Mia Massengill

     I find the Cherokee Indians to be one of the most fascinating tribes because they were so similar to the white man. We can see these similarities through where they lived, how they met their basic needs, and their beliefs and customs.          

 

     The Cherokees lived in a beautiful land.  They lived in areas of North Carolina and South Carolina. The most populous area was New Echota, Georgia in the Appalachian Mountains. Today, they are near the Great Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains. The water sources were inland near the Tennessee River not near the ocean. The Cherokees had a lot of streams and dams for getting water, bathing, and for washing dishes.  They lived in a wonderful land with lots of natural resources.

 

     When it became summer the houses in the Cherokee land were made out of logs and clay like the white man. Tables,chairs,and more furniture were made out of logs and clay.

 

     The logs and clay were made for furniture like tables and chairs. The Cherokees always had something to do. The winter houses would most likely have a cone-shaped roof up to ten feet tall which was similar to homes of white men.  Usually there would be a fire in the center of the house to keep warm. The women always planted the crops and smoked the fish for their family similar to white women of this time. The men used blowguns, bows, and arrows to hunt down animals. The men would wear loincloths and leather moccasins. On ceremonies men wore dyed buckskin shirts with headdresses and spears to hunt fish for food like white men hunted for food with their weapons. For clothing, women and their children wore apron-typed leather skirts. When it got cold in the winter, women wore jackets trimmed with lace and beads. The white people of this time period also wore similar clothing but with different styles.

 

     The Cherokee discussed issues in town meetings similar to our civic meetings. The women were honored and chose their husbands.  She owned the children, house and property which was unique compared to other Indian tribes. New Year’s celebration was also a tribal custom which is more similar to that of the settlers. The Cherokee used drums, rattles, and dance masks to make music and celebrate this occasion.

 

     The similarities between the Cherokee and the white man involved housing, farming, clothing, civic meetings, and hunting to produce an environment so they did not have to wander to other areas for their necessities.  Although there has been much change, the Cherokee still live in the southeastern part of the United States and have kept many of their original customs.