Avalon has visited my blog several times and has recently allowed me to use some of her research on the American place-names that are linked with the legend of Robin Hood. I know that some of my regular readers were keen to know a little more about Avalon and her fascinating culture, so she has kindly let me reproduce part of an interview she had on the ‘Fly High’ blog run by Maria Grazia. This was posted on the 7th June and the full interview can be found at: http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/
Avalon says:
“My family is from the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina, which is sovereign nation. I have a shop there but I live in North Georgia which is about 3 hours from our Cherokee home.
I am the mother of two little boys who are pow wow dancers and historical re-enactors, which means we get to travel frequently. We are enrolled members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. I have a degree in American History and work in Native American Preservation. I am also a volunteer genealogist and the owner of a quaint antique shop located in The Great Smoky Mountains. I have a very large close-knit family. My mother is an anthropologist, my father is a large animal veterinary, and I have five siblings, seven nieces and nephews, two great nieces, and over thirty cousins. I like to hike, river raft, and hang-glide. I also love reading and history. I am interested in the Medieval Era, America's Civil War, and Native American History. And I like Ben Barnes and Richard Armitage.
My parents are history fanatics and named each of us after an historical person or place. I was named for Avalon and Michelle for Michele De Nostredame. My brothers are Tsali (Cherokee Warrior) Lancelot (Arthurian), Aramis (Musketeer) Victorio (Apache Chief), Ottawa (Native Tribe) Capulet (Shakespeare's Juliet's last name). My sisters are Nazareth (biblical) Isis (Egyptian Goddess), and Scarlett (Gone with the Wind) Josephine (for Napoleon's Josephine). And yes everyone teases us.
I am in no way an expert of the legend of Robin Hood. I think I like it because I am a dreamer, silly-hearted as some has so amply put it. I love heroes; Robin Hood, King Arthur, Jesse James, Crazy Horse; small people who sacrificed themselves to stand up against powerful tyranny.
I think I studied the legend for so long because I want proof that he existed. Native people use oral stories to tell history and I would like to think that Europeans are not that much different than us and that the legends of King Arthur and the ballads of Robin Hood originated from truth. It is sad when I hear people say they are fables used to entertain children and it is even sadder when those same people exploit Native Lore.
I have seen probably seen every version of Hood and I did not approve of the 1992 version of Robin Hood (with Kevin Costner). I am excited about Robin Hood 2010 and hope to see it soon.”
Avalon’s blog is at: http://avalon-medieval.blogspot.com/
Thank you very much Avalon, for allowing me to share this. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
14 comments:
An Interview with Avalon
http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com/
: http://avalon-medieval.blogspot.com/
Thanks to Avalon, for sharing those interesting aspects of her life, as you know clement i paint Native American subjects so it was particularly intersting to me. Avalons profile photo . the indian one, would make a great subject.
Herns son, You would probably enjoy an authentic Native American Pow Wow; perhaps if you ever visit this country or Canada you will have time to enjoy one of our celebrations. I will be posting photos of our July 4th Pow Wow soon. You might like those.
Thanks for posting. I will be leaving tomorrow on vacation but will miss the blogging world. Take care all.
Under my sidebar under my travel photos are some Pow wow photos with several of my family members.
Enjoy your vacation Avalon.
I look forward to seeing the photos of July 4th.
For a few years I have worn a Native American tattoo pattern (in makeup) over the bridge of my nose and across my cheeks (it's just a line of large dots; very ancient, though) and some feathers in my hair on the 4th. It's a silent protest of the way Native Americans have been treated by the West. After a while I gave up trying to get at the hearts of Americans through that. I'm sad to say that many, many people are way calloused. So I was drawn to the Robin Hood legend, Avalon, because it was like a perfect way to bring Europeans back in time to the once-similar culture between Europe & Native Americans. Because it was more of a 'heart' or natural issue for people, that was much better for pulling them back in time to better ways. Also of course Robin Hood just inspires me no end. I also hate it when people call the Robin Hood legend just a fable; what could be more wrong! It was a great, glorious story, which was once so popular it was passed down through song, tale and dance! And of COURSE he existed!
Smiles from Sherwood,
Adele :) ;) :D
The small difference between my past behavior and my present is that now the feathers aren't in my hair; they're in my Robin Hood hat! What I was trying to say is that, to inspire people, you generally have to go through their own ancient culture, and it just so happens that Robin Hood is HIGHLY inspiring, ancient material. I think that the Robin Hoodites would enjoy smoking the peace pipe with their cousins, however! :) Switching costumes with their neighbors ... that sort of fun thing ... Pow Wow. Some of the Gaelic music we sing sounds a bit like Native American music by the way.
Hmm?
Smiles from Sherwood,
Adele :) ;) :D
Interesting Adele, i agree with you. i have met many Indian whannerbes in my time , they long for the spiritual way of life, i believe that what they are doing is harking back to there own anciant ways, Native Americans are still at one with their mother, the Earth, we in England have lost that conection save a few like your good self, so yes Robin Hood lives deep in our souls. Many people say they have an Indian guide but do you honestly think an Indian spirit would help a whiteman after all we have done to them, Me niether.
Hern's son,
There is always good to be found in one's own ethnicity, though some higher things are always the same truths, everywhere forever. However I do like antler combs and being out in the wild and singing cool old songs and being inspired by ancient hero tales! Some things have to be done the natural and interesting and hard way. Even food. Then you do get closer to understanding life. And your Creator who created it.
Smiles from Sherwood,
~Adele ;) :D :)
Adele Treskillard, that is beautiful on how you revealed your compassion for Natives, you sound like a very compassionate and caring person.
I think the Mother Nature sentiment is deeper then Native Americans, somewhere way down the ancestral path we are all indigenous whether to North America or another continent.
As you probably guessed I speak with a Southern Accent which originated from the Highlanders that settled the Appalachian Mountains. The Cherokee lived and married among these settlers for many years.
I have European Blood through my grandfather on my mother's side; after tracing his family tree I found that he had relatives from Ireland, England, and France. This was a wonderful find; I was absolutely ecstatic! I would like to think (or dream) that perhaps I was somehow related to Robin Hood or at least someone that fought beside him.
Wow Avalon! I have probably equal trace elements of Native American blood, for instance a Huron chief's daughter in Quebec about 9 generations ago (if I remember correctly) and then French/Native American Ditt blood, on my father's side, and other Native American blood several generations back on my mother's side! Also I am descended from French Explorer Nicholas Perot whose Native American nickname was Old Iron Legs. (Funny?) At any rate, it is certainly true that the Scottish Highlanders had no problem intermixing with Native Americans! In fact the commonly used Native word for the English settlers was a Scots Gaelic word—Sassanach! (Saxons) Wonder where they learned that??
If Robin Hood lived as long ago as I believe he did (my take is, based off of quite a bit of research, that he was simply more ancient & more popular than people nowdays imagine) it's quite possible, given that he or his merry men had children, that their genes would be spread in potchmarks all over Britain, though perhaps not so much secluded places like Ireland. Wherever people were intermarrying, you can be sure that the genes are now evenly spread. So you have a pretty fair chance of having 'Robin Hood blood' Avalon, if only a minute amount! It is the spirit that counts!
Smiles from Sherwood,
~Adele :D :) ;)
P.S. For instance, that Huron chief I am descended from has a LOT of descendants already—so would Robin Hood, who was so much further back in time!
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