About Me

Big Bear's Den
Image of Shawnee Warrior from Osprey Men-At-Arms "American Woodland Indians" By M.G. Johnson Color Plates by R.Hook

ABOUT ME

I am Shawnee! I am a warrior! My forefathers were warriors.
From them I took only my birth into this world. From my tribe I take nothing.
I am the maker of my own destiny! - Tecumseh

*                                                    WANTED!!!!                                                 *
*                                     Young Person/16 plus/Male or Female For                                     *
*                                            “Paid Vacation” Plus All Expenses                                             *
*                                         8 - 9 weeks /June 4 to ~ August 1, 2010                                       *
*Camp Daniel Boone near Asheville, NC. Chance to see Biltmore Estate & Cherokee*
*                    Must Have valid Drivers License and a RELIABLE VEHICLE                     *
*                                                       Truck or Van preferred but not necessary                                                   *
*     Boy Scout Camp Councilor/Stroke Survivor Needs Driver/Personal Assistant   *
*                     If you can teach an Indian Craft, much more pay is possible.                   *
*                                                  *

HOME ABOUT ME LINKS EMAIL

ALL ABOUT THE SHAWNEE SHAWNEE HISTORY 2 SHAWNEE HISTORY 3

PORTRAYING INDIANS THE CAPTIVE CORPS TURTLE ISLAND

WIKTIONARY WIKIPEDIA

BOONESBORO VILLAGE CAMP DANIEL BOONE CDB VIDEO DANIEL BOONE COUNCIL

Camp Daniel Boone is a Boy Scout Camp located in the Great Smoky Mountains ~ 45 minutes west of Asheville, NC.

BIG BEAR'S TRADING COMPANY

The Banner above is a Link to My On-Line Store.

BE-ZO-NE'
(Shawnee for Hello)

This page is both
My Biography and My Resume'

Shemaqua - Don Warden - ME My name is Shemaqua in Shawnee; 'Big Bear' in the words of the Shemanese (Long Knives a.k.a. WHITES); Don Warden in the world of the Shemanese. I am of Shawnee, Cherokee, Scots, Scots-Irish, Irish, English, Welsh, German, French, and Dutch decent (1/4 of my ancestors were Shawnee and Cherokee making me Metis' [pronounces me-tee'). I am a professional Living Historian and Stroke Survivor. I used to give history tours up and down the eastern seaboard and west to the Mississippi. I continue to present programs on 18th and early 19th century history, culture and crafts and portray people of the period of both Indian and European decent (Only not so much European any more.) When portraying Indians, I prefer to represent myself as having a mother of Cherokee/Scots parents and a father of Shawnee/French parents. (See my page on Portraying Indians.) Jonathan and I in 2006

   I am an instructor for Boonesboro Village, an 18th century skills program, conducted at Camp Daniel Boone near Asheville, NC for the Boy Scouts, where I teach Indian crafts and culture for two months each summer.

   I am largely self educated in history and have had extensive training in religion and culture by Elders of the Sawanokee (Shawnee)[no link here as the Shawnee are the main subject of this website], Tohono O'odham (Papago), Apsaalooke (Crow) and the Lakota of the Oceti Sakowin (Teton Sioux) and have received permission from all of them to perform the ceremonies they have taught me, particularly the "Sweat Lodge Ceremony." (see Turtle Island page of this website.) I am an "Elder," ordained by the "Universal Life Church," which entitles me to perform modern ceremonies. My Calling is to be a counselor to those in need and to lead in the religious life of those who wish to celebrate that life with me.

   I am an experienced reenactor with several different units of the French & Indian War and the American Revolution. I've "served" with many different units including detachments of Roger's Rangers, the 1st Virginia, and commanded the 4th Virginia (with whom I have won several awards for authenticity and accuracy of portrayals) which in reality was Revolutionary War Gen. Nathaniel Greene's Rear Guard and Right Wing during the Southern Campaign and at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. As a completely independant "Indian" reenactor I have also won awards for my "costume" which I produced entirely on my own by hand.

   I am the founder and organizer of The Captive Corp, a reenactment unit of Indians; chiefs, warriors, & their families; and their prisoners; both those to be adopted and those doomed to other fates. Add to this an odd assortment of others and you have our unit.

The Captive Corps

THE BANNER ABOVE IS A LINK TO INFORMATION ABOUT A REENACTING UNIT
INTERPRETING INDIANS AND THEIR CAPTIVES,
AND OTHERS, OF BOTH EUROPEAN AND AFRICAN DECENT,
THAT JOINED THE INDIANS FOR THEIR OWN REASONS.

A bit about my personal history outside of the subjects of this website. My Birthday is 3/4/1953. I am the oldest of 4. I live just outside of Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia, and have been employed by and contracted to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and The Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation (at both sites), contracted to The Mariners Museum and the Summer program for youth at the College of William and Mary, etc., etc., etc. In addition I have participated in many programs from New York to Florida. Among the many different employed positions I have held are: Tour Guide/Bus Driver; journeyman electrician; taught seminars at universities; lectured at high schools; served a brief hitch in the Army; worked as a Nuclear Health Physics Technician.; Photographer, both product and fashion; and worked for Vision Quest (a troubled youth program) as a councilor. I have volunteered as a coach for midget league football and basketball teams, for a crisis hotline, The Humane Society, The Red Cross, a paramedic and a whole lot of other jobs! My interests are very eclectic. Since 1995, I have operated a small sutlery at selected events on a very part-time basis, which I have named
Big Bear's Trading Company.

WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM FOR AN
IMPORTANT COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

In 2009, we began a new phase in the evolution of Big Bear's Trading Company.
We are going HI-TECH!!! The 18th Century meets the 21st as Big Bear's Trading Company goes on-line.
We are not the 1st company dealing in 18th century reproductions to go on-line, but that makes it no less of a big deal for us.
The banner below, you have seen at the top of this page and will see on other pages of this website
and, in the very near future, on other websites as well.
The product offerings are limited right now, but we will be growing rapidly.
So Visit Us Now. Visit Us Often. Watch Us Grow.

BIG BEAR'S TRADING COMPANY

And Now, Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Program.

   I grew up in Europe, Arizona, Virginia and the Far East.
I was an infant when we headed for Germany where we lived for the next 10 years. We lived in Heidelberg, Stuttgart and  Zweibrücken , meaning "two bridges."
   Zweibrücken sat in that narrow strip of land along the present French/German border that has been, over the years, claimed by both countries. During the 18th Century,  Zweibrücken, also known as DuPont, also meaning "two bridges" in French, owed its allegiance to France and, as such, the Royal DuPont Regiment were sent to America to fight in the "American Revolution." The Royal DuPonts aquited themselves very well at the "Seige of Yorktown," the last major campaign of that war.
   While living in Zweibrücken we had a brief stint in Orleans (pronounced Or-le-on), France, the home of Joan of Arc, and OUCH!!!

then back to Germany. While in Europe, my family and I visited just about every country west of the Iron Curtain. Yes, the old Soviet Union was alive and well at the time. We were living in Germany when the Berlin Wall went up and we practiced those weekly Nuclear Attack Drills; you know, the ones where they had you hide under your desk and not look at the blast (like that would have been a big help).
At just over 10 years old, I moved to Arizona; first to Fort Huachuca and then to Tuscon. Three years later, it was off to Hampton,Virginia. I ended my childhood on Okinawa (2), the site of the bloodiest battle during World War II.
Returning to the United States in 1972, my family settled in York County, Virginia and I was off to college in Atlanta. After college, my mailing address has remained in southeastern Viginia. However, while doing the jobs listed above, I have traveled extensively having taken up temporary residences in South Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, New Hampshire, Arkansas and Michigan. Having lived in all these Historic Areas and traveled from there to everywhere, instilled in me a love of history that has continued to this day.

Although I am of one quarter "Indian Blood," because I can't PROVE IT, the Federal Government would deny me my birthright to call myself "Native American." Because the Federal Government will not recognize me as a "Native American," the modern tribes, who have become very jealous of that status, will not recognize me as a member. My ancesters were not documented in the Federal round ups in the 19th century and did not live on federal reservations. When other members of their tribes were run out of their country, my ancesters were already living "In Hiding" and some of them were even "Passing" as "White Men." I do not wish to take anything from anyone else. I do not wish any "Federal Assistance." I only wish to be recognized for what I am and how I choose to live.

The following is excerpted from a writing of Timothy A. Johns of the Delaware Nation in Canada and pretty well sums up my feelings on the subject. The words in parentheses are my own.

   ["I'm an American citizen…(I was)born in the United States of America and (I am of the blood) of a Federally recognized Tribe….(Although I don't understand by what right the Federal Government "recognizes" any tribe.) Why (am I) not "Native American?"
     Many people from all over the world have migrated to this country, they are all recognized as "Americans;" Mexican Americans, Arab Americans, German Americans, Irish Americans, Polish Americans, African Americans, and so on. Do any other American citizen's have to have a "status card" to prove who they are? My ancestors occupied these lands for thousands of years before they became known as the United States & Canada. I just don't understand how the Federal government can say that we are not "Native American." With all the history my tribe has with this country.
    …recently when requesting eagle feathers and was denied...(I realized) they don't regard us as a Native Americans.... We were born in the United States of America and we are native to North America.
   I remember an elder saying "I was not born in America, it was born on my land."]

The words of Tecumseh say it best -

I am Shawnee! I am a warrior! My forefathers were warriors.
From them I took only my birth into this world. From my tribe I take nothing.
I am the maker of my own destiny! - Tecumseh

An explanation of my being a STROKE SURVIVOR. Starting in May of 2007 I had, first, a Massive Stroke, second, a Major Heart Attack and third , Quad Bypass Surgery. Then came July. Since that time, I have had several more strokes and hospitalizations for stroke related problems. I tell you about this because Stroke Recovery has become a cause with me. Strokes do not KILL every one. There is hope after a stroke.Through physical, occupational and speech therapies, the right medications and a whole lot of intestinal fortitude (GUTS), you can come back from a stroke. For you younger readers, don't think you are immune to strokes. I have seen many High School Students and one 5 year old that have had strokes, and have heard about babies having strokes in the womb. Most of these young people comeback from their stroke, but, sadly, some don't. For the ones who don't, it is largely because the people with them did not recognize the symptoms and those that did, don't expect to see them in young people and don't get them the help they need soon enough. To learn more about young people's strokes and recovery, CLICK HERE.

My battle cry is "CARPE DIEM!" Seize the Day.

One of my favorite quotes can be found just below and on many other pages throughout this site.

                                         "We must be united
                                           We must smoke the same pipe
                                            We must fight each other's battles
                                            And more than that, We must love the Great Spirit."
                                         --Tecumseh --
                                           -His appeal to other tribes to join his confederacy.-

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HOME ABOUT ME LINKS EMAIL

ALL ABOUT THE SHAWNEE SHAWNEE HISTORY 2 SHAWNEE HISTORY 3

PORTRAYING INDIANS THE CAPTIVE CORPS TURTLE ISLAND

WIKTIONARY WIKIPEDIA

If for any reason the email links throughout this site do not work you may reach me by email at
shemaqua@bigbearsden.org,

snail mail me @

Shemaqua
127 - A King Henry Way
Williamsburg, VA
23188-1903

                                or call me at 757.253.6999

                                or send up a smoke signal, use a drum, or communicate telepathically.
                                (I wouldn't count on those last three.)

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