O'Siyo, Here you will find some
information concerning traditional beliefs and other
information. More will be added as time allows. Please enjoy.
Bringing Our Heritage
Into Our Everyday Lives
As much as we might all like, most people do not have a
Stomp Grounds nearby, but there are many of our traditions that we can
follow at home. It is very important we bring
our heritage into our everyday lives. If we fail to do this, we
are not truly appreciating what a rich culture we come from. Learning
our stories, offering up prayers on tobacco smoke, purifying with
cedar, going to water, growing food, using herbs for healing and doing
traditional crafts are elements of our heritage we can do at home. These are a few ways (certainly not exhaustive) that
you can bring our heritage into your everyday life. Doing
these things helps us feel connected to our culture, to each other and
to our ancestors who suffered much to preserve our heritage for us.
1. Study our
language and use it everyday at home. Use it as if it were the
language you have spoken all your life.
2. Set aside
certain night for storytelling.
3. Make a weekend
a classroom, learn to identify one plant and the ways it can be used.
4. Find other
Tsalagi in your area so you can do things together to help increase
your knowledge.
5. Practice
making and using a bow or blowgun, tan hides, make crafts. While
these will not teach you much specifically, it will help you find a
connection.
6. Take advantage
of every opportunity you can to become involved in the Band's
activities.
7. But, the most important
thing is to be who you are. Be Tsalagi with everything that is
within you. Experience it everyday of your life.
The Cherokee society is
historically a matrilineal society. Meaning clanship is attained
through the mother. Prior to Oklahoma statehood, the women were
considered the Head of Household, with the home and children belonging
to her should she separate from a husband. The knowledge of a
person's clan is important for many reasons. Historically, and still
today among Cherokee traditionalists, it is forbidden to marry within
your clan. Clan members are considered brother and sisters. In
addition,
when seeking spiritual guidance and Indian doctoring, it is necessary
to name your clan. Seating at ceremonial stomp dances is by clan, as
well.
During
the hard times
that befell
our people, after the arrival of the Europeans, these clans were
interrupted.
Few today know their ancestral clan. Those that do live on
the
reservations
are lucky enough to have had it passed down to them. Many though,
do not know what clan they are from because records of these
things
were
not kept or because their clan line was broken. Clanship was handed
down through the women, if a Tslalagi man took a white woman as a wife,
the clan line was broken and any descendents from that marriage have no
clan. The Uganawvkalvgv Kituwah Ayeli is reinstating and
reestablishing
these clans. Through adoption ceremonies, the old Clans are being
rebuilt. They exist once again. We feel that this is
important
because as traditional Tsalagi, if you have no clan, you are not
Tsalagi, you would have no right to speak in Council, marry other
Tsalagi, or take
part in ceremonies. These re-established clans are patterned after
the original ones and will be as strong and close knit as well.
Among the Tsalagi there exists
seven clans or families. These clans are:
AniSahoni (Blue Clan) -
Those belonging to this clan were keepers of all childrens medicines
and caretakers of medicinal herb gardens. Historically, this clan
produced many people who were able to make special medicines for the
children. They became known for a medicine from a bluish colored plant
called a "blue holly", and were so named after it. This Clan has also
been known as the Panther or Wild Cat Clan, in some regions. They were
known as a white (peace) clan. Their color is Blue and their wood is
Ash.
AniGilohi (Twister Clan) -
The Twister Clan has also been known as Long Hair (Note: AniGilahi -
Gilahi is short for the ancient word, Gitlvgvnahita, the warrior
womens society, meaning "something that grows from the back of the
neck"), Hanging Down Clan, Wind Clan or Stranger Clan in various
regions. Some say those belonging to this clan wore their hair in
elaborate twisted and braided hairdos. More mportantly, they are
teachers and keepers of tradition. Prisoners of war, orphans of other
tribes, and others with no Cherokee tribe were often adopted into this
clan, thus the name 'Strangers.' AniGilohi was a very peaceful clan,
peace chiefs usually came from this clan at one time in our history.
The Clan color for the AniGilohi is Yellow and their wood is Beech.
AniTsiskwa (Bird Clan) -
Those belonging to this Clan were the keepers of the birds, sacred
feathers and bird medicines. The belief that birds are messengers
between the People and Creator, gave the members of this clan the
responsibility of caring for the birds. They were messengers and were
very skilled in using blowguns and snares for bird hunting. Eagle
feathers earned by others were originally presented by the members of
this clan, as they were the only ones able to collect them. Their color
is Purple, and their wood is Maple.
AniWodi (Paint Clan) - Those
belonging to this Clan made red paint. Members of the Paint Clan were
historically known as a prominent medicine people. Medicine is often
'painted' on a patient after harvesting, mixing and performing other
aspects of the ceremony. They were the smallest and most secretive
clan. When the Cherokees would wage war, the Priest would bring along
several sacred objects, medicinal herbs, and a coal from the Sacred
Fire. They were the only ones that were allowed to make a special red
paint and dye that are used for ceremonial purposes and warfare,
because of this they were considered a red (war) clan. The Clan color
for the AniWodi is White, and their wood is Locust.
AniKawi (Deer Clan) - Those
belonging to this Clan were the keepers of the deer, deer hunters and
trackers, tanners and seamers, as well as keepers of the deer
medicines. Members of the Deer Clan were historically known as fast
runners, foot messengers and hunters. Even though they hunted game for
subsistence, they respected and cared for the animals while they were
living amongst them. They were also known as messengers on an earthly
level, delivering messenges from village to village, or person to
person and were considered a white (peace) clan.
The Clan Color for the Ani Kawi is
Brown and their wood is Oak.
AniGatogewi (Wild Potato Clan)
- Historically, members of this clan were known to be 'keepers of the
land', farmers and gatherers. They were named after the wild potato
plants they gathered in the swamps (hence the name gatogewi = "swamp"),
and along streams to make flour or bread for food. The Wild Potato Clan
have also been known as the Bear Clan, Raccoon Clan and even "Blind
Savannah" in different regions. They were a white (peace) clan. The
Clan color for the AniGatogewi is Green and their wood is Birch.
AniWahya (Wolf Clan)
-
The Wolf Clan is the largest clan today and the most prominent clan,
providing most of the war chiefs, and warriors. Wolves are known as
protectors and true aniwahya are protectors of the people. The wolf
clan are keepers and trackers of the wolf and the only clan who could
kill a wolf through special ceremonies and wolf medicines. AniWahya
were known as a red (war) clan. The Clan color of the AniWahya is Red
and their wood is Hickory.
