O Great Spirit, help me always to speak the truth quietly, To listen with an open mind when others speak, And to remember the peace that may be found in silence
Cherokee Prayer



A Story of the Tsa-La-Gi

O'siyo(Hello). Welcome to my Tsalagi page. I have been told I was part Tsa-La-Gi, or Cherokee. I am in the process of researching that heritage and along the journey have found the stories of the Tsa-La-Gi to be incredibly rich, sad and happy. The journey has become a spiritual enlightenment. Even though my Cherokee Heritage is still yet to be found, I feel very close to these ancient and wise people. The most proper name would actually be Ani-Yunwiya, which means "The People". Let's go on a journey together to meet "The People", the Tsa-La-Gi.



History
The first contact with European explorers was in the 1500s. The Cherokee Nation has long been thought of as one of the most progressive among Native American tribes. Before contact with the Europeans, Cherokee culture had been going strong for almost 1,000 years in the southeastern United States--Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, and parts of Kentucky and Alabama. 1710 marked the beginning of trade with the Whites. The trade started the change of Cherokee civilization. After a slow start, the contact with the whites made for very dramatic changes. The Tribes soon began to hunt for the skins to trade and not only for food. The Tribes readily adopted the tools and weapons used by the Europeans. After contact, the Cherokees acquired many aspects of the white neighbors with whom many had intermarried. This is where those of us who believe we have some Cherokee Heritage started our journey. The Cherokee fast developed a government and society that was comparable to even the most "civilized".



Society and Culture
The Cherokee lived in small communities, usually located in fertile river bottoms. Homes were wooden frames covered with woven vines and saplings plastered with mud. These were replaced in later years with log structures. Each village had a council house where ceremonies and tribal meetings were held. The council house was seven-sided to represent the seven clans of the Cherokee: Bird, Paint, Deer, Wolf, Blue, Long Hair, and Wild Potato. Each tribe elected two chiefs -- a Peace Chief who counseled during peaceful times and a War Chief who made decisions during times of war. However, the Chiefs did not rule absolutely. Decision making was a more democratic process, with tribal members having the opportunity to voice concerns.

Cherokee society was a matriarchy. The children took the clan of the mother, and kinship was traced through the mother's family. Women had an equal voice in the affairs of the tribe. Marriage was only allowed between members of different clans.

In the early 1800's, the Cherokees began a period of change. The Cherokee Nation was established with a democratic government composed of a Chief, Vice-Chief, and 32 Council Members who were elected by the members of the tribe. A constitution and code of law were drawn up for the nation. During this time, Sequoyah invented a syllabary of the Cherokee language. There are 86 characters in Sequoyah's syllabary, and each is based on individual syllables in Cherokee words. After learning the Cherokee syllabary, one could then read and write it. The Cherokee Council passed a resolution to establish a newspaper for their nation. The Cherokee Phoenix was this newspaper.



Removal-The Trail of Tears
The Cherokees did not enjoy prosperous times for long. Gold was discovered on Indian lands in Georgia. Political pressure was exerted by President Andrew Jackson to confiscate Indian lands and remove the Cherokees to the West. Numerous injustices against the Cherokee Nation culminated in the signing of the Treaty of New Echota. Those who signed the treaty did not have the authority to represent the entire Cherokee Nation. Nevertheless, the treaty stood. The Cherokees were taken from their homes,held in stockades, and forced to move to Oklahoma and Arkansas. Almost 14,000 Cherokees began the trek westward in October of 1838. More than 4,000 died from cold, hunger, and disease during the six-month journey that came to be known as the "Trail of Tears."


The Return of Joy
I am finding that the return of joy is the longing to find out my Indian Heritage. I find that the more I learn about the wonderful people that are the Cherokee, the more I want to know. I hope that in some way I live my life honorable to my heritage. I try to respect all creatures and peoples. Remembering always those that came before. And pressing onward in the Spirit of the Tsa-La-Gi.



HISTORY LINKS
Fire in the Mountains

Cherokee History

Trail of Tears

The Flag of the Cherokee Nation

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

Official Cherokee Nation Oklahoma

Cherokee National Historical Society

Cherokee Museum



GENEALOGY LINKS
Native American Genealogy



CHEROKEE LANGUAGE
The Cherokee Phoenix Newspaper

Sequoyah

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Wado-Thank you for visiting my page. I hope your journey is a good one.
Page last updated on March 2, 2003 By Deborah
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"We have taught our children the earth is our mother.
Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of the earth.
This we know.
The earth does not belong to man. The man belongs to earth.
This we know.
All things are connected. Like the blood which unites our family. All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons of earth.
Man did not weave the web of life. He's merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
Chief Seattle

AiSv Nv wa do hi ya do-Walk In Peace