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American Indian Art and Culture
The Cherokee
Craats, Rennay
28 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2004
6 people want to read
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November 19, 2020
This has a lot of information, a very broad stroke to Cherokee culture. Much I already knew from reading other books but there was plenty of new content that kept it interesting. I wish there were more pictures to break up the text and show more examples of what the text was about.
The Cherokee moved north to the Great Lakes region from the areas known today as Mexico and Texas today.
The remaining Cherokee who hid in NC formed a band, a group of people related through marriage.
Cherokee clans, groups of people who are related, traditionally lived in villages, in thatched houses. Their homes were close together in rows that could be miles long. There were usually 30-60 homes in a village. Ceremonies, celebrations, and political meetings were held in the public houses. Town houses were circular and often built on dirt mounds. Benches were built along the inside walls. The walls were woven branches covered in mud. The roof was covered with tree barn to protect against the rain and wind.
Town houses didn’t have windows, only a small opening for a door. They were surrounded by a flat yard. Sheds were built in the yard to offer shade and shelter for villagers gathered for community events and special occasions.
Homes were built around the town house. The households were large because many generations of families lived together. Each household was made up of many buildings. During the summer they lived in large, rectangular houses made of clapboard. They were usually open and didn’t have walls, obit grass roofs. Many Cherokee spent most of the summer outside so they didn’t need complex homes.
Some Cherokee lived in small, round buildings made from tree branches and mud.
Cherokee men fished by damming the stream using lots and debris and then poisoning the water with ground-up horse chestnuts. This paralyzed the fish, causing them to float to the surface. The men grabbed them out with their hands and then removed the dam. The fresh water would revive the remaining fish.
In the past they didn’t wear many clothes. Deerskins were made into short skirts and shirts for both men and women. Children often didn’t wear any clothing in warm weather. Deerskin cloaks and knee-length moccasins kept the Cherokee warm in winter months.
After the Cherokee were removed from their land, they adopted the tear dress. They had to leave their homes with no belongings or clothing, and so they didn’t have scissors to sew with. Pieces of material were torn from fabric and sewn into dresses. They had three quarter length sleeves and didn’t get in the way while women worked. They hung mid-calf and didn’t drag in the dirt. They were probably designed after colonial women’s dresses. They’re still worn today and often have diamond, triangular, or circular patterns on them. Some have the special seven-sides star of the Cherokee. I wondered what that represented and why it was special, but no explanation was given so I’m left wondering.
Kanuchi—which I’ve never heard of—is a delicacy and involves dried hickory nuts, pounded into a paste. It was rolled into balls and then boiled. They dissolved and created a liquid thick like cream. The liquid was added to hominy and served as hot as soup. It’s still made today.
They wore capes of turkey feathers at important ceremonies. I’ve never seen or heard of them wearing capes of turkey feathers so that was new to me.
The ribbon shirt was a men’s shirt traditionally worn. It was of calico and had a ribbon design on the front and back. They had three quarter length sleeves.
Both modern and traditional clothes are worn today. Sometimes they combine modern and traditional such as wearing jeans with traditional belts or jewelry.
Cherokee men used blowguns for hunting and war. Young boys learned to use them before a bow and arrow.
They didn’t often start wars. They fought to avenge the deaths of members of their tribe who’d been killed by enemies. They believed the souls of those killed couldn’t reach the “darkening land,” the afterlife, until their killers were punished.
A war party was made of 20-40 warriors. After they killed the same number the enemy had killed, they retreated. Then the enemy avenged the loss of their people with another raid. War was an unending series of raids between nations.
Blowguns are 3-9 feet. The fluff at the end of the darts centered the darts in the blowguns.
Humans and animals are closely linked in religion. They believed animals had tribes and town houses. The owl, cougar, and cedar tree are common symbols in their religion.
The numbers 4 and 7 are important. Four winds, four phases of the moon, and four directions. 7 clans, councilors at festivals, and 7 days between regular sacrifices.
Many still practice traditional beliefs today, but traditional ceremonies are being performed less often.
Traditionally, there were six main festivals and religious ceremonies commonly held in villages. Each involved fasting, feasting, dancing, music, ceremonial costumes, and cleansing rituals that purified the soul.
Many ceremonies were held to maintain or restore balance and harmony within villages.
Ball game dances were held before the Cherokee participated in ball games. Many ceremonies would take place at these dances. I loved the black and white photo (don’t know when or where it was taken) that had the girls lined up facing the pole holding the stickballs and the guys were standing shirtless in a group behind them.
They used gourds, pumpkins, and squashes to make rattles. The seeds left over from cleaning out the vegetables would rattle when shaken. Pebbles or corn was added to make the sound louder. The outside was often decorated with paint or feathers.
Noisemakers were common. Bones, sticks, or nuts were tied together using string. They would shake the string and the items would strike each other to make sounds.
Dancing and singing are occasionally performed as contests. They value dancing, music, and songs.
Traditionally Cherokee storytellers or myth keepers could only tell the tales to other Cherokee or Native Americans. A medicine person would perform a scratching ceremony on invited guests before the storytelling. The storytelling went through the night and afterward guests would dip themselves 7 times in a body of water while priests said prayers from the bank.
Many stories tell of people who could speak to animals. According to the story, the Cherokee lost the ability because their ancestors were greedy and talked too much.
Stickball was played to train young men for battle or to settle disagreements between tribes. For many it was used to recreate the story of Creation, with a battle between good and evil. It was also played to honor the dead, cure the sick, or to bring good weather.
The Cherokee moved north to the Great Lakes region from the areas known today as Mexico and Texas today.
The remaining Cherokee who hid in NC formed a band, a group of people related through marriage.
Cherokee clans, groups of people who are related, traditionally lived in villages, in thatched houses. Their homes were close together in rows that could be miles long. There were usually 30-60 homes in a village. Ceremonies, celebrations, and political meetings were held in the public houses. Town houses were circular and often built on dirt mounds. Benches were built along the inside walls. The walls were woven branches covered in mud. The roof was covered with tree barn to protect against the rain and wind.
Town houses didn’t have windows, only a small opening for a door. They were surrounded by a flat yard. Sheds were built in the yard to offer shade and shelter for villagers gathered for community events and special occasions.
Homes were built around the town house. The households were large because many generations of families lived together. Each household was made up of many buildings. During the summer they lived in large, rectangular houses made of clapboard. They were usually open and didn’t have walls, obit grass roofs. Many Cherokee spent most of the summer outside so they didn’t need complex homes.
Some Cherokee lived in small, round buildings made from tree branches and mud.
Cherokee men fished by damming the stream using lots and debris and then poisoning the water with ground-up horse chestnuts. This paralyzed the fish, causing them to float to the surface. The men grabbed them out with their hands and then removed the dam. The fresh water would revive the remaining fish.
In the past they didn’t wear many clothes. Deerskins were made into short skirts and shirts for both men and women. Children often didn’t wear any clothing in warm weather. Deerskin cloaks and knee-length moccasins kept the Cherokee warm in winter months.
After the Cherokee were removed from their land, they adopted the tear dress. They had to leave their homes with no belongings or clothing, and so they didn’t have scissors to sew with. Pieces of material were torn from fabric and sewn into dresses. They had three quarter length sleeves and didn’t get in the way while women worked. They hung mid-calf and didn’t drag in the dirt. They were probably designed after colonial women’s dresses. They’re still worn today and often have diamond, triangular, or circular patterns on them. Some have the special seven-sides star of the Cherokee. I wondered what that represented and why it was special, but no explanation was given so I’m left wondering.
Kanuchi—which I’ve never heard of—is a delicacy and involves dried hickory nuts, pounded into a paste. It was rolled into balls and then boiled. They dissolved and created a liquid thick like cream. The liquid was added to hominy and served as hot as soup. It’s still made today.
They wore capes of turkey feathers at important ceremonies. I’ve never seen or heard of them wearing capes of turkey feathers so that was new to me.
The ribbon shirt was a men’s shirt traditionally worn. It was of calico and had a ribbon design on the front and back. They had three quarter length sleeves.
Both modern and traditional clothes are worn today. Sometimes they combine modern and traditional such as wearing jeans with traditional belts or jewelry.
Cherokee men used blowguns for hunting and war. Young boys learned to use them before a bow and arrow.
They didn’t often start wars. They fought to avenge the deaths of members of their tribe who’d been killed by enemies. They believed the souls of those killed couldn’t reach the “darkening land,” the afterlife, until their killers were punished.
A war party was made of 20-40 warriors. After they killed the same number the enemy had killed, they retreated. Then the enemy avenged the loss of their people with another raid. War was an unending series of raids between nations.
Blowguns are 3-9 feet. The fluff at the end of the darts centered the darts in the blowguns.
Humans and animals are closely linked in religion. They believed animals had tribes and town houses. The owl, cougar, and cedar tree are common symbols in their religion.
The numbers 4 and 7 are important. Four winds, four phases of the moon, and four directions. 7 clans, councilors at festivals, and 7 days between regular sacrifices.
Many still practice traditional beliefs today, but traditional ceremonies are being performed less often.
Traditionally, there were six main festivals and religious ceremonies commonly held in villages. Each involved fasting, feasting, dancing, music, ceremonial costumes, and cleansing rituals that purified the soul.
Many ceremonies were held to maintain or restore balance and harmony within villages.
Ball game dances were held before the Cherokee participated in ball games. Many ceremonies would take place at these dances. I loved the black and white photo (don’t know when or where it was taken) that had the girls lined up facing the pole holding the stickballs and the guys were standing shirtless in a group behind them.
They used gourds, pumpkins, and squashes to make rattles. The seeds left over from cleaning out the vegetables would rattle when shaken. Pebbles or corn was added to make the sound louder. The outside was often decorated with paint or feathers.
Noisemakers were common. Bones, sticks, or nuts were tied together using string. They would shake the string and the items would strike each other to make sounds.
Dancing and singing are occasionally performed as contests. They value dancing, music, and songs.
Traditionally Cherokee storytellers or myth keepers could only tell the tales to other Cherokee or Native Americans. A medicine person would perform a scratching ceremony on invited guests before the storytelling. The storytelling went through the night and afterward guests would dip themselves 7 times in a body of water while priests said prayers from the bank.
Many stories tell of people who could speak to animals. According to the story, the Cherokee lost the ability because their ancestors were greedy and talked too much.
Stickball was played to train young men for battle or to settle disagreements between tribes. For many it was used to recreate the story of Creation, with a battle between good and evil. It was also played to honor the dead, cure the sick, or to bring good weather.
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