native american heritage

Been thinking about my maternal grandmother lately. She passed away when I was in the 10th grade... years ago. My grandmother was a little more than 1/2 Native American (Shawnee, which is recognized by the U.S. govt to be part of the Cherokee tribe - I think I told a blog friend of mine another tribe, but it is Shawnee). She had long hair that she tied in a bun behind her head every day and was a very emotionally strong woman. She smoked like crazy and even when she had a heart attack and her doctor told her to stop smoking, she didn't. She smoked up until the day she died.

I remember being young and visiting w/ my grandmother. She lived w/ one of my aunts and I used to go into her room and sit w/ her for hours when I'd go there to visit. She was always putting together huge puzzles on card tables and I loved to sit and try to figure out how to put the puzzles together w/ her. I remember she always had all sorts of musical instruments and games in her room. One of my favorite games that she had was chinese checkers. I remember she had a really nice banjo and I'd sit and try to play it, and she also had this really cool accordian... it was a difficult instrument to play but I always tried.

She was always so sweet to me. I wish she was around now so that I could get to know her better. My grandmother had all sorts of cures for things that the Indians used to use on people. Let me tell ya about one.

When I was in my teens, I had a bad problem w/ warts. They covered the area around my large toe on my right foot and were starting to go down the left side of my foot area. They were spreading like crazy and no matter what I used, I couldn't get them to go away. At one point, I even tried to pick them off which is the worst thing you could possibly do w/ warts because if they bleed, they spread. I also started getting them on my hands for obvious reasons. It was horrible and I hated it. It was really embarrassing too. I couldn't wear certain shoes, like sandals, because they'd bleed and hurt so so bad.

Well, one night I remember being at my aunt's house and my mom was there. I was sitting in the dining room w/ my mom and grandmother. My grandma saw the warts on my feet and hands and asked me to look at them, so I showed her the warts that were all over my foot. That night, my grandma took a dirty dish cloth, did something to it, rubbed in on my foot and hands and then later that night, from what my mom has told me, she buried it someplace outside.

I don't remember how long it was... but ALL of my warts went away. I want to say it was the next day, but looking back I don't think it was... but I know it wasn't any time at all. And.. believe it or not, I've NEVER had another wart since. No place, no where on my body.

This is a Native American thing that my grandmother did to me. I wish I knew more about it... I really do. I wish I had taken the time to talk to her about it. I'd love to know all of these things/secrets. My mother knows some of them but not a lot.

One of my aunts had warts all over her hands when she was a teenager as well. My grandmother did the same to her and they all went away. And you know, some ppl that I've told this to say it's all a matter of believing, but really, it's not about that. I know that because it wasn't like I knew what she was doing and really believed in it or anything. I had no idea. I just know that whatever she did, it worked and my warts went away.

Actually, I know somewhat about what she did that night. She took this old, dirty dish cloth and wiped in on my feet and hands. She said something and then late that night or on a full moon night, she buried it near something, in particular, I think. I'll have to ask my mom to be for sure... cuz I don't remember all the details.

I don't know about you... but I'd love to know about these things because I do believe in them. I wish I knew more about my Native American background/heritage. I only have a little of the blood in me... but, I still wish I knew more. You know, you'd never know by looking at me that I'm part Native American because I take after my father who is of British/Irish decent. But, if I look at pictures of my mom and then compare them to me, I will admit that I have her high cheekbones... which are very Native American... and I'm glad. :)