Native Americans Hidden in Our Family Trees

It’s hard to get a good picture of Native American territory because governments were always pushing and pulling boundaries. One boundary of particular interest is the one between Canada and the United States. For the Native People, that must have been impossible to comprehend. When lines were drawn between these two countries, the Natives on one side lived on Canadian territory and those on the other side lived under the jurisdiction of the United States. Being that Indian life styles were nomadic, they continued to inhabit both countries as long as it was safe. Sometimes there is a “thin line” between American and Canadian Indians if there is any line at all.

As we seek answers to our genealogical questions, there are few or none. But we can imagine can’t we? If you believe your ancestors were Plains Indians, a broad term for many different tribes, Father Lacombe has left behind some colorful descriptions of the people he grew to love and respect.

“He watched with interest as the men rode up, wearing skin shields on their arms, full quivers at their sides, eagle feathers in their hair, and startling bright paint on their half-naked bodies. Squaws and children, yelping dogs and clanging iron kettles added color and noise. Ponies drew the travois, or Indian wagons, formed of crossed poles on which was piled the camp equipment. While the men traded their furs and skins for the things they wanted, the squaws put up the lodges and made the camp.” BLACK ROBE AND WHITE HEART, The Book of Knowledge, Vol 10, pg. 3467, The Grolier Society Inc., 1956.

Suellen Ocean is the author of Secret Genealogy IV – Native Americans Hidden in Our Family Trees. Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Genealogy-IV-Native-Americans/dp/1500756105

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President Andrew Jackson Kept His Wife Close, Even After Her Death

We’ve heard a lot about Andrew Jackson, especially his role in the Trail of Tears but what you may not have known is that he certainly loved his wife Rachel. In 1828 when he was elected to the presidency of the United States, his wife died before he was sworn into office. It was a very difficult time for him. He never got over the loss. To feel close to her, he fastened her picture onto a chain and wore it next to his heart until the day he died.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the Civil War Era Historic Romance, Black Pansy.

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And the Vikings Became Known as “Old English”

In Ireland the Irish and the Normans (from England) had the Catholic faith in common but when the Church of England was formed, many Normans joined. Norman is just another way of saying, “men from the north,” meaning the Viking invaders. These Viking invaders have their own detailed history of the various tribes and regions their ancestors hailed from but “Old English” became the new name for the descendants of Norman-English invaders into Ireland.

Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celtic-Prince-Before-After/dp/1484086392

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The Egyptian and Spanish Legend of the Irish and the Scots… Princess Scotia

There are many stories surrounding the ancient origins of the Celtic Irish, including the story that Eastern European Celts went through Egypt and Spain before arriving at “Ireland.” The story goes that during their travels, one of the Celtic chieftains fell in love with the Egyptian princess Scotia and because of this, for centuries the Celtic Irish were called Scots, hence the name of Scotia for the island. Some Scots from Scotia settled in Caledonia (Scotland) and so part of Scotland was called Scotland or Scotia. So Ireland ceased using the name Scotia. The ancient Celts were tall and had light-colored hair, especially red. They practiced Druidism as their Pagan religion. Suellen Ocean is the author of the historic novel The Celtic Prince Available here:

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The Historical & Cultural Significance of Oaks & Their Edible Fruit, the Acorn

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There are not many places around the world where oak trees haven’t left their mark. The giant oaks were so stout and the wood so long-lasting, many an ancient habitation was built using oak stumps for a foundation, some reportedly still standing hundreds of years later. The Greeks and the Romans both chose the oak to build their homes, ships and bridges. The Vikings used the oak heartwood to build their long ships and later the English used it to build their legendary fleet of war ships. An old Encyclopedia Britannica from 1884 stated that, “the church till recently standing at Greenstead in Essex, and supposed to have been erected in the 10th century was wholly formed of oak trunks roughly squared.”

The fruit of the oak, the acorn, was also prized by the ancients. The oak was, and still is sacred to the Druids of Northern Britain and it…

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Are Acorns an Aphrodisiac?

You know what? I’ve read that acorns are “sexually strengthening.” I read that in an old herbal. The book mentioned acorns and oats as being sexually strengthening. I guess that’s what they mean when they say, “he’s feeling his oats.” Actually, oats must be really good for you. I have a horse and he gets frisky when he eats oats. But as far as acorns are concerned, I also read that the naturalist, John Muir, said that he found the bread that Northern California Indian women made for him “strengthening.” So that’s twice I saw that, but mind you, both of those were in the “olden days.” But… next time you see an oak tree with acorns lying on the ground, you might want to pick them up… it wouldn’t hurt to try.  Suellen Ocean is the author of Acorns and Eat’em, a how-to vegetarian cookbook and field guide for eating acorns. Find it here: http://www.amazon.com/Acorns-Eatem-How–Vegetarian-Cookbook/dp/1491288973