The Cherokee were the largest American Indian group living in the Mountain region.  The Cherokee made their home in the Mountain region of North Carolina.  Their land included parts of seven other present-day states.  By the 1500s, about 30,00 Cherokee lived in the Southeast.  The Cherokee Spoke an Iroquoian language.

 About 100 to 500 people lived in each town.  The Cherokee sometimes surrounded their town with palisades.  Inside the palisade walls was a circular council houses used for meetings and ceremonies.  Cherokee towns also had plaza’s or large open areas.  The Cherokee built homes around the council house.

To make the house walls, they wove tree saplings together. Then they covered the trees with a mud made of clay and grass. The roof was made of branches and bark.

 The Cherokee hunted, gathered and farmed.  They raised many crops.  Corn was a staple of their diet.

 Cherokee women roasted or boiled corn.  Grounded it into cornbread to make bread.  The Cherokee gathered wild plants and fruits for food.

The Cherokee taught their children about their culture through traditions. Cherokee traditions included dances, games, and ceremonies that were held each year. The largest ceremonies took place around the farming seasons.

 In early spring, the Cherokee held a ceremony when the planted corn.  July or August, they held the Green Corn Ceremony when the corn began to ripen.  The Cherokee celebrated a third ceremony when they harvested the corn a month later.

 The Cherokee held dances every month.  Some dances honored animals, such as the Bear Dance and the Eagle Dance.  The Eagle Dance was a victory celebration.  The Cherokee admired the eagle for its beauty and strength.

 Storytelling was also an activity in the winter months.  They told folktales for entertainment, but also for education.  The folktales taught children about history, beliefs and traditions.

 The Cherokee town was made up of 2 chiefs who worked with councils.  A “red” chief led during times of war.  A “white” chief led during times of peace.  Councils made decisions for their town.  At council meeting, men and women discussed issues until they reached agreement.