Terms to Know

!Principal Chief: the head of a Native CHEROKEE, CREEK, CHICKASAW American tribe (over all clans) !Beloved Woman: highly revered in

4.2 Analyze religious beliefs, customs, and various folklore traditions of the Cherokee, the Cherokee culture & also the only Creek, and Chickasaw, including: *Principal Chief * Beloved Woman * maternal woman to participate in war decisions designations !Maternal designations: Clans were determined by the family a child’s created by Patricia McNair mother was from, not the father’s.

Location Who are Native Americans?

" The Cherokee, Creek, & Chickasaw resided in the They are America’s first people. Southeastern United States. Cherokee Indians Cherokee Indians’ CUSTOMS

Religion

!Worshipped nature, especially the Sun !Upper World (protective human & animal spirits) !Underworld (evil spirits) !Middle World (earth where humans lived)

Cherokee Indians’ CUSTOMS Cherokee Indians’ FOLKLORE ! Nearly all of the folklore from all Native Americans dealt with !Divided into Clans animals. !Sequoyah wrote the 1st Cherokee ! Read a traditional Cherokee story about the possum's tail. alphabet. !Trail of Tears: Over 4,000 Cherokee The$possum$once$had$a$beautiful$tail. But$because$he$ bragged$about$it$all$the$time,$the$other$animals$decided$to$ died when they were forced to leave their teach$him$a$lesson. They$invited$him$to$a$beauty$contest,$ homes to live in Oklahoma. (map) but$secretly$shaved$his$tail$bare. When$all$the$animals$ laughed$at$him,$the$possum$was$so$embarrassed$that$he$ !Men: hunt, fight, make political decisions fell$down$and$pretended$to$be$dead,$which$he$does$to$this$ !Women: farm, keep children & property, day. He$lost$his$beautiful$tail$because$he$bragged$too$much. make social decisions !Beloved Woman: Nancy Ward ! Other Stories Creek Indians Creek Indians’ CUSTOMS

Religion

! monotheistic tribe, believing in a god they called the One. !believed in people having 2 souls

Creek Indians’ CUSTOMS Creek Indians’ FOLKLORE !Read a traditional Creek story about the possum's !Divided into Clans tail. (same as Cherokee) !Sold other Indians as slaves !Corn was their main source of food !The possum once had a beautiful tail. But because he bragged about it all the time, the other animals !Trail of Tears: Over 3,500 Creek died decided to teach him a lesson. They invited him to a beauty contest, but secretly shaved his tail when they were forced to leave their bare. When all the animals laughed at him, the homes to live in Oklahoma. possum was so embarrassed that he fell down and pretended to be dead, which he does to this !Men: hunt, fight, led storytelling day. He lost his beautiful tail because he bragged !Women: farm, kept children, led too much. storytelling !Creek Mythology Chickasaw Indians Chickasaw Indians’ CUSTOMS

Religion

!Believed in the Cloud, Sun, Clear Sky, & the One Who Lives in the Sky

Chickasaw Indians’ CUSTOMS Chickasaw Indians’ FOLKLORE !Read a traditional Chickasaw story. !Divided into Clans !Trail of Tears: Over 400 Chickasaw died when they were forced to leave their !http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html- homes to live in Oklahoma. Legends/HowtheDeerGotHisHorns-Cherokee.html !Men: hunt, fight, had shaved heads with a little hair at top !Women: farm, keep children & property