The other tribes were the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. They are one of five tribes known as the Five Civilized Tribes. When the European settlers came over in the 16th century, the Cherokee Native American Indians were living in the East and Southeast United States. The Cherokee tribes of east and southeast United States Cherokee tribes are native to the North American continent. Today, natives and non-natives alike enjoy Cherokee Indian ceremonies and events, and the Cherokee history and traditions are held in high regard. Today the Cherokee Indian Nation still survives as a proud and honorable institution, despite the hardships it was put through by explorers and settlers. Though many old “westerns” portray the Cherokee Indian Nation as a heartless and cruel foe to the settlers, the actual fact was that it was mostly the other way around.
An image was created of the Cherokee Indian as one of a vicious savage, and settlers who later came to that area of the country already believed this prejudicial notion. Though it was the Spanish that brought death and disease to the Cherokee Nation, the Cherokee Indians were blamed for the inability of DeSoto to colonize this part of America. Along with horses and guns, the Spanish also brought diseases that the Cherokee Indian Nation had never been exposed to, and therefore had no immunity to. In 1540, Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto discovered the Cherokees, which was the beginning of many hard years for the Cherokee Indian Nation. The original Cherokee Indians lived close to what is now called the Tennessee River, in the Appalachian Mountains.
As the great bird’s wings touched the ground and then rose again, valleys and mountains were created that became the Cherokee land. According to Cherokee Indian legend, a “Great Buzzard” flew close to the earth when it was still new, and its tired wings touched the ground in a few places. The Cherokee Indian Nation has its own legends that speak of Cherokee history before the white man came to America. Today, the largest population of Cherokee Indians live in the state of Oklahoma, where there are three federally recognized Cherokee communities with thousands of residents.Ĭherokee Indian The Cherokee Indian nation originaly lived in the appalachian mountains.Ī fixture in American history, the Cherokee Indian Nation has a unique and proud heritage. The Cherokee rose is now the state flower of Georgia. Today, the Cherokee Indians have a strong sense of pride in their heritage. When all was said and done, about 4,000 Cherokee lost their lives on the journey. This is the origin for the historically popular Trail of Tears, where men, women, and children had to pack up their belongings and find new homes, marching a span of thousands of miles. They had been settled in Georgia for many years, but were now being made to leave and find a new place to settle. This prompted the overtaking of their homes, and they were forced out. In 1828, gold was discovered on the Cherokee's land. They began to dress more European, and even adopted many of their farming and building methods. The Creek and Choctaw tribes also assisted in the battles on the British side.Įventually around the 1800s, the Cherokee Indians began to adopt the culture that the white man brought to them. When the American Revolution took place, the Cherokee Indians supported the British soldiers, and even assisted them in battle by taking part in several attacks. The tribe was highly religious and spiritual. They were a strong tribe with several smaller sections, all lead by chiefs. They had originally been from the Great Lakes region of the country, but eventually settled closer to the east coast.ĭespite popular folklore, the Cherokee actually lived in cabins made of logs instead of the stereotypical tee pee. The Cherokee Indians were one of the largest of five Native American tribes who settled in the American Southeast portion of the country. Cherokee Indians There are very few people in America today who have not heard of the Cherokee Indian Nation.
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