Update and more to come

Burns

It's been well over a year since we lost our "Tribal Historian" - my mother - in August 2024.

I had set up this blog for her to write on, however, due to her illness she never had. She did, however, read every post, occasionally edit them, and offer advice. I didn't always accept her suggestions if I felt strongly about what I wanted to convey, but her input meant the world to me.

Even while she was in rehab, I continued sharing my latest genealogy discoveries with her. She was amazed by the breakthroughs I found in the paper trail and especially the DNA matches. I still wish she were here to see the old photos I've uncovered recently. She also knew that our special person - the one I affectionately call the Tribal Sage (who just celebrated a birthday) - was open to taking a DNA test.

Why the "Tribal" Theme?

For those new to the blog, let me briefly explain the theme. I'm a big WWF fan and a fan of Roman Reigns. In 2024, I was watching WrestleMania when he lost the Universal Title to the "American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes. Wrestling storylines revolve around heroes (babyfaces) and villains (heels). Roman spent two years as a heel champion - the dominant "Tribal Chief" and "Head of the Table" - leading his faction, "The Bloodline", which included his real-life Samoan cousins (The Usos - Jimmy & Jey - and Solo Sikoa) and his "Wise Man," Paul Heyman. He is currently referred to as the OTC (Original Tribal Chief).

Roman Reigns "Acknowledge me!"

I borrowed this concept because our Hunter-Burns family is large and continues to grow through genealogy research. What started as a big family on the Hunter side has expanded with the paternal Burns line. Just as Roman's Bloodline tells a family story of strength and connection, I use "Tribal" titles to honor key people in our tree in a fun, narrative way.

My mother approved of this approach and encouraged me to "dress up" important relatives with honorary titles. I refer to her as the Tribal Historian. On the Tribal Affairs page, other elders receive fitting titles as well (for example, she designated Aunt Alice as a Griot and Aunt Lucy as Matriarch). To be clear, these titles were mostly applied after their lifetimes - my mother was the only one who was still living when I began using the term tribal. I'm sure Aunt Alice or Aunt Lucyrene knew of their distinctions in their lifetimes although they weren't around for the whole "tribal" deal.

My mother respected that this was largely my project, though she remained an important part of it for as long as she was able.

Current Project Status

I still wish I could share with her more of the exciting DNA findings since her transition - both the close matches and the broader connections across our extended family tree. The last post from last year touched on some of those discoveries, and I plan to post another update soon with newer findings and photos.

Genealogy work like this isn't always easy. There are frequent brick walls, stretches where I have to step away, and times when answers only lead to more questions. The project sometimes feels "cursed" by missing information, but the breakthroughs make it worthwhile.

Looking Ahead - Let's Connect

Family reunions seems come together at the last minute in recent years, and someone once suggested hosting a "seminar" on our history. That feels daunting for me right now, but this blog serves as a way to share what we've learned with anyone interested.

My mother believed strongly that anyone we can connect to our family tree - especially descendants of our Tribal Chief James Lee Burns and his brothers and sisters - should be invited to our reunions.

If you're reading this and think you might be connected, please feel free to email me. We can compare notes on our family trees, share stories, or just stay in touch - whether you found us through Google or I already sent you the link to this blog.

E-mail me

I'm also open to hearing from anyone interested in helping with a future seminar or forming a small working group of family historians and genealogists. This is very much a volunteer effort, but it's a rewarding hobby for anyone who enjoys digging into the past and connecting relatives.

(One email our tribal history never got to release before her passing was a "job posting" for a family historian. My current philosophy is simple: those of us with this interest should connect and support one another.)

Thanks for reading. More updates are coming soon - including fresh discoveries from the Burns and Hunter lines. I look forward to hearing from you.