NAM - Native American Myths of the Cherokee Lesson

The Cherokee are just one tribe native to Georgia. However, many more tribes inhabited the area that is now Georgia. Some of these native Georgia tribes include: Apalachee, Muskogee, Timucua, Oconee, and Hitchiti. This section covers stories of the Cherokee tribe.

The stories taken from Myths of the Cherokee  focus on a different trickster figure: Rabbit, with Cherokee versions of the race between the Rabbit and the Terrapin, and a version of the Rabbit and the Tar-Baby. There are also aetiological stories about other animals: why the mole lives underground, how the turkey got his wattle, how the possum lost the fur on his tail, and so on. The final cycle of stories is about the Uktena, a mysterious snake monster whose body contains a magical diamond, the coveted Ulûñsû'tï, which can be used like a crystal ball in order to see into the future. Here are some quotes:

"The Rabbit was getting tired now and nearly out of breath, but he kept on down the mountain and up the other ridge until he got to the top just in time to see the Terrapin cross the fourth ridge and thus win the race. The Rabbit could not make another jump, but fell over on the ground, crying mï, mï, mï, mï, as the Rabbit does ever since when he is too tired to run any more."

"Soon the news went around, that the Terrapin had killed the Wolf and was using his ears for spoons. All the Wolves got together and followed the Terrapin's trail until they came up with him and made him prisoner. Then they held a council to decide what to do with him, and agreed to boil him in a clay pot. ..."

"Now, the Ulûñsû'tî is like a blazing star set in the forehead of the great Uktena serpent, and the medicine-man who could possess it might do marvelous things, but everyone knew this could not be, because it was certain death to meet the Uktena. ..."

Reading Assignment: Cherokee Myths

Click here to read How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit Links to an external site. 

Click here to read Snake Boy and Snake Man Links to an external site. 

Click here to read The Rabbit Stole the Otter Links to an external site. 

Click here to read Terrapin and Bullfrog Links to an external site. 

Click here to read Turkey and Kingfisher Links to an external site. 

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