Best Show on NetFlix About Native American Colonization By The Spaniards
I am an African Spanish and Native American Geneology and Indigenous tribe fanatic, and have learned that when it comes to Spanish ancestry:
-You are either Spanish by conversion (converting from your true Native American) Filipino, (Filipinos have Spanish last names) or African ancestry genes because of war, conquer, and slavery, or you are Spanish from mixed genes-One of your great great grandparents was a Spaniard, and spouse was a different race-or both of your great great great, grandparents were Spaniards.
Also, if you represent Mexico, you may think that you are a true Mexican, but you really may have Native American blood running all through your veins-One of my old neighbor friends from Mexico, looked bewildered when I told her that her daughter had strong Native American features, especially when she was born. Although there are quite a few people from Mexico that are aware of their Native American ancestors, there are still many Mexican Americans who do not know the history between them and Native Americans.
I’m a firm believer that it is important to know where our true roots lie, or we will be living a lie! If we don’t know who our ancestors are, we are living a life based upon who we think we are, versus who we really are. Our culture and where we all come from is EVERYTHING.
If we are upholding one particular culture and language more than our own, we are literally killing and burying who we are-We are knowingly or unknowingly, saying that another nations language, spirituality, and way of life, is better than ours. When we do this, that nation that we are upholding more than ours, has our soul, and is dominating and controlling us.
Are you a true Spaniard by blood?
For me personally, on my mother’s father side of the family, we have Spaniard blood by way of my great great grandfather, who migrated from Spain, to Mexico, then to Corpus Christi, Texas. My grandfather and Uncle told me that his last name was Medina, but changed it to an English name Winn-(Possibly to pass as an Englishman in the US??)
(One day, I will write about the correlation between Spain and the Middle East, when it comes to the name Medina.)
Passing as an Englishman is my guess, because he owned land, and several businesses in Corpus Christi-I’m still researching.
My grandfather described him as white, with a curled up mustache-in my grandfather’s exact words ,“He looked like a redneck.”
Consequently, it seemed like the more I had children, the lighter they got, despite the fact that their dad’s have African dark skin-my last 3 children were all born white, and my last 2, have red hair-and my baby boy was born with blondish red hair. (But red hair does runs on my younger 2 father’s, mother's side of the family.)
Growing up, my mother says that she identified as mixed race Spanish, and until this day, she identifies more with her Spanish roots, than with her maternal African roots.
I just found out not too long ago, that a lot of my cousins that share my Maternal genes (my Mother’s Mother’s genes) have up to 10% Native American DNA.
*Side note: Native Americans have their own DNA testing system, so if you are looking to find out your true Native American ancestry, it would be best to do so through their data base, and not the English one’s.
-This is because more Native Americans provide DNA samples for their own race and tribes, than they do for the American DNA match systems.
Best Show on Netflix About Native American Colonization By The Spaniards
The Queen and The Conqueror-Catalina of The Indies-La Reina de Indias y el Conquistador
If you are of Spanish descent, Central or South American, and/or Native American, African, or all of the ethnicities combined, you certainly need to watch this movie!
Catalina of The Indies
Based on a true story, Catalina of the Indies is about a Native American tribe who’s family was brutally and fatally ambushed, by the Spaniards in the 16th century.
As a captured Native American woman, Catalina is a true warrior who never forgets about her roots, not afraid to fight, and was not afraid to stand up to important officials and magistrates.
Catalina of the Indies is my new hero!
While watching Catalina Of The Indies, you will get an accurate impression of what the Spaniards of that time, really thought about Native Americans and Africans.
All of it surrounds around greed and the Spaniards lust for gold!
You will see how even Native Americans were conformed to the Spanish language, clothes, way of life, and religion. You will clearly see, learn, and understand, how even you and your family, who may speak the Spanish language, and uphold Spanish religion and culture, may really truly be Native Americans. You will see how both the African and Native American slaves who were captured by The Spaniards, helped one other.
Side note: Have you heard the difference between the way people from Spain speak Spanish, versus the way some people in Mexico, Central and South American countries do? It reminds me of the difference in American English and British English, in which the true English language derives from-Or the difference between the way people in the Southern states of America speak, versus people in the West-proper and non-proper English…
I can speak and understand about 70% of the Spanish language. On my recent travels to Tanzania, I was seated on Turkish Airlines next to 2 ladies who's Spanish enunciation was so clear! Amazingly, I could understand almost everything they were saying in Spanish. Hearing the flow of the Spanish language coming from out of their mouths, hit me in my gut! Uh-oh, there goes that feeling of connection again... I just had to initiate a conversation with them! … I asked them in Spanish where were they from, “De donde eres?” And they replied Valencia Spain!
And now, after briefly conversing with them in Spanish, I HAVE to plan a trip to Valencia! That feeling in my gut made me want to know even more about what city in Spain my great great grandfather was from.
Back to Catalina Of The Indies!..,
Catalina learns the Spanish language so well, and quickly becomes fluent, with the help of a fellow Native American. She even converts to Christianity, only to get revenge against the nation who raped, killed, and stole from her family.
This movie is seriously beyond words, and is a huge part of World history!
Be prepared to get lost in all of the episodes as there is never a dull moment
Like a lot of Columbian movies that I have been watching, Catalina Of The Indies is packed with drama, action, murder, adventure, passion, love, and betrayal-you will feel every emotion that there is to feel. All of the actors are beyond phenomenal!
And in between all of the lust and greed, Catalina falls in love with a Spanish explorer and conqueror Pedro de Heredia!
You will not only follow the life of Catalina, you will follow in detail the lives and motives of all of the people who were involved in Catalinas journey-This includes. the priest who became like a father to Catalina, and baptizes her, an indigenous young man whom the priest took in, (who also became one of Catalinas allies) Catalina's lovers spouse, and her daughter, Pedro de Heredias brother, and his family, and so many more!
I just want to say again, that Columbian directors, actors, and production is top notch.
I don’t want to give too much away, so go and watch it now on Netflix!
Image Source-Wikipedia
PS: There is a statue of Catalina in the historic center of Cartagena, Columbia-Bogota, Columbia is on my travel list, and now after watching this movie, I HAVE to go to Cartegena!…Oh, and Spain also has a ciy named Cartegena.
PSS: The next show in my Columbian watch rotation is BOLIVAR. Go and watch the trailer! In the advert, you will hear one mother (who assumingly looks Spanish) telling her kids, “Remember, we are not Spaniards, we are Creoles”…
