 |
| |
Robert L. Poe, Jr.
Running Water (Ama Adisi)
(Teacher) Di-de-yo-hv-s-gi |
|
| |
I am the son of a coal miner and a child of the mountains. Each
summer, from my earliest memory to my teenage years, was
spent in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina,
approximately 20 miles from Tennessee. My beloved grandmother,
Sallie Anderson Roberts, encouraged my love of nature. My
fondest memories were of running wild through the mountains with
my dogs Trixie and Jack, eating chinkapin nuts and enjoying the
gentle breeze of a summer day.
Perhaps I always felt an innate connection to my Native American
heritage. Even as a child, I appreciated the sacredness of the
earth and reveled in the beauty of nature. I was most happy
being alone with my dogs and the trees. However, my Cherokee
background was not revealed to me until I was older and
questioned my parents about my distinct features. I always felt
ashamed of them, as they made me look different from my friends.
As I grew to understand my heritage, I grew proud of the blood
that flowed through my veins and saw my features as a testament
to that strong lineage.
With that pride installed in me, and the stressing of education
by my grandmother, I became the first in my family to graduate
from college.
Currently a member of the Eastern Cherokees of New York, Tribe,
I have recently been assigned the role of teacher (Di-de-yo-hv-s-gi),
teaching basic Cherokee to members. The Cherokee language is
both fascinating and beautiful and I am proud to share my
language with others. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Native Pride
Love
Who
And
What
You
Are |
