Central Oklahoma Cherokee Alliance

From the Cherokee Nation perpetual calendar: anvyi nvgi (March 4) The Cherokees began trading with Europeans by the late 1600s. They quickly developed a dependency on trade goods, leading to an increase in hunting as an economic activity as Cherokees began to trade deerskins for blankets and woven cloth, scissors, brass pots and kettles, traps, knives, guns and horses. Story - Ani Kutani: Thus perished an hereditary secret society, since which time no hereditary privileges have been tolerated among the Cherokees. Word: kawi = coffee (kah wee)

From the Cherokee Nation perpetual calendar: anyi tsoi (March 3) The clan system was a strong safety net that ensured that every Cherokee would be supported at every moment throughout his or her life. Every individual was integral to the overall functioning of the clan system and each person had a defined role they were expected to play. Story - Ani Kutani: They abused their power until one Ani Kutani abducted the wife of a warrior, and, in retaliation, the people rose up and exterminated the clan. Word: tawodi = hawk (tah woe dee)

From the Cherokee Nation perpetual calendar: anvyi tali (March 2 ) Children belonged to their mother's clan and thus fathers had no claims of custody. In the case of dissolution, fathers were not expected to further support them. Clan rules about property and children probably reduced the number of disputes from dissolution. Story - ani-kutani: Over time, the ani-kutani grew haughty, insolent, overbearing and licentious to an intolerable degree. Word: kanugali = blackberry (ka new gah lee)

From the Cherokee Nation perpetual calendar: anvyi saquu (March 1) If a marriage ended, questions of property and child custody were clearly defined in Cherokee society. Men and women had seperate property which each retained, and shared property, such as the household, was retained by the clan. Story - Ani-Kutani: In the ancient past, there existed an hereditary, priestly clan called the Ani-Kutani. Word: alisdayvdi = food (ah lee ss dah yuh dee)

From the Cherokee Nation perpetual calendar: kagali talisgo tsunela (February 28) Likewise, the dissolution of a marriage was equally informal. If a man wanted to end the marriage, he simply gathered his belongings and moved out. If a woman wished to dissolve it, she placed her husband's belongings outside the door to signal the end of the relationship. Tidbit: The Cherokees have been gifted by the Creator with an understanding of the gathering, use and preservation of medicinal herbs. The Cherokees believe that these plants were put on this earth to provide not only healing but preventative measures as well. Word: ostigv = hair (oh ss tee guh)

From the Cherokee Nation perpetual calendar: kagali talisgo galiquogi (February 27 ) Marriage was an informal relationship among the Cherokees. After an exchange of corn and venison between the bride and groom, the man simply moved in with his wife's family in their clan household. Story - Cherokee Migration: The Out towns were located along the headwaters of the Tuckaseegee River. Word: tsuwoyeni = hands (chew woe yea nee)