Running Stream "Don Luis" Winanuske, Weroance of the Powhatan - Can we change their names

I would go with N.N.

Please stick with AKA, as NN leads to nothing, whereas AKA shows another angle. I know for a fact many names are changed in some way to hide information that is relevant to families seeking the truth that has been kept from them through governments, families, or just lost through time. N.N. continues the hidden aspects and ends the search, based on my hitting blocks through the N.N. profiles.

I have went my entire life not knowing my Native history, to find out that I am related to Tecumseh, John Rolfe and Pocahontas, with my name Smith, with many other historical figures. No one told me anything, my family did not know. My native ancestors were separated, "removed" from their histories, and it is only through my determination to find the truth that I found any of this because the profiles keep changing since I began finding connections between names. I realize many people don't want the ties to certain family or people but I need and deserve to know the origins of my name, as do others. It is easier for someone who never experienced the losses of family history to shut down options with a NN because they know their history. It is different for people who have a background where people were "removed" from their ancestral ties and homes. Please keep this in mind, as many people I know, including myself, have suffered immensely over this history. It is similar to the Holocaust, in that people were forced to lose their histories through others.

I am sure that these people are in records somewhere or they would not have been shown as such. Simply because you and "one" historian cannot find them does not mean that other people did not. For me, they will stay the same until or unless PROVEN otherwise.

Bill Deyo, tribal historian for the Pamunkey (therefore - this is his heritage) thinks the names ridiculous.

Actual citations would be in order

From https://www.pallasweb.com/blog/am-i-descended-from-pocahontas.html

Patawomeck Tides published in 2009

... For years there has been controversy about the identity of Chief Powhatan’s father. Some of the early records state that he was the son of Nemattanon, alias Don Luis de Velasco, who was taken by the Spanish when he was young and returned many years later. I even stated this in some of my published books, but I now believe that he was not Powhatan’s father. The ages do not match well enough for him to have been a father of Powhatan, since Nemattanon was born about 1543, and Powhatan was born about 1545. Since Nemattanon held the same position as Powhatan, he could only have been the younger brother of Powhatan’s mother, through whom the “royal” bloodline flowed.

I built many of the NA profiles on here and worked/updated many more. I am as upset about it as anyone but I want this to be honest, straightforward and fact based site if at all possible. The problem we are finding though is that many of these "records" are solely from Don Greene's Shawnee Heritage books, of which that in itself is a debate. His works are under a lot of scrutiny because he doesn't give much basis on where his info comes from. I built many with these profiles using his books as my sole source. You will find when you compare these Shawnee Heritage books, volume to volume that information is added, removed and changed, ages, deaths, births, children, etc. aren't consistent.

No one is trying to destroy anything, just trying to make this actual history if at all possible. A lot of people with a lot more education than I are working diligently to get these important historical figures documented, accurately. I am a true believer in oral history, we just need to try our best to find something, somewhere to back these stories up. The burden of proof falls on all of us, it is a collaborative effort, we need all the help we can get.

From http://www.indianreservations.net/2016/03/who-was-chief-powhatans-f...

my conclusion

The name of Powhatan/Wahunsenacawh's parents are unknown, they were never recorded by the English and they have not been passed down through time. 

Sources

[1] Bill Deyo, "Virginia Indians Today, Patawomeck Indians of Virginia," Virginia 's First People; Past and Present (http//:www.virginiaindians.pwnet.org : accessed 10 March 2016).

[2] "History of the Patawomeck Indians," Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia.org : accessed 10 March 2016).

[3] "History of the Patawomeck Indians" 

[4] Bill Deyo, "Virginia Indians Today."

[5] "History of the Patawomeck Indians"

[6] Helen Rountree, Pocahontas, Powhatan and Opechancanough, Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown, (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2005)23. 

[7] Helen Rountree, "Opechancanough," Encyclopedia of Virginia (http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/opechancanough_d_1646#start_entry : accessed 10 March 2016).

[8]Lee Miller, Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony, (New York: Arcade Publishing, 2000) 293.

[9] F. Roy Johnson, "Pemisapan", NCpedia (http://www.ncpedia.org/biography/pemisipan : accessed 11 March 2016). 

[10] Lee Miller, Roanoke.

[11]Helen Rountree, Pocahontas People, The Powhatan Indians of Virginia Through Four Centuries, (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1990).

Sources:

https://books.google.com/books?id=fUzd7LeJpjYC&lpg=PA19&vq=...

Pocahontas's People: The Powhatan Indians of Virginia Through Four Centuries
By Helen C. Rountree page 15 "Before the English Came"

About Dr Rountree

Historical Hall of Fame:  Helen C. Rountree (b.1944) is a researcher and writer on the culture of Virginia Indians.

http://virginiahistoryseries.org/vhs2_web_site_06272013_109.htm

About Bill Deyo

William L. “Night Owl” Deyo, former president of the Virginia Genealogical Society, serves as the Patawomeck Tribal Historian

http://vcnaa.com/native/content/view/1246/2/

Extracts here (profile is an attempt to present the speculations, not sure it succeeds; we can do better)

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Powhatan-6

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Shawnee_Heritage_Fraud

This category reflects the WikiTree profiles which are based on the work of Don Greene, called Shawnee Heritage. :

From Bill Deyo - The Shawnee/Cornstalk children listed on the site (Wikitree) have no basis in fact that I know of and appear to be from that...book on Shawnee heritage that published a mass of incorrect information and outright lies.

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Do we believe Virginia official historians or a self published book with no citations, and not able to find Running Stream (etc) elsewhere?

Education does not equal truth - as we all know. My history was hidden completely through the ruling governments from my family for hundreds of years. The names of the original descendants are consistently brought forth in the following generations. Helen Rountree has her beliefs based on her data that supports her final stance - Captain John Smith and Pocahontas did not have a child. I have read that Kocoum also may have stood for "Captain."

Native historians, such as Helen Rountree and Bill Deyo have their beliefs. I had none. I never imagined my ancestry would be that I am a descendant of Captain John Rolfe, or Pocahontas, being my 14th Great Uncle and Aunt. My history was kept hidden for too long, and I have found the truth. It was obliterated, and continues to be hidden through those in charge of my ancestral history. I agree with Standing Bear Jackson, regardless of who wants history to stay fixed, it is not absolute truth. I follow all leads; historical facts, oral tradition, instinct, and my heart.

And we respect you for that. Your heart should always be your first guide in my opinion. But you can't fault us for trying to get the best information available in written form if possible. I listen to my heart, I heard all the stories from my great grandparents as so many others did. I want to believe the stories, they are my legacy. But if, and that is a big if, I am shown documented proof to the contrary, I let my brain take control even when my heart wants otherwise.

All of my childhood, I listened to the stories from my maternal great grandparents, Aunts and Uncles about NA heritage. This is why I began this journey, to find the truth. Turns out, similar to what you have, the NA history in my lineage wasn't from the side of the family that told the stories but from a completely different branch that apparently hid it as a shameful thing. No stories, no "Indian Princess". There is no absolute truth. We just do the best we can with what historical data we have available. But no amount of data will change what your heart is telling you.

Thank you for the above, Lloyd. I know everyone is searching for the truth. I use logic before my heart with most things, all I can say is that I have been led to the truth. I don't believe that Pocahontas was as insignificant as some may want her to seem.
As corny as it may sound, it is true, and I feel it is my ancestors, on all sides due to the tragic history of my family. Something beyond comprehension has lead to my finding our true lineage because it is time it was told.

What I have found, through historical information on the internet, this site, and others, that many of my historical ancestors have had information hidden over time. Names, dates, history changed that has hidden the truth, and I am fully aware of all the invested lineages for all of the ancestors; Aboriginal, Colonists, and my own relations hiding the truth they knew about any "white" ancestors through my father's side. Add to that, the Residential School system that destroyed the true history of my family through the destruction of family.

Both my Grandfather, William Smith, and my father were in the Residential School systems. That alone devastated what once may have been a good family history. The abuses suffered are now historic knowledge and being addressed only now so that healing may begin. My heart and soul needed to heal, so I sought reconciliation of sorts in searching my Grandfather's name, William Smith. This is where it led me, and the healing is beginning with our true ancestral story. It is tragedy that led me here, not a search for a Princess. I do appreciate everyone's feelings, and do not wish to create conflict. I only seek the truth.

To anyone involved in the lineage history puzzle, I do not fault or blame anyone for standing up for their histories, their families. I grew up being different, as half "Irish", half "Indian". I had no choice to be in the middle, I am not one or the other, as some would try to make me choose.

I've witnessed the racism toward "Indians' all my life, though I haven't experienced it the way full Native people do because I look "Spanish" or Italian, something not quite "Indian" but one of my brother's looks more Native and suffers to this day because of racial intolerance. I see it in the papers throughout Canada every day, the hatred toward the Native people and the derogatory views I have know all my life through society. I try to ignore it, and not let it destroy my confidence because I am who I am.

I have always tried to understand all sides, and do. Believe me, if I could stop my mother from marrying my father, I would have in a second. No one wants to endure the suffering because of your nationality. I have pride in who I am, my Native history learned through my Irish mother, not my father. He was severely abusive, and his death led me to seek my history.

It took nearly 50 years to say I accept myself for who I was created to be, we have no choice but to accept the race/culture we are born to. I don't feel the need to defend myself anymore but I am tired of seeing the pain caused over stupid hatred over race. I have comprehension for the anger it may cause for other families to have their histories changed in any way, and I am sorry for it. However, I am not the Creator of any of this confusion. Just a seeker, like everyone else, for truth and solace for my family who are still suffering to this day.

Don Luis de Velasco has been spun off into his own profile.

I’m not aware of any family for him. He seems to have been of different tribal origins than the Powhatan confederacy

Private User it is an emotional process to uncover our family pasts. I had no idea of all my differing strands, bad and good (mostly good).

It is very emotional, I almost wish I hadn't started but it was something I put off for 30 years...finding out the truth of where the Smith name came from. Looking at all this mess just makes me wonder if I did the right thing because it seems to create so much conflict. I have literally cried reading about both sides experiences of my family history.

Everyone asks why it matters now, it matters because as hard as it is, it will bring healing, I hope. Some don't believe any of it. I don't know what to believe but I remain open to all information and I am thankful for the help in finding what is really true for all. And I feel your pain, too! (after reading more of the BlueSky...) Thanks, Erica.

We are here for you, and will help any way I can. And the old adage "The truth will set you free" holds true here. It does matter, it does need to be known. Your father may have been abusive but do not judge the rest of his heritage by his actions. There is a part of me that believes that the spirits of those who came before guide us in our lives, keeping us on track and helping us in our endeavors. I do not know where this feeling is from, perhaps my Christian upbringing intermingled with my NA beliefs. Doesn't matter, it is there and is with me in most decisions I make. My ancestors, as do yours, need to be heard and remembered. Your father had many good honorable ancestors that are depending on you to be their voice. As I said we are here for you.

Thank you, again, Lloyd. I have found my strength and my healing (prior to this) through learning about what I could of the people from the past. I have reverence for all of my ancestors, and I felt there was more to me long ago. I follow signs, I listen, I pray. My Christian heritage has always been in me from childhood. It is within me, it leads me in all I do.

I don't fault any of my ancestors, on either sides for doing what they had to, I only abhor the atrocities committed through injustice throughout history. I am a Rainbow Warrior, and I heard the pain of all my ancestors through the pain of my own soul. Thank you. I only seek healing for all. New day, new way. Only through the light does the truth become revealed.