address/phone for Cherokee office in OK?
Kathleen Kinzie (kinz5384@tao.sosc.osshe.edu)
Tue, 8 Aug 1995 11:46:34 -0700
Greetings all,
I am a graduate student working on my counseling degree at Southern
Oregon State College. As part of my interning experience I am
facilitating an art group at the local juvenile detention center. It has
been amazing to me the number of kids who tell me that they are part
Indian. When I ask them about their tribal ancestry, most of them say
that although their grandparents were traditional, their parents were raised
"non-Indian." These kids sincerely want to know more about their
ancestors and at present have no way to learn about them (most of their
grandparents are no longer here). Yesterday I worked with a 17 year old
who proudly announced that he was Cherokee. He said that his grandmother
was enrolled and remembered the language and many traditional customs.
As a result of the difficulty his grandmother had growing up, she raised
his mother "non-Indian." His grandmother died last year and his mother
does not know much about the Cherokee people. When I told him about the
various native-net resources, he asked if I would post a request for him.
Here goes:
"My name is Isidro, but I like to be called Luke. I would like
to find an address or phone number so that my mom and I can get in touch
with the Cherokee office in Oklahoma and see about getting enrolled. My
Grandma was enrolled and knew many of the customs, but she died and my
mother can't help me because she was raised differently. Anything you
could do to help I would appreciate." (posted by Kathleen Kinzie on
behalf of Luke, 17).
All replies will be delivered by me to Luke at the Jackson County
Detention Center. This boy has a good heart and is sincere about finding
his place with his grandmother's people.
Thank you,
Kathleen Kinzie
kinz5384@tao.sosc.osshe.edu