Older Cherokee people still pass their traditions down to the children
The Cherokee are a Native American tribe, descended from the Iroquois. They lived in the southeastern area of North America in a democratic society with its own language and culture. In 1838, defying the Supreme Court's decision protecting the Cherokee from the illegal Indian Removal Act of 1830, President Andrew Jackson forced the Cherokee people to move west into Oklahoma on a harsh winter journey known as the "Trail of Tears." The survivors established new settlements and some 281,000 Cherokee people live in North America today.
Appearance
Cherokee people have reddish brown skin and dark, coarse hair. Traditional Cherokee clothing was often made of deer skin and after 1800, Cherokee people adopted clothing from other cultures such as Islamic turbans and English smoking jackets. In battle, Cherokee men wore a single eagle or hawk feather, dyed red. Modern Cherokee clothing might include ribbon shirts on men or tear dresses on women. The tear dress is a modernized version of a 19th century Cherokee dress.
Culture and Philosophy
Cherokee people have a democratic philosophy. Traditionally, tribes were run by women who elected two chiefs -- one for war and one for peace. Each tribal member had a say in the affairs of the tribe. Unlike many nomadic tribes, Cherokee people lived in permanent dwellings. Their villages were built around a central council house where religious and political meetings were held. Cherokee communication skills were exemplary, and their bloodline remains strong today due to a culture of not marrying within clans.
Family
Cherokee culture is matrilineal; the line of heritage is passed through the mother, and women control the family home, the children, clan membership and inheritance. In a traditional Cherokee marriage ceremony, the groom brings an offering of meat to the bride's family to show he can support the bride. He is then invited into the bride's clan. Children are named by their mothers. Boys are given a soft name and, as men, are later renamed by their fathers and uncles.
Religion and Spirituality
Cherokee people show great reverence for animals and plants, as their traditional mythology is built around nature. The Sun and Moon are said to be sister and brother, and humans are the Sun's grandchildren. Importance is placed on the number four, which symbolizes wholeness, and seven, around which Cherokee culture is built -- there are seven clans and seven councilors. Traditional Cherokee ceremonies used tribal dances and songs, many of which are still known today.
Ceremonies and Rituals
Cherokee tradition features a number of ceremonies and rituals that connect them to the earth and celebrating seasonal changes. War chiefs held victory dances and and organized the stick-ball game that was central to Cherokee life. The game was played by men, each holding two sticks, who would attempt to get a ball into the other team's goal. It taught them techniques for hand-to-hand combat and defeating enemies. The game is still known and played by modern Cherokee people.
Language
The Cherokee language is an Iroquoisan language. During the 19th century, a Cherokee named Sequoyah created an alphabet, allowing for one of the first ever Native American newspapers. Cherokee was taught in schools and is still spoken by around 13,000 Cherokee people today, with some young children learning it as a first language. Recent studies have shown better academic results for children who are fluent in both Cherokee and English, and teachers have commented on the confident attitude of Cherokee speakers.
Craft and Industry
Cherokee traditions and crafts are well preserved and can be seen in modern Cherokee museums. They were expert potters and basket-weavers and made elaborate clay pipes for smoking. They farmed maize, beans, squash, pumpkins and tobacco; and hunted and fished using bows and arrows and reed blowguns. At the annual Cherokee Indian Fair in North Carolina, traditional Cherokee crafts are still demonstrated by modern Cherokee people. Modern Cherokee industry consists mostly of oil and gas sales, gaming, ranching, logging, and traditional arts and crafts.
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