Celebration Rhythms of turtle shell rattles and singing in Tsalagi the Cherokee language fill the city People chase balls with sticks and roll stone marbles across fields Under tents tables display handwoven baskets and bubbling pots of traditional stews Thousands of Cherokee people gather in Tahlequah Oklahoma each year to celebrate the Cherokee National Holiday It commemorates the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Nation constitution After three days the celebrations end Yet many Cherokee remember their traditions throughout the year Remembering how their ancestors lived helps guide them in their daily lives today tradition custom idea or belief passed down through time ancestor family member who lived a long time ago A young Cherokee boy dances at a powwow in Tahlequah 4
Cherokee remember the Trail of Tears which brought their ancestors to Oklahoma
Chapter 1 Cherokee Early Life The Cherokee lived in villages throughout the Southeast
The Cherokee and their ancestors have lived in North 1 America for thousands of years Their small towns dotted the present day southeastern states of Alabama Georgia North Carolina South Carolina and Tennessee when Europeans arrived They were one of the largest tribes in North America Each town worked together like a family The women farmed and shared crops of corn beans and squash The men fished and hunted deer wild turkey and squirrels They shared the meat with the tribe They traded with other tribes nearby for goods they did not have Cherokee towns were deeply connected Each person belonged to one of seven clans Bird Paint Deer Wolf Blue Long Hair and Wild Potato People of the same clan considered themselves family members even if they lived in different towns Towns would band together during wars with other tribes Two male chiefs were elected in each town A peace chief made decisions during peaceful times A war chief made decisions during times of war The chiefs met with advisers and tribal members in a special seven sided building The seven sides represented the seven clans Cherokee ancestors The Cherokee believe that people must Cherokee people have ancestors from other live peacefully with nature They also American Indian tribes and Europeans During believe in gadugi which means working war the Cherokee took prisoners They often adopted the prisoners into their tribe to together for the good of the town replace people killed by warfare or disease
