Emily May Cameron (Stewart) - Photo of Emily May/ curious re: Maori ancestry

Private User

9/13/2022 at 3:48 PM

Emily May is my great-great grandmother, (John Cameron- Betty Swetman- Dennis Swetman- me). I am curious to know if Emily May considered herself Maori, and if she connected back into her Ngai Tahu roots? In this photo (if this is indeed her) she is wearing traditional Maori clothing- which to me suggests she must have reconnected? There has been no mention in my family of Maori lineage, so I guess I am just curious to delve into this a bit more. Any information would be super appreciated.

Private User

9/15/2022 at 4:24 AM

Emily May Stewart/Cameron (Clegg) was my great grandmother. Her eldest son George Cameron was my grandfather. Emily May/George/Ailsa Emily/me. I lived with her daughter Emily Estella Cameron/Paddy for 12 months. The photo (I have the original) is not of Emily May but of her daughter Emily Estella, my Great Aunt. She told me that it was taken on a ship when she went to the UK and before they went they were asked to attend at National Dress Evening and she decided to go in Maori costume which was popular at the time.
Emily May Stewart/Cameron/Cleggs story is rather convoluted. NZ Past Papers 1/5/1900 articles her children as being of indigent parents and she requested them to go to an Industrial School. On 29/5/1900 this was dismissed. Presumably her husband John Cameron had found work by then.
You can DM me should you wish.

Private User

9/18/2022 at 9:10 PM

Thanks for the info Shirley. That makes sense re: story of the ohoto. I read in the overview that Emily May was the baby of Janet and a Ngai Tahu man so I had put two and two together (with the photo) thinking that she was of Maori descent. I am assuming this is not the case?

Emily May Cameron (Stewart) - Photo of Emily May/ curious re: Maori ancestry

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