CL <flothru@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 06/02/2010 10:25 PM, mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> > CL<flothru@yahoo.com>  wrote:
> >> On 06/02/2010 01:32 PM, mtfester@netMAPSONscape.net wrote:
> > 
> >>>> It bothers me A LOT, but I have a note from my parents.  I'm part Seneca
> >>>> (Iroquois / Algonquin) which meant absolutely nothing on the East Coast
> >>>
> >>> Never heard the Seneca alled Algonquin; they were the largest of the
> >>> Iroquois nations. I'm part (distant) Onandaga, myself. Spent some time
> >>> on the Oneida reservations in Wisconsin when I was a kid.
> > 
> >> That came from the BIA ... or something related ... classifications.
> >> Blame it on White People in Upstate New York.  Works for Jews, too.
> > 
> > The Seneca were one of the original 5 nations of the Iroquois, and they did
> > NOT get along with the Algonquin (to the detriment of the Algonquin.)

> You're preaching to the choir, here.  As I said, this is something set
> up by white people at some time in the ancient past.  Nuttin' to do wid
> me.

One of the best books on Indians, though, was written by Clark Wissler, who
is assuredly white. Or was, actually...

> One of the strange factoids I have picked up is that the Oneida were the
> only one of the Five Nations to side with the Americans in the War of
> Independence.  The other four were pro-British and provided them with
> native guides, porters, soldiers, and the like.  My white ancestors who
> fought for the Americans were all descendents of the branch that founded
> Niew Amsterdam so, either some parts of the family fought for both sides
> or they hooked up much later.

One of the things lost on most "native-americanologists" (for lack of a better
word) is that the Iroquois were pretty shrewd, politically, and did a very
good job of playing sides against each other. Worked until the War of
1812, when the Brits got kicked out of the US (French were out with the
La. Purchase) and there were no longer sides to play off.

> >>>> they ever try).  My immediate family all have light skin, blue eyes, and
> >>>> blond hair, but I have some cousins who look like they're on day release
> >>>> from the Reservation.
> >>>
> >>> My grandfather had a classic Iroquois face, but blue eyes.
> > 
> >> Didn't get the looks, just the propensity to develop early onset
> >> diabetes.  I would have preferred the looks.
> > 
> > Well, his side of the family all lived into their 90s, and were pretty
> > active until then; hope I got those genes.

> My father's parents both lived to age 103, but my father died in his
> early 70s.  I am hoping this longevity thing just skips a generation
> every now and then.

Could be; my grandfather was a pack-a-day man, too, so there's that anti-
cancer thing going on.

I hope.

Mike