Paul Edward Driskill AKA Qwo-Li Driskill

[educatedindian]

Got a request about him. The numerous peoples claimed sets off alarms.

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https://queerbio.com/wiki/index.php/Qwo-Li_Driskill
Two-spirited Native American (Cherokee, African, Irish, Lenape, Lumbee and Osage) Assistant Professor at Oregon State University, where they are director of graduate studies and the queer studies curriculum organizer in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies....

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http://www.indianz.com/boardx/post.asp?method=TopicQuote&TOPIC_ID=18464&FORUM_ID=5
FunkFeathers1   Posted - 01/30/2006 : 7:05:23 PM
interesting article...but it reminds me of the two spirit poet Qwo-Li Driskill who i saw give a reading at U Penn the other day. I questioned Qwo-Li's status as cherokee indian in my head when another listener asked if he had ever been questioned as his appeareance is that of a long haired irish guy/girl. He stated that he is only questioned by non-indians and is well accepted in grassroots movements. Thats one of the big obvious giveaways isnt it?

siksikasam   Posted - 01/30/2006 : 7:18:38 PM
Yeah... Um.. Quo Li is fully legit..... Goot person-good buddy of my cousin.. Its important to have our two spirit folks around contributing positive thoughts and ideas..

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https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/qwo-li-driskill
b. 1975
Cherokee poet, scholar, and activist Qwo-Li Driskill was raised in rural Colorado. Driskill earned a BA from the University of Northern Colorado, an MA from Antioch University Seattle, and a PhD from Michigan State University.....

[Piff]

Qwo-Li Driskill is a (non-citizen) Cherokee

https://www.highline.edu/event/dr-qwo-li-driskill/

also identifies as “Crip and Mad.”

They explain, “I have several chronic illnesses as well as complex post-traumatic stress."

https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2019/8/28/two-spirit-queer-disabled-scholar-making-waves

[Piff]

Qwo-Li Paul-Edward Driskill (born 1975)

https://voterrecords.com/voter/20860920/qwo-li-driskill

Father's obit:

Paul J. Driskill of Glenwood Springs passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on December 24th, 2010. He was 73.

He was a beloved husband, wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Paul was born in his grandmother's house in Lamar on June 22, 1937. He attended Lamar Union High School where he played on two state championship football teams.

He continued his education at Adams State College, where he received a BA and MA.

He married Jeannie Holdren in 1960 and taught high school on Guam and in Silverton before teaching at Glenwood Springs Elementary School for 30 years. He was active in the Colorado running community.

He is survived by his wife, Jeannie; daughters, Mary Kay Reed and Kim Stallone; son, Qwo-Li Driskill; grandchildren, Rachel Rosas, Rebecca Fuller, Taylor Reed, Dylan Reed and four great-grandchildren, Mason Rosas, Kaitlyn Rosas, Kayla Fuller and Cameron Fuller. He is also survived by his brother James Driskill, his sister Pat Yoder and his dog Spooky.

He was preceded in death by his brother Robert Driskill, his mother Thelma Muriel Appel, and his father Paul Edward Driskill.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71205617/paul-j.-driskill

[Piff]

His father was in the 1940 federal census, he and parents are listed white.

His mother on public records sites is listed "Ethnicity: Caucasian".

[Sparks]

More links to relevant sites, mostly found by reading articles at previous links:

https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/slcs/wgss
https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/slcs/wgss/academic-programs/queer-studies-oregon-state-university
"For more information, contact Dr. Qwo-Li Driskill at qwo-li.driskill@oregonstate.edu."

https://asterixjournal.com/tal-s-go-gal-quo-gi/
https://asterixjournal.com/author/quolidriskill/

[Piff]

Archives of past sites:

https://web.archive.org/web/20060206064535/http://dragonflyrising.resystseattle.org/index.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20110209222525/http://wearetheones.info/

These archives don't capture everything but it is possible that more leads can be found by looking through various dates.

Extensive story about his father: https://www.postindependent.com/news/driskill-ran-the-good-race/ No mention of Cherokee.

[Piff]

From 2001:

I am a direct descendent of Sterling and Jasper Ison.

Would love to talk more.Especially trying to figure out Osage history in my father's family.

Qwo-Li Driskill

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/ison/481/

So in 2001 he was trying to find Osage in his father's family.

This is not the best way to do genealogy. Best practice is to start with yourself and then work each step back methodically. You can have clues, ideas, guesses but should be willing to let those go if the records lead elsewhere.

He's instead trying to shoe horn in some Osage.

Ison is indeed one of his direct paternal surnames. I've only done a quick look over but only see everyone listed as white.

Also 2001:

We have a complex family history, from what I know of it.Would love to be in contact w/ y'all.

Wa'do,

Qwo-Li Driskill

https://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/oxendine/213/

So, again, at that time he did not know his genealogy. His response was to a query by someone who also is new to genealogy and believes that they have Cherokee heritage.

Cherokee people are very well documented. So if Driskill has Cherokee heritage, it should be possible to find.

[RedRightHand]

Cherokee I've asked say he's non-Native. They also said he made up the stuff he's published about two-spirits among the Cherokee. He's gotten white people to publish it, though, and is trying to make a career for himself in academia.

[Diana]

Did a little digging on this big ol' fraud and there is absolutely no Indian blood in any of the censuses. They are all white. The first posting will be of his father Paul Driskill. Since Paul Jr. only claims his so called Indian blood comes from his father's side of the family I will only post that side of the family.


The 1940 United States Federal Census

View 1940 United States Federal Census

Name:   Paul James Driskill
Age:   3
Estimated birth year:   abt 1937
Gender:   Male
Race:   White
Birthplace:   Colorado
Marital status:   Single
Relation to Head of House:   Son
Home in 1940:   Lamar, Prowers, Colorado
Map of Home in 1940:   View Map
Street:   East Olive Street
House Number:   501
Sheet Number:   2A
Attended School or College:   No
Highest Grade Completed:   None
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Paul Driskill   28
Muriel Driskill   26
Pobby Loe Driskill   8
Patsy Driskill   6
Jimmy Driskill   4
Paul James Driskill   3

[Diana]

Here is the grandfather also named Paul Driskill. He was born in about 1912 to 1913 in some of the censuses.
 
Paul Driskill in the 1920 United States Federal Census

View 1920 United States Federal Census

Name:   Paul Driskill

Age:   7
Birth Year:   abt 1913
Birthplace:   Colorado
Home in 1920:   Lamar, Prowers, Colorado
Street:   Mullen Street
Residence Date:   1920
Race:   White
Gender:   Male
Relation to Head of House:   Son
Marital status:   Single
Father's name:   W A Driskill
Father's Birthplace:   Illinois
Mother's name:   Isible Driskill
Mother's Birthplace:   Indiana
Occupation:   None
Attended School:   Yes
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members:   
Name   Age
W A Driskill   51
Isible Driskill   44
Cora Driskill   16
Roy Driskill   15
Julia Driskill   13
Paul Driskill   7
Retta Driskill   6
Georgia Driskill   4

[Diana]

Here's his great grandfather in the 1910 census. I also found him in the 1900 census with other relatives such as a stepmother and half sister. In all the census records his father was born in Missouri, but his mother's birth place changes from Virginia to just USA....strange, maybe he didn't know because she died or the census taker wrote it down wrong. As you can see we are now back to the 1860's and no Indian blood. All white including the mothers and grandmothers. Piff has informed me that he also claimed Cherokee from his mother's side so I will be posting that side of the family too.

John W A Driskill
in the 1910 United States Federal Census

View 1910 United States Federal Census

Name:   John W A Driskill
Age in 1910:   42
Birth Year:   abt 1868
Birthplace:   Illinois
Home in 1910:   Cleveland, Cimarron, Oklahoma
Race:   White
Gender:   Male
Relation to Head of House:   Head
Marital status:   Married
Spouse's name:   Isabelle Driskill
Father's Birthplace:   Missouri
Mother's Birthplace:   Virginia
Native Tongue:   English
Occupation:   Farmer
Industry:   General Farm
Employer, Employee or Other:   Own Account
Home Owned or Rented:   Own
Home Free or Mortgaged:   Free
Farm or House:   Farm
Able to Read:   Yes
Able to Write:   Yes
Years Married:   19
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members:   
Name   Age
John W A Driskill   42
Isabelle Driskill   33
Robert S Driskill   16
Clara L Driskill   12
Cora M Driskill   8
Roy L Driskill   6
Julia F Driskill   4
Ray H Driskill   1

[Diana]

Ok, We have the GG grandfather from the 1870 census. He was born in 1847 Missouri.

Samuel H. Driskell
in the 1880 United States Federal Census

View 1880 United States Federal Census

Name:   Samuel H. Driskell

Age:   33
Birth Date:   Abt 1847
Birthplace:   Missouri
Home in 1880:   Union, Benton, Missouri, USA
Dwelling Number:   28
Race:   White
Gender:   Male
Relation to Head of House:   Self (Head)
Marital status:   Married
Spouse's name:   Elizebeth E. Driskell
Father's Birthplace:   Tennessee
Mother's Birthplace:   Tennessee
Occupation:   Farming
Neighbors:   View others on page
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Samuel H. Driskell   33
Elizebeth E. Driskell   40
John W. A. Driskell   14
Allice E. Driskell   12
Clersey L. Driskell   10
Samuel S. Driskell   6
Jessie E. Driskell   1

[Diana]

This is a very impressive family tree. Anyone would be very proud of. I've gone as far back to 1700's. And I've found censuses for free white people and land records for the GGG grandfather Jesse Driskill. Here he is in the 1850 census.

Jesse Driskill
in the 1850 United States Federal Census

View 1850 United States Federal Census

Name:   Jesse Driskill
Age:   55
Birth Year:   abt 1795
Birthplace:   Virginia
Home in 1850:   District 37, Hickory, Missouri, USA
Gender:   Male
Family Number:   191
Household Members:   
Name   Age
Jesse Driskill   55
Elizabeth Driskill   50
Caleb Driskill   26
Clarissa A Driskill   15
Mary A Driskill   14
Saml H Driskill   4

Source Citation
Year: 1850; Census Place: District 37, Hickory, Missouri; Roll: M432_401; Page: 58A; Image: 116

Source Information
Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Description
This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1850 United States Federal Census, the Seventh Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more.


Jesse Driskell
in the 1840 United States Federal Census

View 1840 United States Federal Census


Name:   Jesse Driskell
Home in 1840 (City, County, State):   Cooper, Missouri
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14:   1
Free White Persons - Males - 15 thru 19:   1
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49:   1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5:   1
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9:   1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14:   1
Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39:   1
Persons Employed in Agriculture:   3
Free White Persons - Under 20:   5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49:   2
Total Free White Persons:   7
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves:   7


Jesse Driskell
in the U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015

View U.S. General Land Office Records, 1776-2015

Name:   Jesse Driskell
Issue Date:   2 Nov 1837
Place:   Cooper, Missouri, USA
Land Office:   Fayette
Meridian:   5th PM
Township:   48-N
Range:   15-W
Section:   9
Accession Number:   MO2650__.412
Document Number:   8974
Original URL:   http://glorecords.blm.gov/deta...

This record is not from Ancestry and will open in a new window. You may need to search for the record when the web page opens. For more information on web records, click here.

[Piff]

In 2002, King County WA, he legally changed his name from Paul Edward Driskill to Qwo-Li Paul Edward Driskill.

https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/1382B681F6DB16AF035520A417EBE0F9

[Diana]

What's up with the Chinese name? It's bad enough he steals a native identity, but why appropriate from the Chinese. Oh! And the African American blood....? He's just about covered all his bases. I'm surprised he hasn't claimed Judaism also.

In 2002, King County WA, he legally changed his name from Paul Edward Driskill to Qwo-Li Paul Edward Driskill.

https://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/1382B681F6DB16AF035520A417EBE0F9