Interest in ethnic origin searches and genealogical DNA testing has become one of the most popular hobbies in the US. Over-the-counter genetic test kits alone have developed into a billion-dollar industry.
Just give your personal information to one or more genetic databases, and, in exchange, sites, such as myheritage.com, genealogy.com, ancestry.com, and genealogybank.com offer easy ways to explore the lives of your ancestors and discover your family history.
Your name is the magic key to birth records and information on who your ancestors are and what they looked like. Billions of historical records and millions of family trees from sixty countries lay at your fingertips. Easy-peasy.
Between Will and Surrender and Native American Medicine Wheel Teachings
Chapters Twenty-two-Twenty-seven
In 2001, however, when my protagonist Marjorie Veil discovers she was adopted and is hit with the urge to uncover her birth-family’s history, genealogical research is not yet the craze it is today. Saliva-based direct-to-consumer DNA testing, for instance, didn’t begin until 2007. As far as Marjorie knows, there is no defined method or clear-cut technique to guide her in her search.
The only clues her adoptive mother is able to give is that Marjorie is part of the near extinct Native American Esselen tribe and her adoption may have been illegal.
No family photos, diaries, journals. No handy paper trails. She doesn’t even know her birth parents’ names. So, where does her search begin?
Fortunately, clues start to appear to which Marjorie grabs hold:
- An antique mirror
- An unmarked grave
- An Esselen tribal member
- A bit of library research
- And the voice in her head
Marjorie’s aim is not the mapping of her pedigree, but discovering what she can about her ancestors’ lifestyles and beliefs. Her search is therefore less genealogical and more in-depth study of family history with emphasis on each ancestor’s life story.
She arranges to meet Esselen tribal member, Ben, Gentle Bear, Mendoza, who entertains her with stories about the Esselen way of life. He then touches on the Esselen’s profound understanding of the mysteries of life, the purpose of existence, and the forces of nature, which prompts Marjorie to ask, “What about the Native American Medicine Wheel?”
“The indigenous people on the west coast didn’t follow Medicine Wheel teachings,” Ben replies.
“But the Plains and Esselen tribes must’ve shared some common spiritual principles and themes,” she argues, desperate to gain some kind of spiritual understanding with her ancestors.
“Earth Medicine may not be the right path for you,” Ben cautions. “You won’t know how to interpret the wheel teachings or apply them to your daily life.”
Marjorie refuses to take no for an answer. “Maybe the parts I could interpret and apply to my life would help me broaden my world view.”
Ben relents, and over the course of several months his lessons about Earth Medicine and the Medicine Wheel begin, lessons that will kindle within Marjorie powers that will prove invaluable on her path to self-discovery.
Your Own Family History
Join Marjorie as she discovers what she can about her ancestors’ lifestyles and beliefs. Maybe her search will inspire you to do your own in-depth study of family history.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
