Cherokee (as well as other American Indian) Resources
TITLEAUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
/ Genre /Level
/DESCRIPTION
Stories of the Old Cherokees
By F. Roy JohnsonIllustrated by F. Mark Johnson / Non-Fiction / Young
Adult / *Great introduction on the history of the Cherokee nation
*Myths are presented in different categories.
*Published locally in Murfeesboro, NC
Lifeways of the Cherokee
By Raymond Bial
Photographs by Raymond Bial / Non-Fiction / Early grades / *Photos of the Oconoluftee village*student-friendly
*Great appendix of notable Cherokee persons
Myths of the Cherokee
By James Mooney / Non-Fiction / Adult / *A dense reference book that would be a teacher resource-not very accessible to students*Over 100 interesting myths
*An authority that is referred to in other resources
Fireside Book of North American Indian Folktales
By Alan A. McfarlandIllustrated by Paulette McFarlan / Folktales / Young Adult / *Short and interesting folktales
*Not all specifically of Cherokee origin
*Students will love the cover art!
Itse Selu-The Cherokee Harvest Festival
By Daniel PenningtonIllustrated by Don Stewart / Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Book / *Explains the Cherokee traditional ceremony observed each September
*Well- supported by warm illustrations
Hawk. I’m Your Brother
By Byrd TaylorIllustrated by Peter Parnall / Fiction / Children’s Picture Book / *Caldcott Honor Book by a Native American woman about a boy who wants to fly but is discouraged by his father
The Education of Little Tree
By Forrest Carter / Historical Fiction / Young Adult / *Story of a Cherokee taken to a government school that won’t allow students to speak in the Cherokee languageThe Education of Little Tree
/ Film / Rated PG / *Produced by Paramount Pictures in 1996The Legned of the Indian Paintbrush
Written and Illustrated By Tomie dePaola / Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Book / *Touching tale of a boy who has a passion for painting and how he shares this gift with others
Story of the Blue Elk
By Gerald Hausman
Illustrated by Kristina Rodanas / Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Book / *Beautiful illustrations!
*Story of a boy who can’t talk but finds meaning through a mysterious elk
*Not specifically Cherokee
Two Bad Boys-A Very Old Cherokee Tale
Written and Illustrated By Gail E. Haely / Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Book / *Two bad brothers make choices that lead to all the work of hunting and gathering food in the world
Treasury of American Indian Tales
By Theodore Whitson Ressler / Folktales / Young Adult / *Good read aloud with whole sections on Heroism and other character traits
*Not specifically Cherokee
Seven Clans of Cherokee Society
Written by Marcelina Reed
Illustrated by William Taylor / Non-Fiction / Easy Reading Level / *Short book (little more than a pamphlet)
*Explains role and characteristic of each unique clan
*List of suggested reading at the end
American Indian Games
By Jay Miller / Non-Fiction / Children’s Picture Book / *Easy reading level
*Fun for students to read with photographs of contemporary American Indian children
Myths, Music, Dance of the American Indian
By Ruth DeCesare / Music / *Activity-oriented sourcebook to accompany the cassette tape
*Cultural information
Kwi-Na The Eagle and other Indian Tales
By M.A.Jagendorf
Illustrated by Jack Endewelt / Folktales / Young Adult / *Organized by tribe with some specific to the Cherokee people
American Indian Fairy Tales
By Margaret Compton
Illustrated by Lorence Bjorklund / Folktales / Young Adult / *Brief introduction with historical background
*Older students will enjoy the black and white illustrations
Dancing Tee Pees
By Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve / Poetry / Any Level / *Poems written by American Indian Youth
The Spirit of Native America
By Anna Lee Waters / Art / Any Level / *Photographs of landscape and functional art (clothing, mask, pottery, etc.)
*Captivating historical photos from the 1920’s
Cherokee Little People
Written and Illustrated by Lynn King Lossiah / Non-Fiction / Young Adult / *Explains a popular Cherokee legend*Also intertwines history (including small pox epidemic)
www.tolatsga.org/cherokee1.html
/ Website / *contains a wealth of tribal historywww.rosecity.net/tears/
/ Website / *Retraces the Trail of Tears with personal accounts*Many links and a special note to teachers
Opossumsally.homestead.com/NAL.html
/ Website / *Dozens of folktales with fun graphics
Summary of Cherokee Culture
When discovered over 300 years ago by European explorers, the Cherokee people occupied homes and hunting ground in several states (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Virginia). In 1737, traders recorded that there were at least 25,000 Cherokee people who had built 64 towns. However, in 1738 the population was reduced in half in a one year period of time due to small pox.
The Cherokees lived in the mountains of the Appalachian region in peace throughout the late 1700’s. They sided with the British during the American Revolution. Early in the 1800’s they began to adopt many of the “white man’s” ways. They lived in similar houses as the settlers, farmed using similar equipment, and wore clothes much like their white neighbors.
They had a strong government modeled after the United States. The Cherokee society is a matrilineal society with women owning the family possessions and making most major decisions. They live under a clan system with seven clans (Wild Potato, Bird, Long Hair, Blue, Paint, Deer and Wolf).
Sequoyah invented the alphabet so tribe members could read and write in the Cherokee language.
Discovery of gold on Cherokee land in Georgia led to the forceful removal of Cherokees from their homes. They were taken to Oklahoma on a brutal march called the Trail of Tears. Many Cherokee people died that long winter. The descendants of those who survived in Oklahoma are now referred to as the Western Band of Cherokees.
Some brave Cherokee people escaped the Trail of Tears by hiding in the mountains. They later resurfaced and their descendants make up the Eastern Band of Cherokees. They now live on the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina.
Who? The whole tribe (men, women and children)
When? Held in the Fall (September or October)
Where? The Council House
Why?
· A time to begin the new year with new friends and new feelings
· Focus on forgetting grudges and starting new friendships
How?
Families made new clothes and cleaned their homes. They burned the old items. A new sacred fire was started with seven types of wood to represent the seven clans.
Some tribe members wore masks to frighten the people. This symbolized the masks power to scare away the evil spirits or creatures.
Then the Medicine Man gave a potion to the people that forced them to vomit the whole next day. This represented purging the old bad feelings to start the year fresh.