Cherokee Nation a  Courageous Cherokee People

Throughout history there is amazing stories about the Native American Indian, and in those stories are courageous people who came forward to make a difference, paving the way for a better life for their people. There is one tribe in particular that has played an important role in the United States history and that is the Cherokee Nation.

The name Cherokee came to be when in the year 1540 a man named Hernando De Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador was traveling through the southeastern United States in search for gold. His expedition was recorded in Portuguese by a man known as the Gentleman from Elva. It was this man who recorded this tribe as the Tsalagi, which later developed into Cherokee. Below is a brief description of a few courageous Cherokee people.

Sequoya

Around the year 1760 in Taskigi Tennessee, a son was born to a Cherokee woman and a white man, they named him Sequoya. The Indians called him Sikwayi, and the name George Gist. He was an expert silver craftsman who was later cripple for life in a hunting accident. Sequoya is known for creating the first Indian alphabet so his people could better learn the ways of the white man. In the year 1821 he submitted his alphabet to head men of the Cherokee Nation. It was with the approval the tribal members, the Cherokee people began to study the alphabet, and within months thousands of Cherokees could read and write in their language. Sequoya passed away in 1842 while trying to locate a lost Cherokee tribe in Mexico. In California there is a giant Redwood tree named after Sequoya for his accomplishments.

Chief Bowl the chief of the Cherokees

Chief Bowl or Duwali, was the principal chief of the Cherokees in Texas. Bowl had led his band from North Carolina to East Texas around the year 1819. In 1836, Bowl negotiated a treaty with Sam Houston in which the Republic of Texas ensured the Cherokees full possession of their lands in East Texas. It was soon after that ten Texan Senate refused to approve the treaty, resulting in President Mirabeau B. Lamar ordering the Cherokees out of the state of Texas. When the Cherokee people refused to leave, President Lamar ordered Military action. Chief Bowl was killed in the Battle of the Neches on July 16, 1893.

Nancy Ward-Nanye-Hiwas a.k.a “Beloved Woman”

Nancy Ward or Nanye-Hiwas in Cherokee, was given the title of “Beloved Woman” by the Cherokee people. Nancy was given this title for fighting along side the Cherokee people after her husband was killed during the battle with the Creeks, which led the Cherokees to victory. The title of “Beloved Woman” is given only to those women who serve their people well and display bravery and wisdom. Holding the title of “Beloved Woman” gave Nancy a full voice and vote in any tribal councils paving her way to make a difference with the Cherokee people.

Nancy served as an arbitrator, and was fully respected by the white government and the Cherokee people, which resulted in many conflicts to be resolved peacefully. She is also recognised for having participated in the negotiations of the Treaty of Hopewell, which is the first treaty written between the white man government and the Cherokee people. She was a firm voice against the sale of Cherokee land to the white government. After the signing of the Treaty of Echota, Nancy left for Tennessee where she soon married an white man, and together they successfully ran an Inn until her death. The Daughters of the American Revolution has established an chapter in her name in Tennessee for her work and dedication.

Chief Dragging Canoe

Chief Dragging Canoe was the principal contributing power in the Cherokee’s opposition to white settlement on Cherokee lands. He strongly voiced opposition in the dealings of Cherokee lands to whites. He often spoke at treaty negotiations strongly objecting to the continuous sale of Cherokee land.

Pathkiller the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation

Pathkiller is a full blooded Cherokee who held the position of Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1811. He fought in the Revolutionary War for the Britons, and in 1783 to 1794 against American colonist.

Wilma Pearl Mankiller

Wilma Pearl Mankiller was born in the year 1945, and is one of 11 children. She is the daughter of Charley Mankiller and Clara Irene Sutton. Her father was Cherokee and her mother was of the Dutch Irish descent. Wilma Mankillers surname Mankiller or Asgaya-dihi in Cherokee, is that of the Cherokee military rank.

Wilma Pearl Mankillers dedication to the Cherokee people is amazing, along with her accomplishments of being a writer, winning several awards, she paved the way for young Cherokee girls to dream big and become anything they desire including a Chief. Her dedication to the Cheorkee people instilled harmony with self help programs, community development, and with the help of Federal Government Monies to have tribal owned businesses. Wilma Mankiller has raised millions of dollars for the Cherokee community for new development and job training.

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2 Comments

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  By Pam, January 14, 2010 @ 2:30 pm

  Does anyone know if a portrait, picture, sketch of Chief Pathkiller exists? I am related thru my father’s mother – she was a Bowen. Thank you
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  By Catherine Karlson, February 10, 2010 @ 5:37 pm

  I have great pride in knowing that i come from a strong beautiful people who loved America,that fought hard for what they believed in and at all cost never gave up.It saddens my heart that my people today still struggle to get what is rightfully theirs.America was our land and the white man forced us to have very little land.I ask WHY?I feel my people were a threat because we were so large in number.We are strong in spirit and peaceful at heart.How could another culture hate my people so much to feel they had the right to take whatever they wanted from them,still to this day the government has it’s hands where they don’t belong,and has never really given my poeple the justice it desevers like so many other cultures.So many trials the Cherokee faced they stood there ground,i feel america would be a different place if the white man would of left us alone and gave us the land that was repected and loved by the Cherokee Nation.

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