ITV Post From: Tsani LongKnife
History of the Cherokee
The Legend of Keetoowah
The
Cherokee sometimes refer to themselves as Ani-Kituhwagi, "the people of Kituhwa". Kituhwa was the name
of an ancient city, located near present Bryson City, NC which was the nucleus of the Cherokee Nation.
The common English phonetic spelling today is "Keetoowah,"
a name used by traditionalist Cherokee
groups like the Keetoowah Society (followers of traditional religion) and the United Keetoowah
Band
(a Federally recognized faction of predominantly full blood Cherokees).
The Legend of the Keetoowah,
as recalled in 1930 by Levi B. Gritts, a
prominent member of the traditionalist Keetoowah Society,
places them on islands in the Atlantic Ocean east of South America. Anthropologists have discovered that
Cherokee basket and pottery styles resemble those of South American and Caribbean tribes, differing
from other tribes of the southeast U.S..
Seventy tribes attacked them but, by the guidance of
God, they were
victorious. The last warrior of their attackers, Ner-du-er-gi, was on
top of a mountain
overlooking their camp in the deep valley below. This
warrior saw a smoke arising from the camp which
"extended up beyond
Heaven". The smoke was divided into three parts and in that there was an eagle
holding arrows. When the warrior and his followers saw this, he
ordered them not to attack the Indians
for they were God's people and
powerful and if they attacked they would be destroyed.
When
God created these people he gave them great, mysterious power to be used for the best interests of the
people. They lived in large cities
with tall buildings. Some wise men began to use their power different
than was intended which troubled the people. God instructed them to take their white fire and move away
from that place. Some went to Asia, some to India, and others to North America leaving the wise men behind.
After they had gone to other countries, these large cities were destroyed when the ground sank and are
now under the ocean. God turned to the people that came to America and gave them wisdom and guided them.
There came a time when the people began to violate their teachings -
committing crimes against
each other, committing murders, and feuding
between the seven clans. The people met with their medicine
men around their fire to ask God for guidance. The medicine men were inspired to go up to a high mountain,
one at a time on each of seven days.
On the seventh day, they heard a noise over them and a light
brighter
than day appeared and a voice said, "I am a messenger from God. God has heard your prayers
and He has great passion for your people and from now on you shall be called Keetoowah. Go back to your
fire and worship. There is a white ball from way east, who is your enemy, coming and your grandchildren's
feet are directed west. They shall have great trials on the edge of the prairie. They shall be divided
into different factions and their blood shall be about only on half. Families shall be divided against
each other and they shall disregard their chiefs, leaders, medicine men, and captains. But if these
younger generation should endeavor to follow your God's instruction there is a chance to turn back east
and if not, the next move shall be west, on to the coast and from there on to the boat and this shall
be the last."
<<@>><<@>><<@>><<@>><<@>><<@>><<@>><<@>>
|
