Cherokee IndiansType of SocietyTrail of TearsHorticultureHorticulture (cont’d)Eastern vs. Western BandCherokee EconomySubsistence and Commercial ActivitiesSlide 9Slide 10Slide 11Industrial ArtsDivision of Labor (today)PopulationIdeologiesReligionSacred Numbers and CeremoniesPresent Day Religious BeliefsPolity and ConflictTraditional Cherokee PolityCherokee Polity after European ContactSeveral Modern Groups of CherokeeSocial StratificationOrganizationDistribution of PowerImportance of EqualityThe Medicine ManCondition of TribeEducationSlide 30Slide 31KinshipSlide 33Slide 34Status of WomenFamilyQUIZ!!!What is the difference between horticulture and agriculture?What does Cherokee society say about gender equality?What has been the trend in population growth for the Cherokee?Which of the following is not a sacred number to the Cherokee?What is the name of the forced migration of the Cherokee from their homeland to Oklahoma?ReferencesSlide 44Slide 45Cherokee IndiansHorticultural SocietyType of Society•The Cherokee are Native Americans of the Iroquoian language•Before Europeans arrived in North America, the Cherokee controlled a large region of the Southeast•Settled in modern western Virginia, West Virginia, western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, southeastern Kentucky, northwestern South Carolina, northern Georgia, and northern AlabamaTrail of Tears•Forced relocation in 1838 to the western United States•The Cherokee reorganized their government under chief John Ross and became known as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma (which was dissolved after the American Civil War when Oklahoma achieved statehood)•Known as one of the “Five Civilized Tribes” because of their having adopted many Euro-American customsHorticulture•The Cherokees are a horticulturalists on a swidden basis•A horticultural society is one that utilizes animal husbandry and plant cultivation using primitive tools, such as the hoe•Horticulture is linked to the nomadic hunter-gatherers, who cultivated crops on a small scale around their dwellings between migrationsHorticulture (cont’d)•horticulture is different from agriculture because:–it is on a smaller scale, using small plots of mixed crops rather than large fields of single cropsEastern vs. Western Band•Today, Cherokee culture is still preserved mostly in the Eastern Band, as opposed to the severely weakened culture of the Western Band CherokeeCherokee EconomySubsistence and Commercial Activities •Each Cherokee town maintained a mutual aid society that coordinated agricultural activities•After contact with Europeans, this expanded to include relief to those in need of emergency assistance•Men in the Cherokee nation usually did the hunting and fishing–Hunted deer, bears, and elk with bows and arrows –Smaller animals, such as rabbits and squirrels, were hunted with long cane-stem blowguns that propelled wood-and-feather darts–For fishing, hooks and lines, spears, and traps were used–http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-904664033367384180&hl=en•Women in the Cherokee nation usually did the farming–They grew mostly corn, beans, squash, sunflowers, and tobacco•Children helped by gathering wild plants–Wild grapes, berries, nuts, and dandelions•Wild plant foods were also gathered by hand•Today, the Eastern Band still relies on subsistence farming and tourism provides income in the Qualla Boundary•The Western Band Cherokee often rent their land to white ranchers rather than farm it themselves and they rely on other wage labor and government assistanceIndustrial Arts•Metalworking, potting, soapstone carving, basket weaving•Cherokee women at Qualla Boundary still basket weave for touristsDivision of Labor (today)•Decline of hunting and more intensive agriculture led to men replacing women in the fields•Women’s work increasingly confined to the household, especially among Eastern CherokeePopulation•Current Cherokee Population: 301,800 •Rate of Population growth is high:–15 times larger than it was 150 years ago –251% more people identified themselves as Cherokee in 1980 than in 1970–19% more people identified themselves as Cherokee in 1990 than in 1980IdeologiesReligion•Cherokee religion was very important •They believed in a great creator•They worshipped things that come from the great creator. These included corn, fire, and other items that helped them to survive.Sacred Numbers and Ceremonies•Beliefs also included a couple sacred numbers, 4 and 7•4 was representative of the four primary directions (North, South, East, West)•7 was representative of the seven ceremonies. There were six ceremonies each year, but every seventh year, they performed another ceremony. This ceremony was performed by the chief or Uku to rejoice and give thanks to each member of the tribe.Present Day Religious Beliefs•Present day Cherokee were very influenced by their contact with Christianity•By denomination, Baptist is the most numerous, followed by MethodistPolity and ConflictTraditional Cherokee Polity•Cherokee groups were widespread though bound as a distinct ethnic group but had no centralized government for all Cherokee settlements•Interaction between Cherokee groups governed by common cultural traditions stressing mutual defense and discouraging conflict within the Cherokee community•Individual communities often varied in governance generally utilizing a system of clan law and chiefs overseeing town councils.Cherokee Polity after European Contact•History of conflict with white settlers and US Government over land claims•After American settlement Cherokee made slow moves towards more western style of government•1827 Constitution and Court System•Disruption of Trail of Tears•After major resettlement Cherokee group forced to sign numerous treaties ceding more and more land•Full return of political autonomy returned by 1970.Several Modern Groups of Cherokee•Cherokee Nation – Oklahoma•United Band of Cherokee Indians – Oklahoma•Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians – North CarolinaSocial Stratification•To the Cherokees, social stratification was relatively unimportant; there was no such thing as social classes.•However, the Cherokees were an organized tribe.Organization•One of the characteristics of Cherokee society was their powerful matrilineal clan system.–In other words, their society was a matriarchy (as some have called it).–Children took the clan of their