Cherokee ancestors did not immigrate to this land, willing to adopt a new language when they did. Instead, our ancestors and their nation were absorbed by the United States during the allotment period. Once that happened, the assimilation process began in full force. Many Cherokee families stopped teaching/speaking the Cherokee language to their children, especially if the children were sent to Indian boarding schools. This was an effort to protect those children from beatings or other punishments they received for speaking their native languages. This means many of our families gave up their native language out of fear. Not choice, but fear.

People who complain that the U.S. is not an English speaking only nation should remind us of our sad history. Their message is one of colonization and an example of dominant culture privilege. When Cherokees share the same sentiment, it shows "they" have done their job well. It means the assimilation process has been successful. It means Cherokees don't think like Cherokees anymore. It means we've forgotten our history. 

Cherokees, think before you demand the U.S. be an "English only" nation. Do not advocate for the forced assimilation we endured to be put onto others. Stop following the crowd and start thinking like a Cherokee. Remember our history. The loss of our language in many Cherokee families and the reasons behind it are a very ugly part of our history. But it is a part of our history that we should never forget.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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New Ad Space Available for Limited Time

In an effort to help raise funds for Warpony Community Outreach, I have decided to make space available for small ads on my blog. For a donation of $10 or more to Warpony, I will run a 125 x 125 ad with a link to your site for 30 days.  Because this is a niche blog with many Cherokee readers from all over the United States, this is a great opportunity for current council candidates in the Cherokee Nation to get some additional exposure. For those running for the At Large council seat, it could be a great way to reach others you might not be able to meet face to face.

If you are interested in placing an ad, please contact me through the email link on this page. All ads are subject to my pre-approval and must be Cherokee related.*

Ads will be placed exactly where the current "Your Ad Here" blocks are,

so they will be in clear view each time a new post is published.



*Basically, I am not going to allow obscene or negative ads to be placed. This is a family friendly blog.

Those are my thoughts for today.
Thanks for reading.

copyright 2013, Polly's Granddaughter - TCB

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