I continue to study the Cherokee Indians of my home state of Oklahoma. That is partially because of my own proud heritage and partially due to the amount of misinformation out there concerning these proud people. For both of those reasons, I thought it be interesting to share some facts that I have uncovered in my research.
Originally known as Aniyunwiya, the name roughly translates to mean “principal people.” That is an apt description of a very old and proud tribe that is remains a big part of American history.
The Cherokee often had two chiefs; one who reigned during peace and another who reigned during war. The tribe was divided into seven clans. These consisted of the bird, blue, deer, long hair, paint, wild potato and wolf clans. Children were assigned to their mother’s clan at birth because of her position in the hierarchy of the Cherokee people.
Unlike in the white man’s world, Cherokee women held the honored position of head of household for their families. As such, they owned all of the family’s property, which was handed down to daughters rather than sons.
Women were only allowed to marry another from within their clan. Clan members were considered to be a part of the extended family.
The Cherokee were designated one of the Five Civilized Tribes, although the exact reason for that designation seems to remain a bone of contention among historians and scholars. The five tribes in question included the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole. In truth; however, these tribes had no actual alliance or affiliation.
Originally located in the southern and eastern parts of the United States, the Cherokee resided primarily in the Carolinas, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. However, the government forced them away from their fertile land so the white man, who didn’t wish to share it with its original owners, could settle it for themselves.
The tribe was pushed halfway across the country to an inhospitable territory known as Oklahoma. The deadly path taken along the way became known as “The Trail of Tears” because of the number of Native Americans that died during the journey.
Settled in what was called Indian Territory for many years, eventually even much of that land was confiscated. The people were left with only small scraps of reservation land. Many Cherokee remain in Oklahoma today, still clinging to their proud heritage and traditions.
Contrary to popular belief, the Cherokee seldom lived in teepees. Their homes were called wigwams and were constructed from a combination of mud, cane and grass made into a kind of plaster. The roofs were made from tree limbs woven together and covered with leaves or fronds or by split cedar logs.
Some of the earliest white settlers of the state copied the Cherokee’s architectural designs because they were both sturdy and warm. A sample of a primitive mud house still exists in Oklahoma today.
Initially, clothing included breechcloths and tight fitting pants for men and blouses, dresses and skirts for women. Both sexes primarily wore moccasins. Braves did not always wear shirts but they had them available along with animal skins for covering during the cold. Much of the clothing was made from animal skins in the beginning. However, that eventually gave way to hand woven fibers.
After exposure to the white man’s customs, Cherokee clothing became more colorful, often including stripes or simple patterns and incorporating ornate beaded jackets. Ribbon was used for applique work to make clothing more interesting and unique.
Hairstyles were also simple. Men sometimes shaved their heads completely or left a simple scalp lock behind. Others let their hair grow long, which was considered a sign of virility. Women seldom cut their hair; usually only as a means to mourn the passing of a loved one. They usually wore it down or braided in a single neck braid.
The Cherokee people were farmers, hunters and traders. They farmed and hunted for food, using every scrap of the materials they had at hand because they considered waste an affront to the gods. They were skilled potters and basket weavers. They hand carved ornate gourds and pipes. When supplies for those types of items became scarce, they moved into making beautiful textiles and doing intricate beadwork.
For hunting, Cherokee braves used bows and arrows, spears and blowguns as well as knives and tomahawks. Their primary prey were smaller game like squirrel, rabbit, quail and pheasant. However, they also hunted for wild turkey, deer and even bear.
For fishing, they made handmade poles or used sharp spears made for that express purpose. Sometimes they even fished barehanded in a method that eventually became known as noodling. They fished ponds, lakes, rivers and streams; anywhere that fish could be located.
The women were responsible for most of the farming which included beans, corn, grain, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes. They also gathered berries, melon and nuts. Specialty dishes included both simple and complex soups and stews, with or without meat, served with cornbread.
The Cherokee have their own language that is still practiced by a few of the original descendants. One of the greatest Cherokee leaders of all time was Sequoyah who developed the Cherokee alphabet. That opened a new arena of written language that allowed the people to record their tribe and clan history.
They were avid storytellers who used their myths and legends to teach their young about the ways of life. The stories often included animals as heroes or heroines because they were considered equals in the eyes of their human friends. While some of their stories are similar in nature to those of other Native American tribes and clans, others remain totally unique to their tribe or clan.
They were often a fun-loving people as well. They played games, enjoyed music, danced and even created their own version of a play. One game they particularly enjoyed was very similar to lacrosse. Another one resembled the white man’s marbles.
Musical instruments were made from animal horn, cane, gourds, turtle shells and rattlesnake tails (for rattles), turtle shells and wood. They made flute like instruments, drums and even something that resembled a horn. They composed their own music or took parts from other tribes or the white man to mix in.
A deeply spiritual people, it is difficult to explain or translate any Native American religious belief clearly or concisely. It is even more difficult to parallel it with that of other existing cultures. Suffice it to say the Cherokee believed in spirits or gods that helped and guided mankind, often with the use of animals. They had great respect for the earth and her gifts and considered the life of animals no less important than that of man himself. Beyond that, it would take several books to fully explain their religion.
While these facts only touch the surface of Cherokee information, it is a good start toward understanding a very proud people. Look for more articles on this subject in the future.
