ANSWERS TO THE TEST: Cherokee or Cherokeet?
1. Cherokees did not live in "teepees". Those were the homes of the natives of the great plains to the west of the Mississippi. Cherokees lived in houses constructed of wood, plastered on both sides with clay. Outside was another, smaller house, built like an igloo, which was used in various ways: to house an ill patient; sometimes used as a schoolroom to teach the children; when a woman was having her period, etc.
2. "Long Man" was a river of folklore, given human qualities. Some say it was the Ohio River which marked the northern boundary of the Cherokee hunting grounds, and some say it was the Tennessee, the turbulent river which ran through the middle of the old Cherokee country.
3. At about 25 years of age. Cherokee males were given plenty of time to roam, wander, explore, learn, and to grow up into a serious citizen.
4. To be considered a GOOD MAN. After that, he might become a famous warrior, a great orator or story teller, a good hunter, a good boat-maker, etc. But to be considered a "good man", respected in his community, was the first goal of all.
5. It was called "going to the water", and was used in many ways, with many different incantations for various purposes. The first, and daily, use of it was to cleanse the body (Cherokees were very clean people, and always built their towns near flowing water).
6. NONE OF THOSE LISTED. Cherokee children belonged to the clan of their mother. The biological father was from another clan entirely, but the mother's brothers became like fathers to the child, and the mother's sisters, mother, aunts, etc. became as surrogate mothers to the child. No Cherokee child was without adult supervision, and the entire clan was responsible for the welfare of the child, the education of the child, the correction of the child, etc.
7. There were no "chiefs". That word did not become a noun and refer to a ruler of the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, etc. until the 1820's and 1830's. Before that time the kings of those nations were called by their native titles (OUKAH for the Cherokees, MICCO in the Muskogeean dialects).
8. There were no "tribal councils". The Cherokees were a Nation, not a tribe. Still are. Each Cherokee town or village had a "town council" composed of men who were elected, had achieved some distinction, had a high-ranking mother, or had become elders by age and experience.
9. His name was Andrew Jackson.
10. His name was Andrew Jackson, the son-of-a-bitch!.
11. None of the signers were officials of the Cherokee government, and private people cannot legally make "treaties" for a Nation.
12. John Howard Payne, author of "Home Sweet Home", among other things.
SCORES:
Right answers:
1 - 5 You are a Cherokeet. Obviously you grew up not knowing about ancient Cherokee
affairs, and have not done much reading about it, either. We suggest some good
books and articles.
6,7 You are still a Cherokeet, and still have a way to go. Keep on reading and learning.
8,9 You may be a Cherokee, but still need some more knowledge. Remember the Bible
admonition: Study to show thyself approved. Well, study EVERYTHING, not just
the Bible. It is all God's creation, and all truth is God's truth.
10,11,12. You are a Cherokee to be proud of, today. An unusual human being, from a
unique nation with a proud history. Keep on learning, and teach others.
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