For those who share the legend of Judaculla, they say it’s one all Cherokees should hear. The oral history comes from a time before European settlement on this continent and guided the ways of life for generations of Cherokee people. This is a story, that for many Cherokees, had been lost through time and distance.
Before Europeans arrived on this continent, our Cherokee ancestors inhabited the southeastern woodlands for thousands of years. Our ways of life looked very different from today’s, rooted heavily in nature and taking care of the world we lived in.
The introduction of smallpox to the southeastern United States challenged Cherokee survival. Despite loss of life, Cherokee people upheld traditional and innovative ways of healing our communities. In this Cherokee almanac, we explore the agency Cherokee people had and continue to practice when it comes to the health and well-being of our people.
Dragging Canoe was perhaps the most celebrated Cherokee war chief of all time with his leadership of Chickamauga warriors. In this Cherokee Almanac, we hear a prophetic speech given by Dragging Canoe that illustrates the often-difficult decisions tribal leaders once faced.
Before we had written laws, justice was determined through a consensus of our tribe’s clan structure. In this Cherokee Almanac, we take a look at Cherokee systems of justice and their evolution over time.
In the early 19th century, Cherokee people strove to understand the culture of encroaching white settlers. In this Cherokee Almanac, we learn the story of a young Cherokee woman named Catharine Brown, and how she navigated those uncertain times.
Red Clay was the last capital of the Cherokee Nation prior to our forced removal in 1838. In this Cherokee Almanac, we learn about the struggle and heartbreak tied to that land.
Although many people are familiar with the Trail of Tears, a great deal are unaware of the events that took place directly before Cherokees’ forced removal. We take a look at the events leading up to the Trail of Tears and the actions of the federal government that can no longer afford to be overlooked.
For many Cherokee people, the last step our ancestors took in their original homelands was onto Blythe Ferry. In this Cherokee Almanac, we learn about the significance and heartache tied to this site.
