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The Little People are as old as the Cherokee.  For me it is hard to think of one without thinking of the other.   They stand only two to three feet tall and look just like a Cherokee.  They are a people not to be messed with because they have special powers.  They like to beat their drums and dance.  They also like to help people and children who ( Read more... )

When the animals came down from the rainbow to live on the earth there was no light and they stumbled around in the darkness.  At last the animals held a meeting.  "What we need is light," they all said.  The Red-Headed Woodpecker said, "I have heard that over on the other side of the world there are people who have light."  Then the Fox said, "If ( Read more... )

In the beginning water covered everything.  Living creatures existed but their home was above the rainbow and it was very crowded.  One day the animals held a meeting to talk over what could be done about their problem.  "We are all jammed together," the animals said.  "We need more room."  So they sent Water Beetle to see what was under the water.

( Smoke Signal below )

Since the beginning of time, Native Americans have had a tradition of oral history.  Everything that is part of their world is explained in this manner.  All their myths and legends are simple stories that explain why things are the way they are.

This is where the Storyteller comes in.  I am a Storyteller and it is an honor to be one.  We keep the ( Read more... )

Make no bones about it, the woman is the heart of the family.  A true Cherokee man knows that the woman is the head of the family and the true boss in the lodge.  This was the way it was many moons ago and in our family, the way it still is.  It is not that way today with a lot of Cherokee men but then most of them are still children.  A true man ( Read more... )

In the Courting story I said that you could not marry in your own clan.  There are seven clans in the Cherokee Nation;

Wolf...This is my clan.  Members hunted like wolves, running in packs after game.  We also raised wolf cubs and trained them like dogs.  It was bad luck to kill a wolf.

Wild Potato...They would gather wild round potatoes that grew in ( Read more... )

Okay, it is time to get serious.  We have had some fun with the ancient talk but now we need to go places that we will need modern talk to reach.  I will still tell stories, after all I am a Storyteller, and speak on Native life but I also want to share some history that maybe you are not aware of.

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Many moons ago when girl start monthly cycle, they be moved to small lodge short distance from main village.  There girl stay until cycle pass then return home.  Lodge she stayed in be cleaned, clothes cleaned or burn, she cleaned.  Now she woman.  Do woman chores, be respected as woman.  She now old nough marry if wish.

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This is a story me take from my family book, "The Life & Lessons of Unega Waya."  Me write it long time go.  Someone at place me use work send me e - mail asking me what Native Americans do for Christmas?  Me in good mood that day, send him e - mail with this story.  Story ended up on cork board by time clock.  Everyone like.  Me hope you like also ( Read more... )