Cherokee IndiansCherokee Indians

By: Alec MauBy: Alec Mau

Tribal ClansTribal Clans

Clan: groups of people who believed themselves related by blood

7 Cherokee clans Blue clan Long hair clan Bird clan Deer clan Wolf clan Wild Potato clan Paint clan

Clan: groups of people who believed themselves related by blood

7 Cherokee clans Blue clan Long hair clan Bird clan Deer clan Wolf clan Wild Potato clan Paint clan

Tribal ClansTribal Clans

Each had its own symbols & traditionsNo tribal clan was more important

than another Jealousy was rare

Tribal members wore different colored feathers at council meetings to determine what tribe they’re from

Each had its own symbols & traditionsNo tribal clan was more important

than another Jealousy was rare

Tribal members wore different colored feathers at council meetings to determine what tribe they’re from

Tribal Clan WheelTribal Clan Wheel

GovernmentGovernment

Has two chiefsOne for making war and one for making

decisions during peaceful timesCommunities have council houses close

to the stream Council members met at stream before,

during, and after meetings and purified themselves in the stream

Council members only met at the council house, and they represented each clan

Has two chiefsOne for making war and one for making

decisions during peaceful timesCommunities have council houses close

to the stream Council members met at stream before,

during, and after meetings and purified themselves in the stream

Council members only met at the council house, and they represented each clan

GovernmentGovernment

Village was ruled by a headmanAssisted by a righthand man, a

messenger, & a chief of sacrificeDecisions made at the meeting

were made by majority rules

Village was ruled by a headmanAssisted by a righthand man, a

messenger, & a chief of sacrificeDecisions made at the meeting

were made by majority rules

DietDiet

Fished and hunted animalsMain meat: deerHunted rabbit, squirrel, turkey, &

small birdsFood roasted over open fire

Where barbeque originatedSpanish explorers also helped start it

Fished and hunted animalsMain meat: deerHunted rabbit, squirrel, turkey, &

small birdsFood roasted over open fire

Where barbeque originatedSpanish explorers also helped start it

Barbecue Barbecue

CropsCrops

Chief crop: corn (known as maize) Ground into meal for bread Used to make hominy

Squash Pumpkins Beans Sunflowers Main Fruit Tree: peach

Chief crop: corn (known as maize) Ground into meal for bread Used to make hominy

Squash Pumpkins Beans Sunflowers Main Fruit Tree: peach

FoodFood

HousingHousing

Built homes on high banks/hills along rivers/streamsHelped give them rich soil, water, fish for

food, & a good place to defend themselves

Made from materials at handFramework of tree poles, then covered

them with bark & woven vinesCovered this with mud to keep rain & cold

out

Built homes on high banks/hills along rivers/streamsHelped give them rich soil, water, fish for

food, & a good place to defend themselves

Made from materials at handFramework of tree poles, then covered

them with bark & woven vinesCovered this with mud to keep rain & cold

out

HousingHousing

Inside: Benches for sleeping & sitting Woven mats, pottery, baskets, wooden

utensils Fires were built in the middle of dirt floors to

heat entire dwelling During summer, sides were open to let cool

air in During winter, sides were closed to keep

heat in

Inside: Benches for sleeping & sitting Woven mats, pottery, baskets, wooden

utensils Fires were built in the middle of dirt floors to

heat entire dwelling During summer, sides were open to let cool

air in During winter, sides were closed to keep

heat in

HousingHousing

Cherokee also built log cabins for winter livingFire ran inside, making smoky air,

which Indians used to flush out the impurities from the pores of their skin

Council housesUsed for meetings and were larger

versions of homes

Cherokee also built log cabins for winter livingFire ran inside, making smoky air,

which Indians used to flush out the impurities from the pores of their skin

Council housesUsed for meetings and were larger

versions of homes

HomesHomes

WeaponsWeapons

Bows & arrows and blowguns (game on land)

Fisherman: spears and fishing poles

Warriors: fired arrows, or used tomahawk or spear

Bows & arrows and blowguns (game on land)

Fisherman: spears and fishing poles

Warriors: fired arrows, or used tomahawk or spear

ToolsTools

Stone adzes (hand axes for woodworking)

Flint knives for skinning animals Wooden hoes for farming Pots and baskets for storing corn

Stone adzes (hand axes for woodworking)

Flint knives for skinning animals Wooden hoes for farming Pots and baskets for storing corn

WeaponsWeapons

ToolsTools

Stone adze

Wooden hoe

Flint knife

LifestyleLifestyle Mothers

Considered to be matrilineal Many people from extended family can be

living in the same home as you Mothers brothers responsible for raising

children Parents were loving and caring, hardly ever

strict (children can develop an inner sense of what’s right and wrong)

Mothers tended garden, prepared food, and sewed outfits for the different seasons

Made baskets and pottery containers used in everyday life

Mothers Considered to be matrilineal Many people from extended family can be

living in the same home as you Mothers brothers responsible for raising

children Parents were loving and caring, hardly ever

strict (children can develop an inner sense of what’s right and wrong)

Mothers tended garden, prepared food, and sewed outfits for the different seasons

Made baskets and pottery containers used in everyday life

LifestyleLifestyle

FathersMothers tended garden, prepared

food, and sewed outfits for the different seasons

Made baskets and pottery containers used in everyday life

Fathers were usually gone hunting or trading along the river

FathersMothers tended garden, prepared

food, and sewed outfits for the different seasons

Made baskets and pottery containers used in everyday life

Fathers were usually gone hunting or trading along the river

LifestylesLifestyles

ChildrenPlayed games that helped them grow up

Hide and seek: Taught skills of searching & evading

Mud ball fights: Taught kids skills of combat and not to cry when hit hard

Wrestling: Meant to build strength and agilitySwimmingWading

ChildrenPlayed games that helped them grow up

Hide and seek: Taught skills of searching & evading

Mud ball fights: Taught kids skills of combat and not to cry when hit hard

Wrestling: Meant to build strength and agilitySwimmingWading

LifestylesLifestyles

BoysLearned to use a bow and arrowLearned to fishPlayed tug of warHad foot racesPlayed stick ball and marbles

BoysLearned to use a bow and arrowLearned to fishPlayed tug of warHad foot racesPlayed stick ball and marbles

LifestylesLifestyles

GirlsLearned to cookLearned to tend small childrenPlayed tag, chased rabbits, pick up

shells from the river

GirlsLearned to cookLearned to tend small childrenPlayed tag, chased rabbits, pick up

shells from the river

ClothingClothing

Summer monthsAdults wore little clothingSmall children didn’t wear clothesDeerskins provided breechcloths for

men and skirts for womenNo one wore shoes

Summer monthsAdults wore little clothingSmall children didn’t wear clothesDeerskins provided breechcloths for

men and skirts for womenNo one wore shoes

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

ClothingClothing

Winter monthsWore moccasinsLeggings from deerskinMatch-coats

Warm capes made from furs or feathers

Winter monthsWore moccasinsLeggings from deerskinMatch-coats

Warm capes made from furs or feathers

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

ReligionReligion

Three WorldsCherokee believed earth was a large

island resting on the watersEach tribe thought it was at the

center of earth- “This World”Above this world, was cleaner and

purer- “Upper World”Below the waters- “Under World”

Three WorldsCherokee believed earth was a large

island resting on the watersEach tribe thought it was at the

center of earth- “This World”Above this world, was cleaner and

purer- “Upper World”Below the waters- “Under World”

ReligionReligion

Cherokee believed This World was orderly and predictable

As long as people stayed pure and behaved themselves and kept nature in balance, spirits treated them nicely

Illness and bad luck came to people who misbehaved

Cherokee believed This World was orderly and predictable

As long as people stayed pure and behaved themselves and kept nature in balance, spirits treated them nicely

Illness and bad luck came to people who misbehaved

ReligionReligion

Believed in chief gods, ruler of sun and moon

Believed that some animals had special powersMost honored: deer (only sacrificed

for hunger)Most important bird: eagleBelieved honesty is really important

Believed in chief gods, ruler of sun and moon

Believed that some animals had special powersMost honored: deer (only sacrificed

for hunger)Most important bird: eagleBelieved honesty is really important