Values Passed on Through Generations

Something that I wish I knew more about was my heritage.  I have a general idea of where I came from, but I unfortunately do not know the story behind the many generations of immigrants that make who I am today.  I do know that on my mother's side I am Native American, and on my father's side I am Irish.

From the obstacles those with related lineages have had to endure over time  I can form a general idea of the struggles my ancestors had to deal with during the immigration process.  The Native Americans and the Irish both had an extremely difficult transition into the American way of life, but I believe the sacrifices and adversity my ancestors had to overcome to thrive in society has bettered me to overcome the struggles in my life.

As I said before, I am Native American on my mother's side.  My grandma is a member of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe from Red Lake, MN.  I have been exposed to my Native American heritage through traditional Ojibwe meals, as well as trips to the reservation to take in pow-wows and other aspects of the culture. As we all know, Native Americans were forced off their land by European settlers and this was true for the Ojibwe of Red Lake as well.  In 1889, the Red Lake reservation covered over 5000 square miles.  Today, that number has dwindled to only approximately 1200 square miles.  The present Red Lake reservation is entirely owned by the tribe, which is rare among Minnesota reservations.  The Red Lake tribe of Ojibwe was the first tribe and reservation to have its own license plates.  I proudly display one of these license plates in my room as one of countless symbols of my love and appreciation of my Ojibwe heritage.

On my father's side, I am Irish, that is basically all I know family-wise.  When my ancestors came to the United States, they changed their name from O'Riordan to Riordan.  This was a common practice for Irish immigrants coming to this country because the Irish were not well respected on their arrival in America. Many Irish immigrants came to America to work; however, they weren't greeted with open arms.  The Irish took many jobs that were considered crap and were treated as scum. Poverty was a given for these immigrants, many of whom were forced to live together in "shanty-like" towns with little shelter and sanitation. Even though the prejudice faced in America was great, it failed in comparison to the centuries of oppression put on by the English because of the predominantly Catholic religious beliefs and other aspects the Irish believed in.  This Irish-American ballad tells the story of the English oppression felt by the Irish.

                                         "Skibbereen"

O, father dear I oftimes hear you speak of Erin's Isle

Her lofty scenes, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild

They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince might dwell

So why did you abandon it, the reason to me tell

My son, I loved my native land with energy and pride

Till a blight came over all my crops and my sheep and cattle died

The rents and taxes were to pay and I could not them redeem

And that's the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen

'Tis well I do remember that bleak November (/December) day

When the bailiff and the landlord came to drive us all away

They set the roof on fire with their cursed English spleen

And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground

She fainted in her anguishing seeing the desolation round

She never rose, but passed away from life to immortal dreams

And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

Then sadly I recall the days of gloomy forty-eight.

I rose in vengeance with the boys to battle again' fate.

We were hunted through the mountains as traitors to the queen,

And that, my boy, is the reason why I left old Skibbereen.

Oh you were only two years old and feeble was your frame

I could not leave you with my friends for you bore your father's name

So I wrapped you in my cóta mór at the dead of night unseen

And I heaved a sigh and I said goodbye to dear old Skibbereen

well father dear, the day will come when on vengeance we will call

And Irishmen both stout and tall will rally unto the call

I'll be the man to lead the van beneath the flag of green

And loud and high we'll raise the cry, "Revenge for Skibbereen!"

O, father dear I oftimes hear you speak of Erin's Isle

Her lofty scenes, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild

They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince might dwell

So why did you abandon it, the reason to me tell

My son, I loved my native land with energy and pride

Till a blight came over all my crops and my sheep and cattle died

The rents and taxes were to pay and I could not them redeem

And that's the cruel reason why I left old Skibbereen

'Tis well I do remember that bleak November  day

When the bailiff and the landlord came to drive us all away

They set the roof on fire with their cursed English spleen

And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground

She fainted in her anguishing seeing the desolation round

She never rose, but passed away from life to immortal dreams

And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen

Then sadly I recall the days of gloomy forty-eight.

I rose in vengeance with the boys to battle again' fate.

We were hunted through the mountains as traitors to the queen,

And that, my boy, is the reason why I left old Skibbereen.

Oh you were only two years old and feeble was your frame

I could not leave you with my friends for you bore your father's name

So I wrapped you in my cóta mór at the dead of night unseen

And I heaved a sigh and I said goodbye to dear old Skibbereen

Well father dear, the day will come when on vengeance we will call

And Irishmen both stout and tall will rally unto the call

I'll be the man to lead the van beneath the flag of green

And loud and high we'll raise the cry, "Revenge for Skibbereen!"

In my college dorm room, I have a latch work rug of my family crest and I one day wish to have this tattooed on my shoulder blade.  I do these things in memory of the hard work and the steps in overcoming extreme adversity my ancestors had to put forth many years ago to give me a chance to have a good life.

As I have come to know, my ancestors on both sides of my family dealt with great oppression and hardships to make something of themselves.  I take great pride in being a descendant of those who are hardworking, family and faith orientated, and persistent.  Each of these aspects of life displayed by my ancestors has found its way into how I live my life today.  Without my ancestors, I would not be the person I am today.