Native American Animal Medicine

Home
About Me!
Animal Readings
A - G
H - N
O - T
U - Z

About Me - Dr. Loretta Standley, FIAMA

Scroll down further to read my educational bio

Since I AM half Eastern Band Cherokee, many of the sacred rituals and ceremonies resonate with my spirit. My mom, Mary (Meli pronounced May-lee), is full-blood Eastern Band Cherokee and was born on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina. Naturally that makes both my maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather full-blood Cherokee as well, not to mention all of my other ancestors who came before them. The funny thing is many times people will say to me, "Well 'Standley' doesn't sound Cherokee to me." I respond, "Well it doesn't sound Cherokee to me either, it's my maiden name (dad's last name)."

Below is a picture of my mom and dad (center) with the Principal Chief, Michell Hicks (right). My siblings and I grew up with people asking if my dad was our "real dad," so if you are wondering . . . yes, he is my real dad and he really is blonde. (winky wink)

My parents are retired, (married 51 years) and live in Cherokee, North Carolina. The Eastern Band Cherokees are mountain people. Cherokee is located in western North Carolina just over the Great Smokey Mountains coming from Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

My sister, Ahinawake (pronounced Ah-nah-wake) was also born in Cherokee, NC and lives on the reservation, as well as, the majority of my mom's kin with the exception of very few family members. I have property on the reservation as well.

CHEROKEE NAMES

My sister's name, Ahinawake (pronounced Ah-nah-wake) is a Cherokee name. Translated into English it means "Laughing Eyes." Therefore, the name "Laughing Eyes" is English for the Cherokee name and not vice versa. It is merely English words translating the Cherokee name. Cherokee society is matrilineal and when Cherokee names are given to a newborn, an elder (typically the grandmother) of the Cherokee family give the name to the child. My Cherokee grandmother "Stella" (Stela pronounced S-tay-la), may God rest granny's spirit, named my sister, Ahinawake.

Nearly five years ago, my daughter Karmen (Kameni pronounced Ka-may-nee) gave birth to identical twin boys, Nicholas (Nigalasi pronounced Nee-gah-la-see) and Jacob (Tsegoqui pronounced Jay-go-kwe). Sorrowfully, Nicholas aka Nigalasi did not survive birth (may God rest his spirit).

I always call Jacob "Big Tree" because both Nick and Jake were given their Cherokee name by my mom and myself (since we are great-grandmother and grandmother respectively). Both their middle name is Sequoia, which means "Big Tree."

There is also the name "Sequoyah," derived from the Cherokee word "Siqua" and in English translation means "hog". Sequoyah was the creator of the Cherokee writing system. It is commonly thought that Sequoyah means "disabled" because Sequoyah walked with a limp from a childhood deformity. And the word 'hog' or 'siqua' means having short legs. The Sequoia tree is commonly thought to be named after Sequoyah obviously not because of shortness, but because of greatness.

My name "Loretta" in Cherokee is Lowedi' (pronounced Low-way-dee). Another pronounciation is Loquenieta (pronounced Lo-kwayn-a-ta). If someone asks what my name is in Cherokee, I will typically say Lowedi' because my great uncle (we called G. George) who spoke fluent Cherokee use to call me Lowedi' and he is the one who gave me my first lessons in Cherokee. Interestingly enough, G. George also use to call me Kamama, which means 'butterfly' or 'elephant' in Cherokee, depending of course on how you mean it and use it. Now I know that G. George meant it as 'Butterfly' because he told me. The reason I find this interesting is because my astrologer, Thomas Seers (may God rest his soul) never called me Loretta; he always called me Butterfly. Being the Gemini that I am, he would always say, "And where are you calling me from today Butterfly?"

It is fascinating how . . when it is the Truth, it shows up everywhere.

HOW OFTEN DO I VISIT?

I visit my kin on the reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina as often as possible. Since mom and dad live in Cherokee, I just pile some friends in a car as often as I can and we head on down. My daughter Karmen (Kameni pronounced Ka-may-nee) her husband Larry (Lewi' pronounced Lay-we) along with 'Big Tree' will also visit as often as they can. Cherokee is a fairly quick drive from St. Louis, Missouri, which takes about 10 hours (depends on whose driving).

THREE TRIBES OF THE CHEROKEE

There are three different tribes of the Cherokees that are federally recognized. The distinction of the three different tribes came during the Trail of Tears from Cherokee, North Carolina to Oklahoma.

The Western Band of Cherokees with headquarters in Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the largest of the three tribes with over 270,000 enrolled tribal members.

Also headquartered in Tahlequah is the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees with approximately 16,000 tribal members.

The Eastern Band of Cherokees is headquartered in Cherokee, North Carolina with approximately 12,000 tribal members and is the smallest of the three.

I AM an Eastern Band Cherokee tribal member.

GENEALOGY

Genealogy records exist for tribal members, but it is almost impossible to trace genealogy based on one name that does not already appear as part of the tribal records. So an individual may have Cherokee ancestry, but they are not considered Cherokee tribal members unless they have Cherokee citizenship through enrollment.

While there are many people who have Cherokee ancestry, not everyone qualifies for tribal citizenship in any of the three bands and they all have separate criteria for citizenship. Federally recognized Cherokee are those formally recognized by the United States government. Groups around the country who have no federal, historic, or cultural foundation often misguide individuals who do not qualify for tribal citizenship.

This is a complex subject because the Cherokee Nation once enveloped parts of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, western West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, western North Carolina, northern Alabama, northwestern South Carolina and northern Georgia. It is further involved by the infamous removal of the Cherokee to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears in the late 1830s.

BIOGRAPHY:

B.S. - in Physics, Biology and Human Biology

Doctorate in Chiropractic (DC) - Logan College of Chiropractic

Student Doctor Award - Logan College of Chiropractic

FIAMA - Fellow in the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture

Currently Internet Radio Talk Show Host - Provocative Radio Without Going Too Far

Author of "And Who Are You? - A Daily Regimen for the Soul,"

Pre-Entreprenuer - Carlton School of Court Reporting - St. Louis, MO

Pre-Entreprenuer - Cooperative Honors Secretarial Program - Hickey College - St. Louis, MO

Former radio talk show host - "The Holistic Hotline" - Unconventional healthcare

Former radio talk show host - "And What Do You Think" - Global, national & community events (political and current events - I Love a Good mind wrestle)

Former Owner and Director - Women's Holistic Healthcare in Clayton, Missouri

Pre-College . . . Former Owner of Razzl Dazzl Entertainment - Yep! I actually use to be a professional clown! Wow - Those were some pretty big shoes to fill.

Pre-College . . . Former Owner of Classic Cliche' Gifts - It was a "tongue in cheek" gag gift business that revolved around cliche's.

Former model until I became too old to look young

ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR STUDIES:

Applied Kinesiology

Aromatherapy

Colon Hydrotherapy

Colour Therapy

Cranial Sacral Therapy

Herbology

Homeopathy

Reflexology & Acupressure

Reiki Master