Melungeons and other Mixed Indigenous People don’t Fit in with the Status Quo, but We Matter
Not every indigenous person in the world has a clan or tribe. Many of us exist as descendants of colonized people who lost their identities and who adopted new ones in order to assimilate into a society that was unwelcoming to people of color. Melungeons are among these people, as are the descendants of the slaves of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes. Descendants of the Arawak, the Taino and so many numerous tribes throughout Mexico, Central America and South America are also included. All of these people — of every skin color and culture — are indigenous, regardless of where they stand now, or whether or not they’ve fully assimilated into the dominant culture that surrounds them.
If you’re indigenous, you’re indigenous
Many of us come from mixed backgrounds — some more mixed than others, and some even mysterious and unknown. Those of us who are legitimate descendants of indigenous people live in a wide variety of differences. Some of us have tribal connections, and some of us lack the connections but grew up with isolated traditions and family lore. Meanwhile, there are many of us who lack a connection at all due to colonization, white supremacy and the forced (or otherwise) assimilation of our ancestors. Regardless of our backgrounds and our adjacencies to the cultures from which we sprang, we matter.
Modern indigenous descendants can still unite — even without tribes
Even though many of us lack tribal connections — -whatever the reasons may be — we can still join heritage groups and unite with others to share our heritage and take pride in it. The Melungeon Heritage Association is by far the best and longest-established heritage group for Melungeons and people who are interested in learning about us. However, I’ve created — along with some of my family — the Unified Melungeon, Metis and Mixed Indigenous Heritage Society for any person of indigenous ancestry. The purpose of the UMMMI is to unite as persons with indigenous ancestry with the unified goal to prove our ancestries (through credible research) and to uplift our voices, as well as to assist in any causes that pertain to Native American issues.
UMMMI is free to join but potential members must be able to verify their identities and indigenous background. We also have the UMMMI Facebook group, which accepts non-members of the society who may want to learn more about our group and to participate in genealogical research. If you’re Melungeon, Metis, Afro-Indigenous or of any indigenous ancestry, you’re welcome to join us!
