Cherokee Indians Essay examples -- History Indians Native Americans Es

Cherokee Indians The Cherokee Indians were one of the civilized tribes in the United States. They were located in the southeastern part of the U.S. This includes the western parts of North and South Carolina, The northern parts of Alabama and Georgia, Southwest Virginia and the Cumberland basin of Tennessee. It appears the Cherokee settled in 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. Their development took place in two stages or phases. The Pisgah which took place 1300 A.D. to 1540 A.D. and the Qualla which took place 1540 A.D. to 1750 A.D. The first period was primitive and the second was influenced by European contact. They were a large tribe that was part of the Iroquian language group even though their language is very different. Despite this the Cherokee developed written language due to contact with the white men. They were very interested in learning the white men ways. Although there is a lot written about the Cherokee and Europeans, the focus here will be Cherokee life including daily life, marriage, governme nt, and war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cherokee villages consisted of groups of relatives that included members of at least four clans. They grew crops outside their villages. There were also some fields inside the villages. Each family had a marked section of the field. Both men and women helped in farming every section. As with many tribes the men were responsible for hunting, fishing, building houses and council lodges, made important decisions, performed religious ceremonies, trained young boys and defended the village. The Cherokee women were responsible for the home, raising the children, helping in the fields, preparing and gathering food, washing and making clothes, and making baskets and pottery. Even though The Cherokee were a matrilineal society only certain women were allowed to have input in council decisions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cherokee had many rules and regulations to live by and since they have a strong sense of tradition these rules were not challenged until they came into contact with the European. An example would be women were not allowed to marry until they had their first menstruation. During a young woman’s menstruation she is separated from her family and taken to a special place outside of the village where she stays for seven days. No one is allowed to touch her because she is believed to be unclean. Even she can not touch her own food therefore another w... ...g the warriors not to be afraid for God would help them if they trusted him. A priest would pray and the war party would set out. After returning home from battle, the warriors stayed at their own village council houses for twenty-four days. During this time they went under intense purification rituals before returning to their families. Being given a new name honored warriors, who fought well in battle. The new name usually gave them new status in the village.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cherokee life is full of traditions that helped the tribe survive as long as it has. Even though they have been separated, the Cherokee still have a strong sense of being. There is so much more to learn about the Cherokee Indians and their cultures that it will be a while before it is all revealed. Bibliography Mails, Thomas E. 1992 â€Å" The Cherokee People† Marlowe and company Mooney, James 1891 â€Å" Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees Starkey, Marion 1946 â€Å"The Cherokee Nation†, New York Steele, Phillip 1974 â€Å"The last Cherokee Warriors† Pelican publishing company Wilkins, Thurma 1970 â€Å"Cherokee Tragedy† London, The Macmillan Company Woodward, Grace Steele 1963 â€Å" The Cherokees, University of Oklahoma press. Cherokee Indians Essay examples -- History Indians Native Americans Es Cherokee Indians The Cherokee Indians were one of the civilized tribes in the United States. They were located in the southeastern part of the U.S. This includes the western parts of North and South Carolina, The northern parts of Alabama and Georgia, Southwest Virginia and the Cumberland basin of Tennessee. It appears the Cherokee settled in 1000 A.D. to 1500 A.D. Their development took place in two stages or phases. The Pisgah which took place 1300 A.D. to 1540 A.D. and the Qualla which took place 1540 A.D. to 1750 A.D. The first period was primitive and the second was influenced by European contact. They were a large tribe that was part of the Iroquian language group even though their language is very different. Despite this the Cherokee developed written language due to contact with the white men. They were very interested in learning the white men ways. Although there is a lot written about the Cherokee and Europeans, the focus here will be Cherokee life including daily life, marriage, governme nt, and war.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cherokee villages consisted of groups of relatives that included members of at least four clans. They grew crops outside their villages. There were also some fields inside the villages. Each family had a marked section of the field. Both men and women helped in farming every section. As with many tribes the men were responsible for hunting, fishing, building houses and council lodges, made important decisions, performed religious ceremonies, trained young boys and defended the village. The Cherokee women were responsible for the home, raising the children, helping in the fields, preparing and gathering food, washing and making clothes, and making baskets and pottery. Even though The Cherokee were a matrilineal society only certain women were allowed to have input in council decisions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Cherokee had many rules and regulations to live by and since they have a strong sense of tradition these rules were not challenged until they came into contact with the European. An example would be women were not allowed to marry until they had their first menstruation. During a young woman’s menstruation she is separated from her family and taken to a special place outside of the village where she stays for seven days. No one is allowed to touch her because she is believed to be unclean. Even she can not touch her own food therefore another w... ...g the warriors not to be afraid for God would help them if they trusted him. A priest would pray and the war party would set out. After returning home from battle, the warriors stayed at their own village council houses for twenty-four days. During this time they went under intense purification rituals before returning to their families. Being given a new name honored warriors, who fought well in battle. The new name usually gave them new status in the village.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Cherokee life is full of traditions that helped the tribe survive as long as it has. Even though they have been separated, the Cherokee still have a strong sense of being. There is so much more to learn about the Cherokee Indians and their cultures that it will be a while before it is all revealed. Bibliography Mails, Thomas E. 1992 â€Å" The Cherokee People† Marlowe and company Mooney, James 1891 â€Å" Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees Starkey, Marion 1946 â€Å"The Cherokee Nation†, New York Steele, Phillip 1974 â€Å"The last Cherokee Warriors† Pelican publishing company Wilkins, Thurma 1970 â€Å"Cherokee Tragedy† London, The Macmillan Company Woodward, Grace Steele 1963 â€Å" The Cherokees, University of Oklahoma press.