Gatherings, Tradition, Culture and Religion
"When we are willing to admit that the Indian has a religion which he holds sacred, even though it be different from our own, we can then admire the consistency of the theory, the particularity of the ceremonial and the beauty of the expression. So far from being a jumble of crudities, there is a wonderful completeness about the whole system which is not surpassed even by the ceremonial religions of the East."
James Mooney, "The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees", 1886
From time to time, we gather with our cousins, the 5,300 member White River Band and Sac River Band of Chickamaugan Cherokees of Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, led by Principal Chief Donald Coones and their Spiritual Leader Richard Kracker, at their Stomp Grounds near Bolivar, Missouri each October.
We also attend their New Fire gathering each spring.
We will be developing a new Amonsoquath stomp grounds near Cassville, MO, which will also serve as a summer camp for the kids, and as a training grounds for spiritual leaders.
RELIGION
TRADITION
We are a Traditionally-minded Chickamaugan Tsalagi People
Read some excellent articles on the subject of Tsalagi Tradition written by Knowles Walking Bear, of the "People of thre Wind" CHerokees of Texas
How did the Turtle get on the stump?
Legend of the Cherokee Rose
When the Trail of Tears started in 1838, the mothers of the Cherokee were grieving and crying so much, they were unable to help their children survive the journey. The elders prayed for a sign that would lift the mother’s spirits to give them strength. The next day a beautiful rose began to grow where each of the mother’s tears fell. The rose is white for their tears; a gold center represents the gold taken from Cherokee lands, and seven leaves on each stem for the seven Cherokee clans. The wild Cherokee Rose grows along the route of the Trail of Tears into eastern Oklahoma today.
Bear Women were feared by many tribes
Cherokee Personal Care
By
Ulanawa
Hair care was simple. It was kept neat, clean, and sometimes dressed with
bear grease or oil. Walnut hulls were also used to give it a deep dark color. The bear grease
had a dual purpose of not only giving the hair a beautiful shine but also helped to prevent lice.
It was usually combed with the fingers but comb were also made of bone, river cane, wood, and deer antler. Men removed unwanted hair with tweezers made fom small mussel shells by
plucking. This is how they managed the scalp lock which they wore. A small leather belt pouch was
frequently worn to carry personal care items such as tweezers (which were also made from copper
wire after contact) paint, tobacco, bear grease etc. Paint had many uses but was also used much the way make up is today. The main difference here was that certain makings and colors had meanings.
red......made from red sulfer or clay contain iron ore................east,
beginnings, blood
white....made from white clay.......................................south,
peace
black....charcoal......................................................west,
the darkening land
blue.....bluish color clay............................................north,
grief,sadness
green....copper scapings..............................................
yellow...yellow sulfer or ocher.......................................happiness
vermillion was traded for and highly prized was also used in the part and
around upper forehead and sometimes dots on cheeks by women
Tattooing was very popular also with both men and women. Tattoo color was
made from charcoal of the popular tree and ground into powder. Red sulfer was also used. The
tattoo tool was made of either gars teeth or a small stick with one or more tiny prongs.
NAMING
Names of Algonquin (language of the Powhatan) women:
Alawa= pea.
Alsoomse= independent one.
Chepi= Fairy.
Hausis, Hausisse= Old woman.
Hurit= Beautiful.
Kanti= She sings.
Keegsquaw= Virgin.
Kimi= Secret.
Nadie= Wise One.
Nijlon= Mistress.
Nittawosew= She is not sterile.
Numees= Sister. Nuttah= My Heart.
Oota Dabun= Day Star.
Pauwau= Witch.
Pules= Pigeon.
Sokanon= Rain.
Sokw= Sour.
Sooleawa= Silver.
Tahki= Cold.
Wikimak= Wife.
Tu'ti
Batter-fried Dandelion Blossoms
1 Tablespoon water
2 eggs
1/4 cup nut oil (see a previous post for how to render nut oils)
2 quarts freshly picked dandelion blossoms, washed and dried
1 1/2 cup fine cornmeal
Add the water to the eggs and beat well. Heat the nut oil to sizzling in a
cast-iron skillet. Dip the dandelion blossoms, one at a time, into the egg,
then into the cornmeal. Saute, turning often, until golden. Drain on brown
paper. Serve either hot or cold.
**For full, showy blossoms, pick just before using, as blossoms close
shortly after picking. The dandelion blossom responds quickly to
temperature changes; it opens only in clear weather and blots as soon as
temperatures approach 90 degrees F. Notice the dandelion's
yellow-blossoming abundance in spring, it's disappearance during the
summer, and the return of a few fall lowers as temperatures cool.
Dandelions are valuable for medicine, beverages, and food. Leaves and
blossoms can be eaten raw in salads and should be harvested in the spring.
The leaves and buds (unopened flowers) can be harvested in spring and
steamed alone or with other vegetables. The roots and leaves can be
harvested in the summer and well cooked (add a pinch of soda to the first
water you cook them in to remove any bitter flavor, cook, rinse, and then
recook in fresh water).
Hot Cakes and Cornmeal Gravy
2 cups water
2 cups cornmeal
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons butter
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring water to boil in saucepan. Add corn
meal, salt, butter. Pour in buttered 8" x 8" cake pan and bake for about 25
minutes. Cut into squares.
For the gravy:
Fry some meat (about 4 pcs.side meat) Have enough grease to cover cornmeal.
Add about 1/2 cup of meal (you may wanna salt this a bit, unless you like
bland) Brown the meal in grease until light brown. Add 2 1/2 cups of milk,
stir and let boil until thick. Serve hot over the hot cakes.
Recipes from
Tu'ti
Batter-fried Dandelion Blossoms
1 Tablespoon water
2 eggs
1/4 cup nut oil (see a previous post for how to render nut oils)
2 quarts freshly picked dandelion blossoms, washed and dried
1 1/2 cup fine cornmeal
Add the water to the eggs and beat well. Heat the nut oil to sizzling in a
cast-iron skillet. Dip the dandelion blossoms, one at a time, into the egg,
then into the cornmeal. Saute, turning often, until golden. Drain on brown
paper. Serve either hot or cold.
**For full, showy blossoms, pick just before using, as blossoms close
shortly after picking. The dandelion blossom responds quickly to
temperature changes; it opens only in clear weather and blots as soon as
temperatures approach 90 degrees F. Notice the dandelion's
yellow-blossoming abundance in spring, it's disappearance during the
summer, and the return of a few fall lowers as temperatures cool.
Dandelions are valuable for medicine, beverages, and food. Leaves and
blossoms can be eaten raw in salads and should be harvested in the spring.
The leaves and buds (unopened flowers) can be harvested in spring and
steamed alone or with other vegetables. The roots and leaves can be
harvested in the summer and well cooked (add a pinch of soda to the first
water you cook them in to remove any bitter flavor, cook, rinse, and then
recook in fresh water).
Hot Cakes and Cornmeal Gravy
2 cups water
2 cups cornmeal
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons butter
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bring water to boil in saucepan. Add corn
meal, salt, butter. Pour in buttered 8" x 8" cake pan and bake for about 25
minutes. Cut into squares.
For the gravy:
Fry some meat (about 4 pcs.side meat) Have enough grease to cover cornmeal.
Add about 1/2 cup of meal (you may wanna salt this a bit, unless you like
bland) Brown the meal in grease until light brown. Add 2 1/2 cups of milk,
stir and let boil until thick. Serve hot over the hot cakes.
Women's Rights before Affirmative Action
by
Chief Utsidihi Hicks
The women of the Ani-Tsalagi, known to most people as the Cherokee
Indians, in the old days, had all the privileges of their men. The
Ani-Tsalagi were a matriarchal society where women owned all real property
and field rights for planting crops. All children belonged to their
mother's clan. The men owned only their personal things and could be kicked
out of the woman's home for any reason.
Ani-Tsalagi was an elective representative republic since "time out of
mind", a long while before the Greeks or Romans were ever heard of. All
political positions, nation leaders, district leaders down to the towns and
clan itself, were elected positions. There were no hereditary leadership
positions in the Nation. All people of mature age, which was bout 18, men
and women, had the right to vote.
Among these people of the old Ani-Tsalagi was a balanced social order.
Women could not hold office of "chief", be it Uku (principal chief of the
nation) or War Chief or Peace Chief of the nation or town. They could
not be part of Adawehi, the order of religious leaders. Women did have a
right to be a healer along with the men, under the supervision of the
Adawehi.
Women could choose to go to war beside the men as warriors. They belonged
to a woman's war society called the Ani-Gilahi, a shortened title for the
ancient word Gitlvgvhita, meaning "something that grows from the back of
the neck". This was because the women let their hair grow long and full.
The men wore an utsvti (topnot) with the rest of his hair pulled out.
Therefore, the women's warrior society was known as "The Long Hair Society".
The women had a Woman's Council, which met every day in the town house for
daily business matters. The council was elected by the women of the town
and was usually made up of women leaders of the seven clans, which were
also elected.
Beating and raping of women was against Clan Law. A man would be put to
death by the woman's clan for the beating of a woman. The entire town would
fall upon a man and kill him if he raped any woman. This law
also included any and all captive women of war.
The Ani-Tsalagi woman of ancient time had many rights (civilized) men have
given only recently to modern women
An article dealing with herbs and their uses
By:
Dikanogi Ogadali
The rooted people...Herbs
Cedar is used for calming,warming and comforting
Eucalyptus----helps an emotional overload
Geranium is used to promote harmony and comfort
Jasmine--build confidence, helps overcomes fears
Lavender strengthens, can also cure headaches
Lime refreshes, slows down fatigue.
Patchouli is used to promote sexual
awareness,attraction
Rosemary up lifts ego
Sage for cleansing and protection.
The rooted people...Herbs
************************************
Agate for courage or luck
Amber for love or memory
Amethyst for modification
Diamond helps us find things or bonds
Gold allows opportunity
MoonStone for safe travel
Obsidian for protection
Ruby for spiritual awareness
Silver for visions and grounding
Turquoise for empathy, healing or release
These are only tools, used to remind us of our
purposes and goals
VALUES
This is a generalized comparison of values and culture of American Indians and Non-Indians in the U.S.-Reaffirming who we are!
An article by:
Tawodi Ageya
Indians: 1. Giving, sharing and caring
Non-NDN: 1. Taking, materialistic, accumulating
Indians: 2. Look the to elderly for wisdom
Non-NDN: 2. Look the nuclear family
Indians: 3. Give expressions thru actions
Non-NDN: 3. Expression thru speech
Indians: 4. Look at the present
Non-NDN: 4. Look at the future
Indians: 5. Patience among our people
Non-NDN: 5. Aggressive, move ahead to be first
Indians: 6. Wail till someone finishes speaking
Non-NDN: 6. Interrupts, being verbal is a skill
Indians: 7. Religion is a way of life; spirituality
Non-NDN: 7. Religion is a segment or part of life
Indians: 8. Everything we do is related for the good of all in harmony
with nature.
Non-NDN: 8. Mastery over nature is important, resulting in
environmental problems.
-----------------------
> Barbara,> > Here are a few books I know are "real":>
> Medicine of the Cherokee : The Way of Right Relationship by J. T. Garrett,
> Michael Garrett>
> Walking on the Wind : Cherokee Teachings for Healing Through Harmony and
> Balance; Michael Tlanusta Garrett>
> James Mooney's History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees :
> Containing the Full Texts of Myths of the Cherokee (1900 and the Sacred
> Formula); James Mooney, George Ellison (Introduction)>
> The Cherokee People : The Story of the Cherokees from Earliest Origins to
> Contemporary Times -- Thomas E. Mails>
> If You Lived With the Cherokee by Anne Kamma, Connie Roop, Kevin Smith
> (Illustrator), Peter Roop>
> Belled Buzzards, Hucksters & Grieving Spectres : Strange & True Tales of
> the Appalachian Mountains by Gary Carden, Nina Anderson (Contributor),
> Jerry Bledsoe (Editor)>
> Living Stories of the Cherokee by Barbara R. Duncan (Editor), Davey Arch
> (Editor)> > Encyclopedia of Native American Healing by William S. Lyon>
> Secret Native American Pathways : A Guide to Inner Peace by Thomas E. Mails>
> Rosie> PI Native American Moderator> http://genealogy.bb.prodigy.net/
> Home Page:> http://home.talkcity.com./AcademyDr/Tantanka/Index.html
> Webmaster, American Indian Scouting Association
> http://pages.prodigy.net/rose_marshall/
I have joined a free Cherokee language class online. Although the lesson I
just received is #13 or 14, there is an archive that you can go back through
for past lessons. Anyone wishing to join can send a request to this addy:
<botaylor@cherokeemuseum.org (Cherokee language lessons)>
This is the Eastern dialect I believe.
Respectfully,
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