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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
AMONSOQUATH TRIBAL
GATHERINGS We gather twice each year as a tribe at our reservation and Amonsoquath Stomp Grounds at Eastwood, near Van Buren, MO, in June and in September. Our gatherings are VERY special occasions, with dancing, naming ceremonies, weddings (legal in Missouri, as Chief Walking Bear is a licensed minister), and lots of fun. There is plenty of room to camp on the property. At the last fall gathering in September, our nearby neighbors we are always hearing from most every nite - parents of a family of white wolves -- spent two hours watching at a distance at the edge of he clearing here on our Ozark mountaintop. We also get occasional visits from a mountain lion, and black bear who lives nearby. 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?
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
HUMOR
Does a Bear really do his own paperwork in the Woods
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
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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, |
Legend of the Cherokee
Rose
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