Lost Heritage

                                                                                                                                                                            October 9th is/was Indigenous People’s Day, along with Leif Erikson Day, Discoverers’ Day, Native American Day, and Columbus Day. America’s history is rich in culture but includes a lot of pain and tragic atrocities to Indigenous people. We cannot change the past, but we can recognize the pain and try to change the future. 

The Indigenous people of the Gwinnett area of Georgia included the Catawba, Cherokee and Creek Nation peoples. They cultivated these lands for thousands of generations prior to European settlers coming to shore. They passed their heritage, culture and customs down verbally through stories and artistic works such as paintings, weaving, crafts, ceramics and wood carvings. Much of their heritage and culture was lost during the colonization of the Americas. 

My appreciation of Indigenous People started when I was younger and my mom took me to the Alabama-Coushatta Reservation for my birthday and we stayed for the week of spring break. 

I saw for the first time the beauty of the First Nations, the spirit of the Alabama-Coushatta peoples dance flowing with the drums, the colorful clothing adorned with feathers, beads and geometric patterns. The porcupine fur mohawks swooped up and down with the rhythmic beating of the drums and bobbing of the men’s heads.  It was eye opening how their people had lost so much and yet retained what they could of their heritage. It makes me wonder how much heritage has been lost since the beginning of the human race all because of war, conquest and personal beliefs. 

I think it was this experience that gave me an appreciation for not just Indigenous cultures, but all cultures and all heritages. I frequently research my Romani, Czechoslovakia and Hungarian ancient culture to discover new things about my lost heritages, and I discover new things about myself in the process. 

I know my ancestors did not have the same culture I have, but I try to incorporate the things I’ve learned about my lost heritages in my ritual life and my daily life. 

~Candice C Carver