Paul Heinegg on Indian Slaves in VA.

[Saponi 1]

I thought I would post this information over here as a separate thread--I find it very ironic that Paul now sees that many indians were actually slaves and servants in colonial households. I have always felt this is precisely why we have a persistent story of indian blood among many from the upper south. Women were often the slaves, south eastern tribes are primarily matrilineal....
Anyway, any comments or dialogue might be interesting.

Saponi1



AfriGeneas Free Persons of Color Forum

Indian slaves in Virginia

Posted By: Paul Heinegg
Date: Friday, 10 February 2006, at 6:29 p.m.

When I first began my research of Virginia's court records, I assumed that the Indians which most colonists came into contact with were Tributary Indians. However, I found records of so many Indians living in English colonial households as slaves and servants that I made a separate file of them. These records indicate that it is more likely that that the Indians which most colonists came into contact with on a daily basis were actually slaves.
Here is the file: http://wwww.freeafricanamericans.com/free_Indians.htm

And I just came across this document in Princess Anne County whereby Richard Bell freed his Indian woman servant and her son:
Be it known unto all men...by my own voluntary will for the good services and the good will I bear to my servant maid Eliza. Hill an Indian and her son David have given and granted...deed of gift...full and clear discharge from the service of me and my heirs. 20 March 1748/9 [Deed Book 1747-1755, pages 96-7].
Paul


posted by Saponi1

[blackindiangirl]

I found this site to be VERY interesting, even though I did not find any of my ndn fpc's in there. Thanks for the link.

[Brenda Ferrell Sampsel]

Thanks a lot. I also find this information very interesting. It is nice to see that some one can reframe his paradigm or point of view when accumulating data just doesn't seem to fit the old paradigm. Of course, this is what scholars and/or scientists do........ I have always appreciated his work at digging through the records, but not his interpretations of history. It will be interesting to see where this all leads. In any event, reading through the records at the provided link does give one a richer view of the interface of Euro and Indian folks in the Colonial period. I reccomend taking a look, too.

Brenda

[Linda]

This finding by Heinegg really moves me. I projected it onto my own family, which was listed on all sides as "white" going back to the early 1800's, even though clearly from family anecdotes they were not being accepted as such by their white neighbors. The possibility that they had eastern roots embedded in slavery adds a fascinating possible insight into the shame and secrecy surrounding this heritage.

Think about it. Brenda just mentioned PSTD in another thread. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I firmly believe it's generational. It gets passed on from one generation to another, sometimes for many generations if not dealt with. How many "white" Indian descendants have all this trauma rattling around in their family tree, unrecognized?

And how much of the shame was compounded by this? Could this also be what they were fleeing? The possibility is out there and should be considered by us all.

[blackindiangirl]

Linda, it's funny that you mentioned health (PTSD) as generational. I began doing my own research on my health problems because the doctors are clueless and I'm suffering. This is how I came upon this website. Someone told me that my health problems could be hereditary from my ndn heritage...which I hadn't considered. It first came about with the health and traits of the Melungeons, which was considered as fibromyalgia or serious joint and muscle pain. Later, someone sent me here........and I must say that I've picked up my ndn torch and haven't let go of it since...(I don't even do much research on my health now...I've rediscovered my ndn heritage....LOL.) :D

[Brenda Ferrell Sampsel]

Originally posted by Linda
.......... Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I firmly believe it's generational. It gets passed on from one generation to another, sometimes for many generations if not dealt with. How many "white" Indian descendants have all this trauma rattling around in their family tree, unrecognized?

And how much of the shame was compounded by this? Could this also be what they were fleeing? The possibility is out there and should be considered by us all.

The idea that PTSD can be generational is not a wild & wacky, isolated idea and has been considered by people working in the health fields.

Here is an article, just one example, with some references on the generational and family aspects of trauma:




HAND ME DOWN HURT:
PTSD ACROSS THE GENERATIONS
by Thomas G. Shafer, M.D.
http://www.selfhelpmagazine.com/articles/ptsd/ptsdgen.html
"......The truth is that PTSD can be a sort of “infectious” psychiatric problem passed on to others, especially close family members. [3][4] The old Biblical maxim about the sins of the fathers being passed down to the third or fourth generation is true, in a sense, because it can take three or four generations for the effects of trauma to dilute out in a family. [5]

Our diagnostic texts are not fully cognizant of this but at least the therapeutic community is responding. The Holocaust Survivor’s projects in New York have treated the children of survivors for many years and are now seeing some grandchildren.[6][7] The Alanon Adult Children of Alcoholics program now includes adult grandchildren. (Sadly, our own US Veteran’s Administration is not making any concerted effort to help children of PTSD vets., even those with service connected disabilities for the syndrome.) ......"



The article mentions the films COMING HOME and BEACH MUSIC, ie, "Cross generational PTSD is becoming a common theme in current fiction. ...."

Here are some of the interesting articles referenced in the author's notes:

Motta, R.W.; Joseph, J.M.; Rose, R.D.; Suozzi, J.M.; Leiderman, L.J. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 1997 Dec; Secondary Trauma: Assessing Inter-generational Transmission of War Experiences With a Modified Stroop Procedure.

Solomon, Z.; Kotler, M.; Mikulincer, M.; American Journal of Psychiatry 1988 Jul; Combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Among Second-Generation Holocaust Survivors: Preliminary Findings.

Reifman, A., et.al., American Journal of Psychiatry, 1998 June; Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Characteristics of Holocaust Survivors and Their Adult Offspring.

Recent Developments in Alcoholism, 1988; The Interrelationship of Substance Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Epidemiological and Clinical Considerations. Keane, T.M.; Gerardi, R.J.; Lyons, J.A.; Wolfe,J.

Here is a US Vets. Administration overview on PTSD:

http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/facts/general/fs_overview.html

An ethnocultural reference:

Marsella, A.J., Friedman, M.J., Gerrity, E. & Scurfield R.M. (Eds.). (1996). Ethnocultural aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders: Issues, research and applications. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

The SIDRAN INSTITUTE OF TRAUMATIC STRESS EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY is an excellent resource for individuals, families, educators, and health workers.
http://www.sidran.org/

Brenda

[Brenda Ferrell Sampsel]

On the other hand, I found the following article criticizing what this particular author sees as a growing tendency for individuals, groups - and historians - to embrace victimhood. I think I would respond to some of the issues he raises by offering that, while some individuals may get stuck in the victim role, possibly making a "career" of victimhood [ a step in the journey], the point for many is returning the locus of control to one's self, affirming or perhaps regaining personal power, one's VOICE ( or group power, control, self-determinism- whatever the case may be) , and moving on to define one's own future. This could apply to a community collectively, or to an individual.

Maya Angelou is a wonderful model for reclaiming personal voice, as are many others who have reclaimed their lives after personal trauma.

I am sure that there are lots of examples of communities and groups reclaiming their voice. This can annoy some members of the status quo, of course.

I seem to recall that a then younger group of social scientists in the 1960's used "conflict theory" in sociology, as opposed to a singular use of "functional theory", to not only explore the effects of "colonialism", but to engage politically. This can be messy sometimes and is a reason that Gandhi is so interesting: he worked so diligently at developing his own self-discipline and internal understandings before taking his efforts against British colonialism "to the streets".

I, for one, don't see anything constructive coming from reviving the American national myth of "Manifest Destiny."......and I think it is pretty healthy for folks to reflect on who is controlling cultural images, or "memes", and how and why..... and to create their own vision of "optimistic future possibilities".

I would also point out that there still are people around who believe the Holocaust never happened.. I've met a few! Wallowing in victimhood is certainly not any greater problem than total, outright DENIAL!

http://www.spiked-online.com/Articles/00000000545B.htm



"The 'second generation' of Holocaust survivors
Most of Frank Furedi's family perished in the Holocaust - but he does not consider himself a second-generation victim.


by Frank Furedi

".....During the past two centuries, the key motif in the rewriting of history was the unique greatness of a particular people or culture. National myths were based on heroic deeds and glorious events. Such myths were not simply used as sentimental celebrations of the past - they were mobilised to construct a positive vision of the future. The myth of the American frontier promised a great destiny for US society, while British, French and German national myths were mobilised to provide an optimistic representation of future possibilities.


Today, the rewriting of history is driven by a very different impulse. The manipulation of collective memory makes no grand claims on the future. On the contrary, the historic memory serves as a monument to a people's historic suffering. In a perceptive contribution on this subject, Ian Buruma has drawn attention to the tendency of many minorities 'to define themselves as historic victims'."

[rockhound]

There is also some difficulty when someone has ancestors that were on both sides during these tumultuous times.

I think you can honor them, without holding up 100% of their beliefs. What do you think?

[Saponi 1]

I first came across the term intergenerational trauma when watching the film, The Red Road to Sobriety. This film is primarily about Indians and Alcoholism however it is a very moving and enlightening film that addresses the trauma Indians families have experienced due to the effects of colonialism.

While googling the title I found this link you can order this film
it made me cry to understand why I have often felt displaced, disoriented and completely out of sync with the rest of society.

It explained so many things about me, my family and why after all this time we continue to feel the effects of 400 years of the American Holocaust.

http://www.kifaru.com/redroad.html

Please go to this site and order this film.
I have a personal copy and let my oldest daughter whose is majoring in Social Work specifically for American Indians watch the film. She agreed it is something you have to see--it will explain alot even without the references to Alcoholism.

The intergenerational trauma is likened to the experiences of the
Europeans that experienced the Holocaust.

If you think on the surface about the high unemployment rates, suicide, family and social break-down and the trail of broken treaties, promises it is easy to see that yes we have truly expereinced a tremendous displacement as a people.

Lastly, because we are largely invisable in the media AND whenever a census is completed--they always adjust the numbers to exclude those that are not -full blooded or federal indians. Note the article below---ends up only referring to single-race American Indians...




http://indianz.com/News/2006/012511.asp
Census Bureau report highlights Indian Country
Tuesday, February 14, 2006


A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau paints a comprehensive, and rather interesting, portrait of the 2.4 million Americans who claim American Indian or Alaska Native heritage.

"We the People: American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States," was released last Wednesday. It is based on results from the 2000 Census, in which record numbers of American Indians and Alaska Natives took part.

According to the results of the count, American Indians and Alaska Natives continue to trail behind the rest of the country in terms of poverty, education, living conditions, family situations and other socioeconomic indicators.

But the report shows some variance among tribal groups in the United States. Depending on affiliation and geographic location, some American Indians and Alaska Natives enjoyed a better lifestyle than their counterparts.

Overall, 2,447,989 Americans, or 0.87 percent of the total population, said they were American Indian or Alaska Native on the 2000 Census, which also allowed people to claim multiple races. When that figure is taken into account, the number of Natives booms to 4,315,865, or 1.53 percent of the total population.

The "We the People" report, though, is based only on singe-race Native Americans. It presents data for 10 tribal groups in the lower 48 states: Apache, Chippewa, Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Iroquois, Lumbee, Navajo, Pueblo and Sioux. For Alaska Natives, data is presented on Alaskan Athabascan, Aleut, Eskimo and Tlingit-Haida populations.



Great Topic...we should discuss more.
Saponi1

[rockhound]

The 2000 census was the first one that I ever completed as an adult.

I called myself white and native American (Cherokee actually, 'cause I thought I was at the time). I felt silly doing it at at the time because no one could look at me and tell that I have any Indian blood...I look like a Scot. :)

As for the generational stuff...I can see similar patterns, but I don't know if it is an Indian thing or not.

[Brenda Ferrell Sampsel]

I think it's a human thing, but we have to be really careful about making sweeping generalizations about anyone or any one group. As in anything to do with humans, there are always bunches of mediating factors. It is a very important topic, but the personal implications are not always ones that are best to be talked about on a public, open forum.....It gets confusing for me, what to talk about and what not, sometimes....
I checked out Saponi's link to the THE RED ROAD TO SOBRIETY and found it very moving. I plan to see the DVD.....

Another aspect is that each community has its own unique history even though it may be part of a larger historical process and its important to honor that. And in some of our cases, we may no longer be a part of a "community", or sadly even a strong kin network anymore. I guess I'm trying to say that we have to remember that while we have some things in common, we come from a variety of places that are unique.

Like Rockhound, my initial comments that Linda referred to were in relation to understanding what people experienced during the "border" wars and the revolution. Like Linda, I have some thoughts on what this meant in my family. I think the WV archives refers to this as a time of "equal cruelties". I think we often forget that there was a period of time where there was an amount of interaction that was "friendly" in nature before this time of really open conflict. That there is some strange "energy" still around can be seen when at times a pretty calm, polite list will break into a flamming war. I saw this several years ago on an otherwise pretty sober, serious list when the series on "Indian Atrocities along the Clinch & Holsten..." were posted. People very quickly polarized.... I bet others have noticed certain other "hot button' topics, too!

Brenda

[Linda]

This concept of generational PTSD is very pivotal for me. It goes way back to how I came together as an individual in adolescence, how I formed my POV. Simply put, my youthful ambition in life was to overcome those delimiters of personality, those patterns that hold us down, repeating themselves from one generation to the next that prevent us from fully actualizing ourselves and connecting with each other.

The whole notion that such a thing was possible derived from the social movements concerning race that were prominent at the time. Ironically, so much of what has distracted me from that goal has been the controversies and divisions vis-a-vis race that still persist. Even now, how much of our attention in restoring our Native identity is bogged down in defending our right to do so? Will we fritter away our lives defending our right to claim it, rather than just claiming what we need to claim and getting on with it? Sounds like the Trickster is afoot.

[lynne pepper]

Originally posted by Linda
This concept of generational PTSD is very pivotal for me. It goes way back to how I came together as an individual in adolescence, how I formed my POV. Simply put, my youthful ambition in life was to overcome those delimiters of personality, those patterns that hold us down, repeating themselves from one generation to the next that prevent us from fully actualizing ourselves and connecting with each other.

Me:
I see what you mean. Even back in the 1970"s , psychologists had identified what they called "orphange syndrome", and "concentration camp syndrome", these related specifically to the generational effects of those experiences upon the parents. There are actually very firm roots, in research, for the premise of PSTD in generations.

And let me digress....when I was living outside of Fayetteville, NC, I was visiting with a neighbor, as a new neighbor myself. I visited with the wife for about an hour, and during our conversation she told me that her husband was out in the garage working on cars. I was very much wanting to meet him, of course, but she explained to me that he was "shy", because he was a Lumbee. ( this was before the Lumbee were recognized by the state). She showed me his mother's picture, a woman in her early sixties posing with a Indian pot that was clearly of southwestern design. This was supposed to EXPLAIN IT ALL. The reason why he couldn't be introduced, the reason why he was shy, and just the reason why he was completely unavailable to be greeted.

I had nothing to say about this...because it was WAY too complicated to intrude on whatever it was they were doing in their home, and how they chose to conduct their life. I respectfully took my leave.

So what made him so shy? Why was he hidden away? Why was it some kind of neighborhood secret thingy? They had whatever comfort level that they had to live with, or work out.

So why didn't I expose myself as an Indian? For a very good reason, I silently respected whatever it was that he felt he had to do. If he wanted to stay way from neighbors, that was his right. But what kind of generational PSTD was HE working from? I felt that that was his business. However, privately, I felt that it was a shame that it had to be this way. If the shy Indian in question had been a female, I would have said something. But because it was a male, and a husband, I was not in my own corner, and I left. It was his household.

I have noticed this kind of "shyness" among almost all the Indians I have ever met. This is regardless of how they appeared as per "type".


Linda:

The whole notion that such a thing was possible derived from the social movements concerning race that were prominent at the time. Ironically, so much of what has distracted me from that goal has been the controversies and divisions vis-a-vis race that still persist. Even now, how much of our attention in restoring our Native identity is bogged down in defending our right to do so? Will we fritter away our lives defending our right to claim it, rather than just claiming what we need to claim and getting on with it? Sounds like the Trickster is afoot.

Me:
I couldn't agree with you more, Linda.

Cheers,

Lynne

[Linda]

Thank you for your thoughts and for your understanding.