Where are my people?
manuui@eworld.com
Sat, 7 Jan 1995 14:44:06 PST
I've just gotten on cyberspace and am learning. Native-L was the first group
I got on as I've been active in Hawaiian issues. (Now have also gotten on
ROOTS and a few others.) As you must well know, the last few years have been
filled with activity for the Hawaiian people. I have been a researcher,
writer and media person helping to get the word out during this time.
Ironically during this time, my own family history was given to me (that I
never thought I would receive and have discovered my own native roots.) I
realize the indigenous issues are immense, horrifying and difficult. My
personal needs are irrelevant in this kapakahi (mixed up) world. As a mixed
blood, I grew up in the mainland under the propaganda curriculum that hid
facts from me. I can't be alone in having the bloods in my veins boiling
against each other as I learned the truth of what has gone on--ashamed of
ancestors who exploited and yearning to find my indigenous roots that, to me,
have a greater understanding of the "truths" of the world. No one mentions
those of us who have come down with mixed blood and are rejected by all
groups. I don't want land or money or special deals for my blood, I only
want to find the family that is lost to me and be able to utilize my gifts
from the Great Spirit to help in these hard times. My knowledge is from
books and the Hawaiian kupuna (elders) who have been so kind to me. I send
this out on the air, humbly, hoping that one voice will hear... It is a
quest for me to find my family who I believe are in eastern Canada. The
Hawaiian community has hanied (adopted me) but the call is strong for me to
find my own. Please, any help would be very much appreciated.
My gggrandfather was said to be buried in full chiefly regalia and was from
eastern Canada or Michigan though a check of MI tribes (thanks to Chief Joe
Meyers in CA) has found no connection. It was not O.K. to be native then so
don't know if that is part of the problem. My ggrandfather's son's name was
Frank VINSON who died approx. 1925 in a lumber camp near Cadillac, MI. He
was supposed to have been French Canadian no mention made of native but I
have his picture and he looks as though he could be full blooded. His wife
was Nancy YORK (English) who died approximately 1928 or 29 and was supposed
to have been born out of wedlock. With the Christian ethics of the
day..there's probably not much information there. Anyhow, my grandmother
was Alice Maude VINSON who married Allen Norman EASTMAN on Nov. 3, 1893 in
Remus, Michigan. (I have the marriage certificate.) Grandfather EASTMAN's
father was Samuel EASTMAN (b. Aug. 4, 1819, Fletcher, VT, d. Dec. 16, 1893,
St. Charles, IL) m. Nov. 8, 1842 in Clark Twp. Durham Co., Ontario, Canada to
Meny A. ALLEN (on certificate) but in my records it's Mercy Ann ALLEN b July
2, 1823 in Newcastle, Ontario, d. Aug. 3, 1904 in St. Charles, IL) I have her
line or some of it that goes to England--Mayflower people and all that.
I would appreciate any help anyone can give...
robyn@aloha.com or manuui@eWorld also on Compuserv