What is the best way to learn more about Cherokee history and traditions?

Question

My husband's great-grandmother was full Cherokee, but no one in the family really knows anything about the culture. I want our sons to learn about this part of their heritage and to gain a respect for the Cherokee people. What is the best way to learn more? We live a few hours from Cherokee, NC and I would love to go and talk to the locals, but I don't want to seem intrusive or even offensive because of our ignorance of the Cherokee culture.

Answer 1

There is a legend among the people that when the time and the need is right that the people will arise stronger than before. That the lost and forgotten people will return to the ancestral fires to help remind the people of what they have forgotten. There are many people in this country who have ancestors that were Native American. Many do not care, but there are many who feel in their hearts the call of the ancestral fires. That feel the heartbeat of Mother Earth when they hear a drum, who are seeking out their heritage. Most of us who are seeking our lost heritage have no clue of how to find the missing part of our souls. Most of us have walked in the world of the whites and have never even had any contact with our ancestors’ heritage. For the first time in our lives we are asking why do I feel the need to dig deeper? Why do I feel this irresistable call to be a part of a culture that is so foreign to me? The answer is that we are feeling ancestral memories. Many Native Americans believe that the ancestors can reach out and give our lives direction. These ancestors do not wish to be forgotten and they do not wish for us to be lost from the people. We are a part of a great and rich culture that we need in our lives to make us whole. We can not be content to be only half of something. Many of us will be content to verbally acknowledge that we have Native American ancestors and then continue to live our lives as we were brought up in the white world. Many of us will continue to seek out what our hearts are telling us is right. That we are a part of a people who walked this earth before the white man. That we are a part of a tribe, a clan, a family, and that we need to return to them and become part of the whole to be complete. Our ancestors have buried this longing deep within our blood because they knew that a circle had to be whole to be strong and that even we, the children of mixed blood, are a part of the circle.

Many of our full blood brothers will reject us because they have been taught not to trust anyone who is not Indian. They have very good reasons for their distrust. They are the children of the ancestors who have stood strong in protecting the way of the people. Even today in what is considered our enlightened society the American Indian is still fighting for equality. No other people in America must carry a card which is issued by the United States government that proves their race. No other people in America must have the approval of the government to say whether a person can be considered part of a certain culture. From the beginning of this country the government and the influential men who were the leaders viewed the Natives of this country as a problem to be eradicated from their path. It was easier to kill them than to deal with them. From being given blankets contaminated with smallpox and measles to a President stating that “nits cause lice, so kill all even the children”, the Indian people have systematically been fighting against the genocide of their race. There is no wonder in my mind why we as mixed bloods, who have been raised as whites, cannot understand the hatred, distrust, and venom that is shown to us by our full blood brothers. How can we truly understand all that has been passed down to them when our ancestors choose to hide themselves among the race which was dedicated to exterminating an entire people? This hatred and distrust is why we must prove ourselves to our brothers.

How do we as outsiders become a part of the people and become a welcome member of their society? First it is our responsibility to learn our history. Not just the history that is given from the white perspective, but the history of the tribe that our ancestors were a part of which is taught by the members of the tribe. The only way to learn this history is from the people. How do we do that if they will not accept us? We, the outsiders, must prove ourselves trustworthy. They don’t have to prove themselves, they have lived this everyday of their lives. We are the ones who have to provide the proof that we are sincere and wish to be honored with the teachings. We have to break down the barriers of distrust. To do this we must show respect. Respect for the culture, the elders, the people, the earth, and for ourselves. To explain this best I will tell you a story of what my Grandfather told me. He overheard me once telling a friend that I was one quarter Cherokee. After that friend left my Grandfather confronted me and asked me to show him which quarter of me was Cherokee. You may think well that is easy. It is my blood lines that is one quarter, but that is not the way the Native American looks at it. To us you are either Indian or you are not. A person cannot walk in two worlds or on two paths.

After learning the history of our people we have to learn about the culture. It is our task to insure that we do not insult the beliefs of the people. Each tribe has a unique culture full of customs that are a part of their heritage. You will be surprised at what you will learn. You may even discover that some of the habits that you learned as a child are customs that have been handed down from your ancestors to keep their tribal or clan memories alive.

The final step is patience. Acceptance will not be overnight. You must be patient and not try to force your way into the circle. Forcing your way in only proves how white you are. The process of being accepted by the people may take years and it will not happen until the elders of the tribe feel you are ready to be a giving and cherished members of the tribe.

Answer 2

HAU KOLA (Hello Friend)

The best way to learn is to talk to someone who follow Cherokee traditions. You can also read things on the Internet about the history and some traditions.

Check this website out to learn somethings.
http://www.cherokee.org/

About the intrusive or even offensive thing will not happen. They will be very welcoming to you. They will see it as a good thing of you wanting to learn about your husbands culture and wanting your son to know some of his culture. Many people feel others would be upset if you dont much about your family culture, but honestly how do you learn if you dont ask? I found out i was oglala lakota just this year and went to find out about my culture and they welcomed me with open arms. They were happy people are still interested in learning about there cultures. So you do not have to worry about such things :)

Answer 3

Yep Hau Kola is Lakota not Cherokee if I say hello to someone its Siyo....western say Osiyo........I also agree with what he (TwoCrow said here) about finding out where he comes from....which band of cherokees....is his people in North Carolina or Oaklahoma?....there is WesternBandCherokee, The United KeetoowahBand, and EasternBandCherokee all are federally recognized....which I am(also Oglala Lakota) .....EasternBand of Cherokees are in North Carolina and reside on Qualla and surrounding bondaries.....there is fair coming there soon....maybe you can come on down cause its tourist season.....the Cherokee Indian Fair will be from Oct 2nd to the 6th there are different things planned Oct 2 will have cultural education day on the 3rd Childrens day....Elders day is on the 4th and Veterans Day on the 5th and closes with community day on the 6th....also the Los Lonely boys I hear are coming should be good tribal fair......

Answer 4

They won't see you as intrusive. They are use to tourists (you'll see when you get there) and there are a lot of attractions. Do you know if he is a member of the Eastern Band Cherokee Nation or if his family is listed on the Dawes Rolls in Oklahoma? Having that information will help you, as a family, learn in greater detail, your husband's ancestral history.

Answer 5

You should make a trip to Cherokee and vist The Museum of the Cherokee Indian.
http://www.cherokeemuseum.org/

Answer 6

In North Carolina that's not a reservation-that's the qualla boundary. There are no longer any Teepees-the human beings stay on a daily basis existence very similiar to human beings. Housing is 'stick outfitted ' some are residences, some are cellular properties,and so on .

Answer 7

go to the Cherokee web site for some background information. then try to go to Cherokee, N.C. and make contact with a tribal member. be polite and all will be well.

Answer 8

it's simple.
Find out what REZ he's from, then hopefully what CLAN he belongs to and take him HOME.
We all come HOME sooner or later.

"hau kola" is lakota not cherokee.