The Cherokee Nation is one of the largest and most important of all the American Indian tribes. The first history of the Cherokees to appear in over four decades, this is also the first to be endorsed by the tribe and the first to be written by a Cherokee.
Robert Conley begins his survey with Cherokee origin myths and legends. He then explores their relations with neighboring Indian groups and European missionaries and settlers. He traces their forced migrations west, relates their participations on both sides of the Civil War and the wars of the twentieth century, and concludes with an examination of Cherokee life today.
Conley provides analyses for general readers of all ages to learn the significance of tribal lore and Cherokee tribal law. Following the history is a listing of the Principal Chiefs of the Cherokees with a brief biography of each and separate listings of the chiefs of the Eastern Cherokees and the Western Cherokees. For those who want to know more about Cherokee heritage and history, Conley offers additional reading lists at the end of each chapter.
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9780826332356
Media Type: Paperback
Publisher: University of New Mexico Press
Publication Date: 02-16-2008
Pages: 279
Product Dimensions: 5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)
About the Author
Robert J. Conley is the author of over seventy books. He has been awarded the American Indian Festival of Words Award for 2009. The Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers named him Wordcrafter of the Year for 1997. Conley has won numerous Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America and was presented with the Cherokee Medal of Honor in 2000. An enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees, Conley lives with his wife, Evelyn, in Norman, Oklahoma.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xiii Theories and Legends 1 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 12 Glossary 13 Early Invasions 17 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 22 Glossary 23 Beginnings of Central Government 25 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 30 Glossary 30 Visits Back and Forth 33 Glossary 37 "What Nation or People Am I Afraid Of?" 39 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 42 Glossary 42 "Let Him be Wary." 45 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 50 Glossary 50 "President of the Nation" 51 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 55 Glossary 56 "I Have My Young Warriors around Me" 57 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 61 Glossary 61 "Our Cry Is All for Peace." 63 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 70 Glossary 70 "A Pipe and a Little Tobacco" 73 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 79 "Perpetual Friendship" 81 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 85 Glossary 86 Tecumseh and Red Eagle 87 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 93 Glossary 93 Five Treaties in Three Years 95 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 100 Glossary 101 Many Changes Taking Place 103 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 106 Glossary 107 Photos and Illustrations 109 Maps 109 Chiefs 111 Historical Plates 119 "The Cherokee are Not Foreigners" 131 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 135 Glossary 136 The Treaty of New Echota 137 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 143 Glossary 144 "Living upon the Roots and Sap of Trees" 145 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 151 Glossary 152 Hundreds of Babies Died 153 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 157 Glossary 157 Killings on Both Sides 159 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 165 Glossary 165 The Golden Age 167 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 170 Glossary 171 Confederates and Pins 173 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 177 Glossary 177 Indian Territory 179 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 182 Glossary 182 Jurisdictional Confusion 183 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 190 Glossary 191 The Dawes Commission and Redbird Smith 193 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 199 Glossary 199 Oklahoma 201 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 205 Glossary 205 World War II 207 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 211 Glossary 211 Renaissance 213 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 217 Glossary 218 Self-Determination 219 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 222 Glossary 222 The First Woman Chief 223 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 227 Glossary 227 "What Do They Want with This Old Building?" 229 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 237 Glossary 237 "What Greater Gift Can We Give Our Children?" 239 Source List and Suggestions for Further Reading 242 Glossary 242 Appendices Principal Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation 243 Chiefs of the Western Cherokees 246 Chiefs of the Texas Cherokees 247 The Confederate Cherokee Nation and Chief Stand Watie 247 Chiefs of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians 248 Chiefs of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians 249 Cherokee Nation Treaties 249 Western Cherokee Treaties 251 Index 253