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Roots and Herbs: Angela Queen, Local Herbologist, and Her Native American Roots

  • Elisa D.
  • Monday, November 23, 2020
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Columbia, SC herbologist and tea business owner, Angela Queen, shares her insights on books and authors that have shaped her as a Native American woman.

Angela Queen Portrait
Angela Queen, Columbia Business Owner

Not only an expert at herbology, as a member of the Native American community, Angela is also a fierce advocate of educating others and herself about the marginalized.  Recently, she created custom tea blends for an event for patrons at the Cooper Branch, which received rave reviews.  She shares with us her favorite books and authors that have influenced her life and business.

 

Angela Queen Tea
Angela Queen's Handcrafted Grassroots Herbal Teas

As a mother of two and a Native American woman belonging to the Lumbee tribe of Eastern North Carolina, I bring my culture into my everyday life through my work with regional herbalism, education, and tea making. 

As the owner of Grassroots Herbal Teas, I use herbs in a creative way making loose leaf herbal teas that nourish the body and the soul, specifically the nervous system to decrease stress response and assist with deeper sleep.

Grassroots started through my love of gardening which I have fond memories of doing with my Grandmother as a child. My hope is to pass these traditions and knowledge to my children and community.  

As a Native American woman, what books/authors have been impactful in your life?  

Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, I was separated from my tribe. A tribe is defined by the Oxford dictionary as, “a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader.” Basically, I did not share a common culture with the peers around me. This left me feeling lost without a true sense of identity.  With a mother who was Caucasian and a father who also grew up away from his people, I had very little “passed down” to me.  

"Growing up in Savannah, Georgia, I was separated from my tribe...This left me feeling lost without a true sense of identity." 

The real gift for me as a Lumbee woman was when I found the books by Malinda Maynor Lowery and Adolf L. Dial. 

 As a tribe that was never forced onto a reservation, the Lumbee history is set apart and is a story of determination and resilience. Many do not realize that the 9th largest non-federally recognized tribe in the United States is situated in the Eastern part of North Carolina and are unaware of the rich history that is also entangled with southern history.  Lowery showcases this in her two books The Lumbee Indian in the Jim Crow South and The Lumbee Indians: An American Struggle.  

Strong but Not Forgotten
Lumbee Indians in the Jim Crow South
Lumbee Indians in the Jim Crow South

Vastly unknown by most Americans is the identity crisis many Native Americans face as a result of lack of education and information about their cultures. This stems from a long history of the education system and American laws prohibiting tribes to gather, speak their language, gain access to basic resources, perform, and pass down their tribal traditions and knowledge, and the effect this had upon generation after generation and continues today.¹  

Many tribes, such as the Lumbee tribe, are not even legally recognized by Congress as of yet, which has had its own repercussions.

According to the Official Lumbee website:

"The ancestors of the Lumbee came together in the shelter of this land hundreds of years ago - survivors of tribal nations from the Algonquian, Iroquoian, and Siouan language families, including the Hatteras, the Tuscarora, and the Cheraw. The ancestors of the Lumbee were recognized as Indian in 1885 by the State of North Carolina. In 1956, Congress recognized the Lumbee as an Indian tribe while denying the People any federal benefits that are associated with such recognition – an action that the Lumbee continue to fight today." ²

Self Discovery

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse Book Cover
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

When I left home for the first time and moved all the way to Germany at 20 years old, it was a time of self-discovery. On a trip to Amsterdam I discovered The American Book Center. This two story bookstore had a huge Native American history section. This is where I purchased titles such as In The Spirit of Crazy Horse, Like a Hurricane, Where White Men Fear to Tread and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. These books gave me a glimpse of the persecution and racism experienced by Natives especially in the western part of America. They taught me of the activism by the American Indian Movement that was happening the very year I was born (1979) and they gave me leaders from Native groups to look up to.  

I also really enjoyed Native American nonfiction writers and poets like Sherman Alexie and Louise Erdrich. Alexie’s work is so provocative and honest; often his retelling of his life growing up on the reservation was heart wrenching and eye opening. Through his work I learned how the history of colonialism left waves of indescribable damage through generations for Indian people on reservations.  Erdrich’s poetry is some of my favorite. I love how she brings in First Peoples’ history, her personal heritage as a mixed race woman and the natural world to help the reader have greater reference, understanding, and awe of the elements around them. 

" I love that she was writing from the perspective of a woman who also spent most of her life in an environment dominated by white culture."  

Kaitlin Curtice photo by Amy Paulson
Kaitlin Curtice photo by Amy Paulson

 

Self-Identity

The most recent Native American book I’ve enjoyed is Native, Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God by Kaitlin B. Curtice. I love that she was writing from the perspective of a woman who also spent most of her life in an environment dominated by white culture. She shares how she has had to mourn the loss of her culture as well as find new ways to bring her culture into her everyday life with her own children so they can grow up knowing they come from the Potawatomi people. Curtice put to words some of the emotions I have felt nearly my whole life and shares the truth that is sometimes uncomfortable to hear. Through poetry and imagery she encouraged me to embrace my very own origin story.  

Footnotes and References

"Tribe". OED Online. September 2020. Oxford University Press

¹  Hemenway, Eric. “Native Nations Face the Loss of Land and Traditions (U.S. National Park Service),” 2017. https://www.nps.gov/articles/negotiating-identity.htm

² “History and Culture: Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.” Official Lumbee Website, 2017. https://www.lumbeetribe.com/history-and-culture

Connect

Angela Queen Chai Tea
Grassroots Herbal Holistic Chai Tea

The owner of Grassroots Herbal Teas, you can connect with Angela locally at the Well Café and Loveland Coffee in Columbia, SC. She is also available through Instagram and her exclusive Facebook group “A Grassroots Movement” where she goes more in depth about the herbs she cultivates at home, in the wild and through other networks.  

 

 

Recommended reading

Check out Angela's full list of recommended reading for all ages below.

Growing Up Native American

Growing Up Native American

An Anthology
Published in 1993
333 pages ; 25 cm
Find
Book
 
Smoke Signals

Smoke Signals

Published in 1998
1 videodisc (89 min.) : sound, color ; 4 3/4 in.
Find
DVD
 
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2012
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2012
1 online resource.
Find
Ebook
 
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2008
digital
Find
Eaudiobook
 
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2017
7 audio discs (480 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Find
Audiobook on CD
 
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2007
229 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm
Find
Book
 
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2013
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
Reservation Blues

Reservation Blues

A Novel
Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2013
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
Thunder Boy Jr.

Thunder Boy Jr.

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2016
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 26 cm
Find
Book
 
Thunder Boy Jr

Thunder Boy Jr

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2016
digital
Find
Eaudiobook
 
The Toughest Indian in the World

The Toughest Indian in the World

Alexie, Sherman, 1966-
Published in 2013
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Alexie, Sherman, 1966- author.
Published in 2013
xxviii, 242 pages ; 21 cm
Find
Book
 
Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven

Alexie, Sherman, 1966- author.
Published in 2013
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
Reservation Blues

Reservation Blues

A Novel
Alexie, Sherman, 1966- author.
Published in 2013
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
Toughest Indian in the World

Toughest Indian in the World

Alexie, Sherman, 1966- author.
Published in 2013
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

An Indian History of the American West
Brown, Dee, 1908-2002.
Published in 2001
1 online resource.
Find
Ebook
 
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

An Indian History of the American West
Brown, Dee, 1908-2002.
Published in 2007
xxv, 481 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm
Hold
Book
 
Keepers of the Earth

Keepers of the Earth

Native American Stories and Environmental Activities for Children
Caduto, Michael J.
xxv, 209 pages : illustrations ; 29 cm
Find
Book
 
Native

Native

Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God
Curtice, Kaitlin B.
Published in 2020
1 online resource (1 audio file (5hr., 43 min.)) : digital.
Find
Eaudiobook
 
Native

Native

Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God
Curtice, Kaitlin B.
Published in 2020
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
Glory Happening

Glory Happening

Finding the Divine in Everyday Places
Curtice, Kaitlin B., author.
Published in 2017
xiii, 192 pages ; 22 cm.
Find
Book
 
The Lumbee

The Lumbee

Dial, Adolf L., 1922-
Published in 1993
112 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 25 cm.
Find
Book
 
The Only Land I Know

The Only Land I Know

A History of the Lumbee Indians
Dial, Adolph L., 1922-1995.
Published in 1996
xiv, 188 pages : illustrations, map ; 23 cm.
Find
Book
 
The Blue Jay's Dance

The Blue Jay's Dance

A Birth Year
Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 1995
x, 223 pages ; 20 cm
Find
Book
 
Chickadee

Chickadee

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2012
xii, 196 pages : illustrations, map ; 22 cm
Find
Book
 
Grandmother's Pigeon

Grandmother's Pigeon

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 1996
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 23 x 29 cm
Find
Book
 
LaRose

LaRose

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2016
text file
Find
Ebook
 
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2005
1 online resource (1 audio file (14hr., 12 min.)) : digital.
Find
Eaudiobook
 
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2001
361 pages ; 25 cm
Find
Book
 
The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse.

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse.

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2001
637 pages ; 23 cm
Find
Large Print
 
The Painted Drum

The Painted Drum

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2005
277 pages ; 24 cm
Find
Book
 
The Painted Drum

The Painted Drum

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2005
406 pages ; 23 cm
Find
Large Print
 
The Plague of Doves

The Plague of Doves

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2008
313 pages ; 24 cm
Find
Book
 
The Plague of Doves

The Plague of Doves

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2008
486 pages (large print) ; 23 cm
Find
Large Print
 
The Plague of Doves

The Plague of Doves

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2008
1 online resource.
Find
Ebook
 
The Round House

The Round House

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2012
digital
Find
Eaudiobook
 
The Round House

The Round House

Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2012
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
The Round House

The Round House

A Novel
Erdrich, Louise.
Published in 2012
321 pages ; 24 cm
Find
Book
 
LaRose

LaRose

Erdrich, Louise, author.
Published in 2016
x, 373 pages ; 24 cm
Find
Book
 
LaRose

LaRose

A Novel
Erdrich, Louise, author, narrator.
Published in 2016
12 audio discs (14 1/2 hr.) : CD audio, digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Find
Audiobook on CD
 
Empire of the Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon

Gwynne, S. C. (Samuel C.), 1953-
Published in 2010
12 sound discs (15 hr.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Find
Audiobook on CD
 
Empire of the Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon

Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Gwynne, S. C. (Samuel C.), 1953-
Published in 2010
1 sound media player (15 hr.) : digital, HD audio ; 3 3/8 x 2 1/8 in.
Hold
Audiobooks
 
Empire of the Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon

Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Gwynne, S. C. (Samuel C.), 1953-
Published in 2012
1 sound file (15 hr., 4 min., 24 sec.) : digital.
Find
Eaudiobook
 
Empire of the Summer Moon

Empire of the Summer Moon

Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History
Gwynne, S. C. (Samuel C.), 1953-
Published in 2010
viii, 371 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, map ; 24 cm
Hold
Book
 
We Are Water Protectors.

We Are Water Protectors.

Lindstrom, Carole/ Goade, Michaela (ILT)
Published in 2020
40 pages ;
Find
Book
 
Lumbee Indians in the Jim Crow South

Lumbee Indians in the Jim Crow South

Race, Identity, and the Making of a Nation
Lowery, Malinda Maynor, author.
Published in 2010
1 online resource.
Find
Ebook
 
Fry Bread

Fry Bread

A Native American Family Story
Maillard, Kevin Noble, author.
Published in 2019
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations, color map ; 26 cm
Hold
Book
 
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse

The Story of Leonard Peltier and the FBI's War on the American Indian Movement
Matthiessen, Peter.
Published in 2009
1 online resource (1 audio file (28hr., 42 min.)) : digital.
Find
Eaudiobook
 
The Water Walker

The Water Walker

Robertson, Joanne, 1960- author, illustrator.
Published in 2017
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations, color maps ; 23 cm
Find
Book
 
Indian Horse

Indian Horse

A Novel
Wagamese, Richard, author.
Published in 2018
220 pages ; 22 cm
Find
Book
 
Author

Elisa D.

Associate

Career Coach and member of Una Voz

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