1. ORAL HISTORY OF THE CHEROKEE and code Talkers during world wars

2. Structure
1. Functions of oral history 2. Some Aspects of the Cherokee’s view of life 3. Code Talkers

3. 1. Functions of passing on oral history
Creating cultural identity
Passing on “religion“ and traditions
Personalization of history
Consolidation of social structures (laws, organisation, etc.)

4. How do we know about the oral history of the Cherokee?
Walker Calhoun (1918 – 2012)

5. 2. Some Aspects of the Cherokee’s view of life
One creator (Unetlanvhi)
Men as caretakers of the world
Balance and harmony
Ceremonies as opportunities for community worship and socialization

6. 3. Code talkers What are „code talkers“?
People in the 20th century who used obscure languages as a means of secret communication during WW1 + 2
mainly associatd with U.S. soldiers who used Native American languages as a basis to transmit coded messages
Messages were transmitted over military telephone or radio communication nets using formal or informally developed codes built upon native languages
Code talking was pioneered by Cherokee and Choctaw Indians during WW1

7. 3. Code talkers around the world
1) Cherokees: first known use of Native American languages (1918) 2) Choctaws: helped in the final large German push of the WW1 3) Comanches 4) Meskwkis: against the Germans while fighting in the US Army in North America (1941) 5) Basques 6) Navanjos: most popular code talkers 7) Seminoles 8) Wenzhous: used in China 9) Nubians: employed en Egypt 10) Welsh used by British forces

8. History lesson – did you know?
Adolf Hitler knew about the successfull use of code talkers during WW1
Sent a team of 30 athroplogists to the US to learn Native American languages before the outbreak of WW1  not succesfull
US Army did not implement a large-scale code talkers program in the European Theater because of Hitler‘s attempts
Neverteheless 14 Comanche were deployed and they used around100 vocabs in their Native Language
Examples:
„turtle“ = tank
„pregnant airplane“ = bomber
„sewing machine“ = machine gun
„crazy white man“ = Adolf Hitler

9. 3. Code talkers - navanjo Alphabets (English) Code Language (English)
Code Language (Navajo)
Modern spelling A
Ant
Wol-la-chee
Wóláchííʼ B
Bear
Shush
Shash C
Cat
Moasi
Mósí D
Deer Be
Bįįh E
Elk
Dzeh
Dzeeh F
Fox
Ma-e
Mąʼii G
Goat
Klizzie
Tłʼízí H
Horse
Lin
Łį́į́ʼ I
Ice
Tkin
Tin J
Jackass
Tkele-cho-gi
Téliichoʼí K
Kid
Klizzie-yazzi
Tłʼízí yázhí L
Lamb
Dibeh-yazzi
Dibé yázhí M
Mouse
Na-as-tso-si
Naʼastsʼǫǫsí N
Nut
Nesh-chee
Neeshchʼííʼ O
Owl
Ne-ash-jah
Néʼéshjaaʼ P
Pig
Bi-sodih
Bisóodi Q
Quiver
Ca-yeilth
kʼaaʼ yeiłtįįh R
Rabbit
Gah S
Sheep
Dibeh
Dibé T
Turkey
Than-zie
Tązhii U
Ute
No-da-ih
Nóódaʼí V
Victor
a-keh-di-glini
Akʼehdidlíní W
Weasel
Gloe-ih
Dlǫ́ʼii X
Cross
Al-an-as-dzoh
Ałnáʼázdzoh Y
Yucca
Tsah-as-zih
Tsáʼásziʼ Z
Zinc
Besh-do-gliz
Béésh dootłʼizh

10. 3. Code talkers - Navajo
Navanjo code was formally developed and modeled on the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet that uses agreed-upon English words to represent letters
But some terms were given words: „shark“ = destroyer, „silver oak leaf“ = rank of lieutnant conolnel, „gofaster“ = running shoes, „ink sticks“ = pens
Why was Navajo ideal?:
Navajo is an unwritten language
Was spoken only on the Navajo lands of the American Southwest (fewer than 30 non-Navajo could understand the language)
Many dialects  difficult to understand
Even Navajo speakers couldn‘t understand the code when not trained
 Joe Kieyoomia was tortured by Japanese who wanted to make him translate the code but he didn‘t understand

11. Code talkers - navajo
Codebook was developed to teach the many relevant words and concepts to new iniates
Code talkers memorized all variations and practiced their rapid use under stressfull conditions during training
Navanjo code talkers were commended for their skill, speed, and accuracy demonstrated throughout the war
The deployment of the Navajo code talkers continued through the Korean War and after (ended in the Vietnam War)
Navajo code is the only spoken military code never to have been deciphered
Some words are commonly used today to refer to the appropriate objects

12. Sources
Walker Calhoun: ;
The Cherokee’s view of life: ;
The religious world of the Cherokee: ;
The creation story of the Cherokee: