The Noble Nelson clan-A Journey to Reclaim Our Chitimacha Identity
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$42.99
Regular price $51.99
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THE JOURNEY LEAST TAKEN
“The Chitimaha ‘Shetimasha’ Nation, ‘the people of the many waters’ have lived for an estimated 6,000 years in their traditional lands, including the lower Atchafalaya Basin, “the largest wetlands and swamps in the United States”. Their territory was delineated by four sacred bald cypress trees. The last of the known ancient trees, the “Rain Tree” was lost during the devastating flood of 1927. To put that into perspective, that was about 96 years before the writing of this book, and 34 years before the authors, cousins Peter and Robert were born.
The Chitimacha were once the most powerful tribe living along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana before the arrival of the French in 1682. The Chitimacha's lives were dramatically altered during the devastating war with the French (1707-1718). For the next half-century, the remaining Chitimacha sought sanctuary deeper within their territory along the sacred shores of Grand Lake and the bayou wilderness. In about 1767, they were recognized by the Spanish and given a land grant.
By the 1840s, the Chitimacha were noted in court records on and off over the next 60 years as they continually fought for the rights to what was left of their traditional lands. They survived the struggle over oil and the discriminatory killings of their people.
By the early 1900s, they battled for Federal recognition. In the process, a decision was made that divided the Chitimacha Nation by eliminating members with known Negro ancestry from the rolls, as documented by the “Code of Ethics” introduced in the courtroom in 1951…
“It was Mr. Hector… superintendent of the tribe!”, said Ernest Darden, the former Chitimacha chief, “It’s a rule they’ve got you to understand!”
“In those rules do you specify that when an Indian Marries a Negro that the offspring of that union—?” quizzes the attorney Mr. Tureaud, before he is interrupted.
“He’s off! Lost out!” interrupts Ernest Darden, “According to the…” Code of Ethics.
A code directed by the superintendent Mr. Archie Hector a government employee assigned to the Chitimacha Tribe to guide the representatives along the path of federal recognition.
This book is about the journey taken by two cousins as they reconnect with their inner Chitimacha. They met through a DNA website and decided to document their journey to reclaim their Chitimacha identity together for their families and cousins. Their research has confirmed their family's oral histories.
Cousins Peter and Robert are the descendants of three generations of Noble Chitimacha hereditary chiefs whose great-grandparents were excluded from the ancestral rolls of the Chitimacha Nation at the turn of the 20th century. It was a time when America was transitioning through a bout of racial inequity.
Their goal was to rewrite the wrongs committed against their ancestor's memories and to bring peace and justice to the Nelson-Darden clan through the guidance and inspiration of our Chitimacha ancestors. When we walk the paths of our ancestors, we are never alone. The journey we take are not always for ourselves.”
The Noble Nelson clan-A Journey to Reclaim Our Chitimacha Identity
Sale price
$42.99
Regular price $51.99
THE JOURNEY LEAST TAKEN
“The Chitimaha ‘Shetimasha’ Nation, ‘the people of the many waters’ have lived for an estimated 6,000 years in their traditional lands, including the lower Atchafalaya Basin, “the largest wetlands and swamps in the United States”. Their territory was delineated by four sacred bald cypress trees. The last of the known ancient trees, the “Rain Tree” was lost during the devastating flood of 1927. To put that into perspective, that was about 96 years before the writing of this book, and 34 years before the authors, cousins Peter and Robert were born.
The Chitimacha were once the most powerful tribe living along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana before the arrival of the French in 1682. The Chitimacha's lives were dramatically altered during the devastating war with the French (1707-1718). For the next half-century, the remaining Chitimacha sought sanctuary deeper within their territory along the sacred shores of Grand Lake and the bayou wilderness. In about 1767, they were recognized by the Spanish and given a land grant.
By the 1840s, the Chitimacha were noted in court records on and off over the next 60 years as they continually fought for the rights to what was left of their traditional lands. They survived the struggle over oil and the discriminatory killings of their people.
By the early 1900s, they battled for Federal recognition. In the process, a decision was made that divided the Chitimacha Nation by eliminating members with known Negro ancestry from the rolls, as documented by the “Code of Ethics” introduced in the courtroom in 1951…
“It was Mr. Hector… superintendent of the tribe!”, said Ernest Darden, the former Chitimacha chief, “It’s a rule they’ve got you to understand!”
“In those rules do you specify that when an Indian Marries a Negro that the offspring of that union—?” quizzes the attorney Mr. Tureaud, before he is interrupted.
“He’s off! Lost out!” interrupts Ernest Darden, “According to the…” Code of Ethics.
A code directed by the superintendent Mr. Archie Hector a government employee assigned to the Chitimacha Tribe to guide the representatives along the path of federal recognition.
This book is about the journey taken by two cousins as they reconnect with their inner Chitimacha. They met through a DNA website and decided to document their journey to reclaim their Chitimacha identity together for their families and cousins. Their research has confirmed their family's oral histories.
Cousins Peter and Robert are the descendants of three generations of Noble Chitimacha hereditary chiefs whose great-grandparents were excluded from the ancestral rolls of the Chitimacha Nation at the turn of the 20th century. It was a time when America was transitioning through a bout of racial inequity.
Their goal was to rewrite the wrongs committed against their ancestor's memories and to bring peace and justice to the Nelson-Darden clan through the guidance and inspiration of our Chitimacha ancestors. When we walk the paths of our ancestors, we are never alone. The journey we take are not always for ourselves.”