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Missouri
Clan
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Osiyo Brothers and Sisters, I
am Ken "Gigage-Asgaya Gvdodi Waya-Dikata"
Dantzler. The son of Rosetta Gardner (1/4 Cherokee
and Edward Dantzler 1/4 Black Dutch ) I am happy to
say that I came from a proud people. I wear my
Tsalagi name in honor of my grandmother (a-gi-li-si)
Alberta C. Jackson the daughter of a Cherokee
(father: George Collins) and French/Choctaw(mother:
Rosie Wilson). I received my name at a family
gathering from the elders of the family who have
never forgotten their roots. The Elders placed me in
front of the family after a cleansing ceremony with
sage in a red blanket along with a lock of hair from
an ancestor. Later, The Family Elders along with my
grandmother gave me my Tsalagi name as a reminder of
my roots because I had red skin and wolf eyes.
I have roots that traveled
from the East Coast to Oklahoma in the "Trail
of Tears" with family members from the Delaware
and Virginia area. Many settled in Arkansas and some
went to what is now Claremore, Oklahoma. I am
descent of George Collins ( known as Red Man) who
was half-Cherokee and Irish who helped in
establishing a denomination out of the Methodist
Church in New York because of the injustices of
Native people and African-Americans.
I am the historian of the
family and keeper of the family heirlooms given to
me from my grandmother who departed October 28,
2000. When an individual departs from this life, I
remind our family at such gatherings of our roots.
My birthplace was Chicago,
Illinois. I graduated from Dumas High School in
Arkansas. I hold a B.S. in Biological Science from
the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. An A.A.
degree in Biblical Studies and B.A degree in
Religious Studies from Carver Bible College in
Kansas City, Missouri, and obtained a World
Christianship Ministry Honorary Doctor of Divinity
Degree. I have done graduate work in Education at
the University of Missouri and Avila College.
I have worked with prominent
national recording artists such as the late James
Cleveland and Edwin Hawkins, and recorded an album
entitled "I've Got My Source".
I have worked in the Kansas
City Public School District, I served as the
Vice-Chair of Title I, Co-Chair of Title II for
individuals living with disabilities. Chaired the
Evaluation Quality Assurance Committee. Received an
award for working with people living with
disabilities from the Kansas City Health Department,
and with the Missouri State Case Management Team.
I am a member of the Heart of
America Native American Center in Kansas City,
Missouri. I am now attending Saint Paul School of
Theology continuing a Masters Degree in Historical
Theological Studies.
| "The Creator
told everyone of us in our tribal beginnings
to look after our ceremonies, and each
other." |
| --Barney
Bush, SHAWNEE |
Please feel free to contact me
for more information. I am here to serve.
Wado
Clan Chief Gigage-Asgaya
Gvdodi Waya-Dikata
- Missouri
Clan
- Clan
Chief Kenneth "Gigage-asgaya Gvdodi
Waya-dikata" Dantzler
- 1010
Brooklyn Ave.
- Kansas
City, Missouri 64127
- Phone:
816-221-1167
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