CHEROKEE INDIANS

THE CHEROKEE INDIANS OCCUPIED A LARGE TERRITORY IN THE SOUTHEAST OF NORTH AMERICA, INCLUDING THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS, THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS, AND THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF TENNESSEE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA. THEY SPOKE IROQUOIAN AND HAD THEIR VILLAGES ALONG THE RIVERS AND STREAMS WHERE THEY FARMED THE RICH BLACK SOIL.
THEY WERE SKILLED HUNTERS AND GATHERS. THEY HUNTED LARGE ANIMALS SUCH AS DEER AND BEAR WITH BOWS AND ARROWS, AND SMALLER GAME. THEY USED FEATHER DARTS WITH BLOW GUNS.

THEY DRESSED IN BUCKSKIN BREECH CLOTHS AND WOMEN WORE BUCKSKIN SKIRTS. IN COLD WEATHER THE MEN WORE LEATHER SHIRTS, LEGGINGS AND MOCCASINS. WOMEN WORE CAPES. THEY MADE CAPES FROM TURKEY AND EAGLE FEATHERS ALONG WITH STRIPS OF BARK. THEIR LEADERS WORE FEATHERS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

THEY BUILT 7 SIDED TEMPLES FOR CEREMONIES. THEY WERE BUILT ON TOP OF FLAT TOPPED MOUNDS. EACH FAMILY HAD TWO HOUSES LIKE OTHER PEOPLE OF THE SOUTHEAST - A LARGE SUMMER HOUSE AND A SMALL WINTER.

THEY WERE MADE FROM POLES, CANE, AND CLAY WALLS AND HAD BARK OR THATCHED ROOFS. THEIR WINTER HOUSES DOUBLED AS SWEAT HOUSES. THERE CRAFTS INCLUDED PLAITED BASKETWORK AND STAMPED POTTERY. THEY CARVED OUT WOOD AND GOURDS AND MADE WOODEN MASKS. THEY SHAPED ANIMAL FIGURES FROM STONE AND MADE STONE PIPES.

THE GREEN CORN CEREMONY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT RITUAL. THEY HAD MANY HUNTING AND HEALING. IT TOOK PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE LAST CORN CROP RIPENED AND WAS SHARED BY THE TRIBES IN THE U.S. THE RED CHIEF GAVE INFO AND DIRECTED INFORMATION AND WARFARE WHICH WAS LIKE A LITTLE WAR. ENGLISH TRADERS CAME INTO THE AREA AFTER 1600 AND PROVIDED SOME WARRIOR DURING CONFLICTS WITH THE FRENCH. BUT IN 1760 THE CHEROKEE REVOLTED AGAINST ENGLISH IN THE CHEROKEE WAR. IT WAS A BATTLE INVOLVING OWNERSHIP OF WILD HORSES. THIS WAR WAS 2 LONG YEARS. THEY HAD TO GIVE A PORTION OF THEIR EASTERN LANDS TO THE BRITISH. DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION THEIR TERRITORY WAS INVADED AND VILLAGES WERE DESTROYED. THEY ALSO EXPERIENCED OUTBREAKS FROM SMALLPOX DURING 1740-50.

THE CHEROKEES PLAYED A GAME LIKE LACROSSE. EACH VILLAGE HAD 2 CHIEFS. WHITE CHIEF HELPED VILLAGERS MAKE DECISIONS CONCERNING FARMING, THE LAW, AND FAMILY DISPUTES. WHITE CHIEF AND A SHAMAN PLAYED A PART IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES.

IN 1820 THEY ESTABLISHED A REPUBLICAN TYPE OF GOVERNMENT SIMILAR TO THE U.S. A CHEROKEE, GEORGE GIST, MADE MUCH PROGRESS FOR THIS TRIBE! HE REDUCED THEIR LANGUAGE TO 85 CHARACTERS. REPRESENTING THE DIFFERENT SOUNDS. HE IS THE ONLY PERSON IN HISTORY TO SINGLE HANDEDLY REINVENT A LANGUAGE. IN 1828 THE FIRST CHEROKEE NEWSPAPER WAS PUBLISHED!

THE TRAIL OF TEARS

THE SETTLERS FOUND GOLD IN GEORGIA AND THE CHEROKEE WERE RELOCATED ALONG WITH OTHER INDIANS. THEY WERE REMOVED TO A RESERVATION WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. THIS WAS CALLED THEIR TRAIL OF TEARS... THEIR HOMES WERE PLUNDERED AS WELL AS THEIR POSSESSIONS. ANGLOS ROUNDED UP THE CHEROKEE AND PLACED THEM IN INTERNMENT CAMPS IN PREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY WEST, BUT SOME ESCAPED TO THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA WHERE THEY HID OUT FROM THE TROOPS. THEY WERE FORCED TO WALK AN 800 MILE TRIP IN 1838, AND ANOTHER FORCED TREK WAS THAT FALL. THE SOLDIERS DID NOT PROVIDE THEM WITH ENOUGH FOOD AND MANY DIED. OTHER TRIBES WERE SIMILARLY FORCED WESTWARD.

AFTER 1934 ALL NATIVES BEGAN TO GET VERY INTERESTED IN THEIR HISTORY AND REDISCOVER THEIR HERITAGE AND TO REORGANIZE THEIR GOVERNMENTS. THE CHEROKEES HOLD A PAGEANT EVERY SUMMER CALLED THE TRAIL OF TEARS.