Welcome to my indian page.
I hope you enjoy your visit.

There is a little bit of Cherokee blood
in my family so I figured I would do a page on the
Cherokee Indians. Unfortunately I only got about 5% of that blood.
I have always loved indian stuff, I have visited an indian reservation in
the state of Virginia, I thought it was really cool. But I am sorry to say that
I forget where exactly it was. But I will try to find out so that I can add it to this page.

This is the official Cherokee Flag

If you would like to learn more about th flag, the language and their clothing
please visit this site: Official Site

The Cherokee Indians, a branch of the Iroquois nation, can trace their history in North Carolina back more than a thousand years. Originally their society was based on hunting, trading, and agriculture. By the time European explorers and traders arrived, Cherokee lands covered a large part of what is now the southeastern United States.

The Cherokee lived in small communities, usually located in fertile river bottoms. Homes were wooden frames covered with woven vines and saplings plastered with mud. These were replaced in later years with log structures. Each village had a council house where ceremonies and tribal meetings were held. The council house was seven-sided to represent the seven clans of the Cherokee: Bird, Paint, Deer, Wolf, Blue, Long Hair, and Wild Potato. Each tribe elected two chiefs -- a Peace Chief who counseled during peaceful times and a War Chief who made decisions during times of war. However, the Chiefs did not rule absolutely. Decision making was a more democratic process, with tribal members having the
opportunity to voice concerns.

Unfortunately, the Cherokees did not enjoy prosperous times for long. Gold was discovered on Indian lands in Georgia. Political pressure was exerted by President Andrew Jackson to confiscate Indian lands and remove the Cherokees to the West. Numerous injustices against the Cherokee Nation culminated in the signing of the Treaty of New Echota. Those who signed the treaty did not have the authority to represent the entire Cherokee Nation. Nevertheless, the treaty stood. The Cherokees were taken from their homes, held in stockades, and forced to move to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Almost 14,000 Cherokees began the trek westward in October of 1838. More than 4,000 died from cold, hunger, and disease during the six-month journey that came to be known as the "Trail of Tears."

Language

The preservation and perpetuation of language
is one of the most important aspects of cultural survival. The
Cherokee language is spoken today by some 10,000 Cherokees who
reside in northeastern Oklahoma and by at least 1,000 Cherokees living
in the vicinity of Cherokee, North Carolina. Cherokee is related to the
Northern Iroquoian language, which includes Mohawk, Onondaga, Oneida and Seneca-Cayuga.

Many Cherokees speak their ancestral language
in their homes, at churches and at Cherokee stomp grounds.
More than 150 years after the Trail of Tears, Cherokee remains
one of the most widely spoken Native American languages. To ensure
the preservation of the Cherokee language and culture, the Cherokee Nation
supports and provides numerous bilingual education programs.

Here are some other indian links that you might want to check out:
A.I.M.
Other
Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Cherokee Publications
Sequoyah Birthplace Museum
National Native American Tourism Conference
Cherokee Jewelry
Cherokee Images
The Cherokee Tribe
Cherokee Indians
Cherokee Winds
Cherokee History
Indian Tatoo/Ink
Events

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