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My dad is native (Ojibwe) but he’s not on my birth certificate so I have no proof of my ancestry. How can I prove that I’m half Ojibwe and not just Irish?

What an amazing gift that you have such a great lead. Keep asking questions of your family to see what else you can pull up, like names and location. This will be helpful in your next steps. Next thing is to check with your tribes enrollment department, as every tribe…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Identity, Spirituality

hey auntie i have been wondering when im in a group circle sage gets passed and the women get told if we are on our periods just pass the sage so does that mean i cant use sage in general on my moon cycle or just the sage thats being passed

Hey Bianca! This is a great question. I had to reach out to some other Aunties for this answer. My tribe is not considered a ‘saging’ tribe. My Auntie’s have told me that we learned to sage from the Northern Pueblos. When you’re on your ‘moon cycle’ or ‘moon time’,…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Spirituality

I wanted to cleanse my house so, my daughter bought me white sage and an abalone shell, I did not have a feather but when I went out to my truck the next day or two, there was a feather laying on the ground by my truck. I have no idea what kind of feather

How cool! It might be easiest to get online and search for local birds in your area to identify which bird it came from. Feathers and the types of feathers used by tribes can have variations in their meanings from tribe to tribe. Generally speaking, feathers like eagle feathers are…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Identity, Spirituality

Looking at my Ancestry.com info it says that I have the deepest root in Northern Coahuila and San Antonio. The earliest tribe I found from SA is the Payaya but I am trying to find out which of the later tribes (Apache, Tonkawa, Comanche etc.) I am?

Identity and knowing who we are is one of the most important journeys we can walk. I applaud you for taking this path. With the information you’ve gathered from Ancestry.com, you’re off to a great start. Your next steps are going to take some digging. If you feel comfortable, start…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Identity, Spirituality

I’m mostly white but there is Wampanoag on my mom’s side. Is it wrong to seek community with Natives? Other whites have said Natives don’t want me around. Is this true? My spirit has always been with nature. I have nothing but respect for Native people.

Identity and knowing who we are is one of the most important journeys we can walk. I encourage you to explore your identity. This is a great start. There are many ways you can do this, and yet there is no right or wrong way. If you feel comfortable, reach…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Identity, Spirituality

My maternal grandfather’s mother. My great grandmother is from a reservation in Oklahoma. Sadly this is all the information I have. Could you point me in the right direction of which tribe she might be from?

Hi there! Well, I applaud you for beginning your journey of discovering more about who you are. Where to start? Relatives – This is where I would begin the search. Talk to the person you think has the most information, then go from there. Try talking to whoever you think…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Identity

I work at a homeless shelter and would like to start drumming with our indigenous women but I feel like I don’t know enough about my culture to teach them. Any tips?

Hi Jasmine, It takes a lot of courage to reconnect to yourself and share that with others. I’m proud of you. We know that music-making, especially when doing it with others can have an incredibly positive impact on one’s physical, spiritual health, and mental health. And, it can greatly impact…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Identity, Spirituality

Hi Auntie, Thank you. I am a non-Native person & been gifted white sage grown by a white friend. I’ve heard not to buy or use it. I want to honor these wishes. Should I stop using the plant I was gifted? Is there a way to give reparations for my use?

You may have heard folks talking about buying locally and environmentally friendly cultivated sage, especially by Indigenous folks. We certainly encourage this especially because most commercial white sage comes from California and with annual wildfires and drought this is not a sustainable practice. If, however, your friend has sourced his…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Education, Identity, Non-Native Allies

How can I find my ancestors clan? I have her name but not her maiden name and I called the Mescalero Apache office. They said all parents have to be registered. My grandma is the only one who would qualify under blood quantum, and her mom is 1/2 MA.

Hi there! Well, there’s no time like the present to start uncovering more about where you come from.  It seems like talking to your grandma (if you haven’t already) would be a great place to start.By asking her simple questions like, “Can you tell me what names you mom used,…
Answered by Auntie Manda
Topics: Culture and Language, Education, Identity, Non-Native Allies
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