Cherokee Mythology

Discover The Spirits and Myths of Cherokee Mythology The myths, beliefs, and customs of the Cherokees remain illustrative and interesting even today. Cherokee mythology has been recognized as a creative amalgamation of the physical world with the mythical one. This is quite evident in the creation and spiritual tales that we read throughout this book. The Cherokees have been devout worshippers of the Creator, Unetlanvhi, who is their main god. They are still proud of their mythology and wish to keep it alive for generations to come. Today, the sovereign Cherokee Nation has formed communities to promote their culture and keep their native history alive. Since the significance of tribal culture and myths is fading away over time, Native Americans are trying to pass the information to the new generations.

Retelling 30 myths and legends of the Eastern Cherokee, this book presents the stories with important details providing a culturally authentic and historically accurate context. Background information is given within each story so the reader may avoid reliance on glossaries, endnotes, or other explanatory aids. The reader may thus experience the stories more as their original audiences would have. This approach to adapting traditional literature derives from ideas found in reader-response and translation theory and from research in cognitive psychology and sociolinguistics.

126 myths: sacred stories, animal myths, local legends, many more. Plus background on Cherokee history, notes on the myths and parallels. Features 20 maps and illustrations.

Cherokee myths and legends were an important way for customs, beliefs, and histories to be passed down orally through the generations. These myths often explain natural events. In this creation myth, the creation of Earth by the animals and insects is told. The Cherokee nature myth is retold in this brilliantly illustrated Native American Myth. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Short Tales is an imprint of Magic Wagon, a division of ABDO.

In Cherokee myth-as in other Indigenous American traditions-the whole of creation is alive and able to communicate like humans and with the human beings who share their environment.

This eBook has been formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. The myths given in this book are part of a large body of material collected among the Cherokee, chiefly in successive field seasons from 1887 to 1890, inclusive, and comprising more or less extensive notes, together with original Cherokee manuscripts, relating to the history, archeology, geographic nomenclature, personal names, botany, medicine, arts, home life, religion, songs, ceremonies, and language of the tribe. Contents: Historical Sketch of the Cherokee Stories and Story-tellers The Myths Cosmogonic Myths Quadruped Myths Bird Myths Snake, Fish, and Insect Myths Wonder Stories Historical Traditions Miscellaneous Myths and Legends

Reproduction of the original: Myths of the Cherokee by James Mooney

Traditional and modern stories by the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina reflect the tribe's religious beliefs and values, observations of animals and nature, and knowledge of history.