The Cherokee Tribe
Have you ever wondered how the Cherokee Native Americans survived a long time ago? The Cherokee people lived much differently than we do today. One can learn about the tribe by their location and geography of where they lived, how they met their basic needs, and their beliefs and other customs.
The Cherokee Tribe lived in parts of what is now Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama. This was the land they originally claimed. After the white men came they started to force the Cherokee out of their own land. Over time the Cherokee land became smaller and smaller. Today, most of the Cherokee people live on a reservation in western North Carolina. There are about 8,500 Cherokee still living today. The Cherokee Tribe lived in different nations.The land they lived on was mostly mountains and mixed forests. There were a few evergreen forests around the area as well. They built their homes near streams and rivers so they could have fresh water and catch fish and trout. Some rivers that the Cherokee lived near were the Tennessee River, Roanoke River, James River, Savannah River, Cape Fear River, Alabama River, and The Cumberland River.
The Cherokee people lived in towns with thirty to sixty houses. The town house was one of the most important buildings in the whole town. Dances, games,and ceremonies were held in the town house. All of the other houses surrounded it. The Cherokee lived in two different kinds of houses, the winter homes and the summer homes. The summer houses were oblong and made of logs and shingled with tree bark. They were plastered with clay. These houses were divided into three large rooms with connecting doors. The winter houses were round with cone-shaped thatched roofs. These places were very warm with thick walls. A fire burned day and night. Families of several relatives lived together.
The Cherokee men were excellent hunters and fishers. The weapons they used were spears, blowguns, and bow and arrows. They hunted deer, elk, rabbits, wild turkeys, squirrels and other animals. They used hooks from animal bones to catch fish. The women in the tribe gathered nuts, mushrooms, berries and roots. They raised vegetables for their family. The women also planted and harvested crops such as corn, one of their main crops.
The Cherokee clothing was very different than what we wear today. Men wore loincloths and leather moccasins. For special occasions, they wore dyed buckskin shirts with matching feather headdresses. The women wore apron-type leather skirts, leather leggings, and moccasins. After the white men came, they wore cotton skirts and jackets trimmed with lace and beads. Children did not wear much clothing unless they were very cold. At age eleven they started dressing like adults.
The Cherokee people had unique beliefs. These people were very spiritual people. Quartz crystals were very sacred to them. They believed Yowa, the supreme power they worshiped, created life for everyone. He allowed the sun to govern during the day and at night the moon governed. They believed that he created fire and through its smoke prayers were carried up to him. The Cherokee people also believed the world had to be kept in balance. They had ceremonies to help keep harmony. In their tribe they had men called priests and medicine men. These men honored and respected elders and they lead or performed religious rituals or ceremonies.
The Cherokee Tribe had various cultural traditions. They are skilled artisans. The tribe used shells, bones, feathers,and seeds to make jewelry and hair ornaments. They used clay from the earth to make jars, pots, and bowls. Honeysuckle vines, river cane, and wild hemp were used to design baskets painted from dyes. Carvers created pipes and canoes. They also had impressive hunting and cooking skills. Another thing the Cherokee tribe is known for was their games and festivals. Seven major festivals were celebrated each year with feasts, songs, and dances. New moons, corn growth, and important times in peoples life were some of the things they celebrated in their festivals. One of the most popular games the Cherokee played was called stickball. There were fifty men on a team. They used webbed-leather baskets to catch a feather ball. The men threw the ball into the goalpost to win the game!!
In conclusion, one can learn that the Cherokee were hunters, artisans, fighters, and lived in an unique way. We can learn a lot about these Native Americans through the area in which they lived, their ways of life, and what they believed. I hope throughout the future, that the Cherokee enjoy life and keep their customs going!
Bibliography
Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve. The Cherokees- A First American Book. New York City, New York, USA: Holiday House, 1996. Print
Landau, Elaine. The Cherokees. New York City, New York, USA: Franklin Watts, 1992. Print
Berson, Dr. Michael J. Harcourt Social Studies. Tampa, Florida, USA: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010. Print.
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