I think it was great of you to do this! Coming from both Irish and Cherokee, I can give a big thumbs up!
 

I am from Irish Scottish but found an ancestor who was lost in indian country and married a Cherokee woman so who knows!
 

It was my chat with Michael that encouraged me to put up this blog and if it enlightened one other person then it is worth it. So thank you Michael.

Sláinte ó Éire,
Éibhear.

PS Michael's profile picture illustrates what traditional music is all about ... the mature musician attracting a young enthusiast ... generation to generation ... I think its a lovely story picture.
 

The Celtic and even the early Christian Irish respect for nature can easily be compared to Native American Indian. Many other aspects may also be easily compared. You are lucky to have two proud traditions in your family.
 

A feeling person could only be touched at a nation of people, the Choctaw Indians, losing their lands in the infamous "Trail of Tears", in spite of this totally devastating event for the Choctaw they gave what they had to help Irish famine victims. People helping people, beautiful.
 

A sincere thanks to all of you for listening and visualising the story behind the music.

Síochán agus meas / peace and respect,
Éibhear.
 

This is a bit of history I was not aware of. What an awesome tribute you've done. I love your music and I'm glad to be added to your list of friends. Keep up the good work...
 

I will foreword this blog to my Indian friends I am sure such loving caring people will be only too pleased to hear of this tale

Fearsome music powerful Aho! brothers,
 

It's interesting that here in Australia people of Irish descent married with the local indiginoes people and yet again had much in common . An oppressor (not mentioning any names now) and a culturaly similar identity. Song, story and I'll throw in psychic ability too. So many of people of Irish descent untill very recently don't know there own stories yet have this sense of internal indigeonousness.

I think that is because we do share a similar experience. Disposed, displaced and leading to cultural loss and dysfunction.

I only recently read the tragic story of the O'Sullivans (google it if your interested, a great start is"Irelands history in maps" @www.rootsweb.com) and it is very similar to the Native American saga. I have O'sullivan blood running in my viens and it really helped me to understand why I feel such a an indignant recognition of injustice at indigenous history. I encourage anyone to google the history of your own family name as the old and important history's now can be shared on the net. My dad was born in Connemarra and his family were bog men for possibly 1000's of years and it struck me that that is actually caucasion indigenous.

The Choctaw story is new to me but i'm not at all suprised that on a deep spirtual level they connected with the Irish tragedy.We can honour the story by knowing it so thanks for sharing . Fiona
 

Well put Fiona, we Irish (not confined to the island of Ireland) have a healthy criticism of authority and disgust of oppression.

The Choctaw Nation's act of generosity is still remembered, and was publicly commemorated by President Mary Robinson on the 150th anniversary of the famine. The Great Hunger (An Gorta Mór)[The Great Famine, The Irish Potato Famine] reduced the population of Ireland drastically. In 1992 eight people from Ireland began the 500-mile trek from Broken Bow, Oklahoma to Nanih Waiya, Mississippi as another jesture of recognition. The trek roughly traced the Trail of Tears and was done for Somalian Relief. As a very very small jesture we sent a complimentary CD to Chief Pyle of the Choctaw Nation in Christmas of 2000.

It was just 16 years after the Choctaw people had experienced the Trail of Tears and this makes it an even more thought provoking gesture.

Knowing starts with one telling. Thanks for reading, Éibhear.
 

I'm equal parts Irish and Choctaw, and I can totally feel the connection, especially to our Mother Earth. Thank you for recognizing and appreciating our two cultures through your wonderful music! :)
 

What a wonderful story. Until I had read this I was never aware of the selfless act of the Choctaw people giving money to potato famine victims. Thank you so much for sharing it. My dauhter and fiance (and the family into which I will be marrying) are Ottawa Indian, and hearin this story makes it a nice suprise to share with them. Thank you.
 

Outstanding. I grew up on the Nez Perce Reservation in N. Idaho, and many older Native people had quite large collections of memorized Irish songs, that some would sing almost Scots-'Mouth Music' style, even some hypnotic sean-nós melodies...
 

Im mohawk and irish :)