Unnamed

Because They Were Indian

They were here. They lived, loved, prayed, and endured. But the records did not name them—not because they were invisible, but because they were Indian.

In this deeply personal and devotional work, I reclaim the stories of my Cherokee, Lumbee, Monacan, and African ancestors—those who were erased from official records but never forgotten in spirit. Through poetic reflection, historical insight, and symbolic naming, I honor the grandmothers listed only by race, the daughters who braided stories into silence, and the sons who carried tribal memory in their hands.

Unnamed is both a tribute and a testimony—a sacred offering to those reduced to tick marks, racial codes, or blank spaces in census ledgers. It is my reclamation of identity, my restoration of dignity, and my resurrection of ancestral truth.

Includes:

• Poetic chapters honoring unnamed Indigenous women
• Symbolic names and spiritual reflections
• Historical context on census erasure and tribal misclassification
• Research tips for uncovering hidden ancestry
• A closing blessing and devotional poem for remembrance

This book is your name now. This breath is your blessing. This story is your return.

©2025 Susan Lorraine Kadera (P)2025 Susan Lorraine Kadera