Sun, Nov 22 2009
|
Hunting, gathering still vital to Native American heritage By BETTY SMITHPress special writer The Cains became interested not only in Cherokee plant-gathering, but in the language used to describe the plants.
“We’re convinced that Cherokees arrange their plants differently than westerners,” Shawna said. They learned that many of the names for plants classify them by their shape, their color, their use. One of their first activities was conducting a survey of elders in Marble City and Greasy. “We’re very interested in these people who live in rural isolated areas, were raised up or born in rural, isolated areas,” Shawna said They also wanted to deal with people who were fluent in Cherokee, and have learned the language was passed most often to people who were close to grandmothers who were fluent in Cherokee, and used the language in conversing with their grandchildren. They asked people to list the traditional foods they ate, according to cultural significance – those they hunted or gathered in nature. “In the 21st century, what does hunter and gatherer mean? If we want to find a plant, a hickory nut or wishee [mushroom], you have to go hunt it,” Shawna said. Their survey found gender differences. Women most often reported gathering wild onions, poke, or watercress. Men listed game as their first five priorities, with squirrel and fish topping the list. The Cains were surprised when they asked one elder where she got her wild onions. “Oh, I just buy them from a little old Indian lady,” the woman said. In her defense, she worked full time and found it easier to purchase the wild onions, although she knew how to gather them and certainly how to prepare them. The Cains said what the elders wanted the most were community activities and access to Cherokee trust land for their gathering. “If elders had more access to Cherokee land, we would see a lot of our traditional arts flourishing more,” Roger said. “This wisdom can be found in communities where Cherokee is spoken every day.” One inspiration for their research was the late George Pumpkin, Roger’s grandfather, who taught him much when he was a young man. 
More from the Features section
|
Print this story
Post to del.icio.us
 |
 |
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
© 2007, Tahlequah Daily Press
106 W. Second Street; Tahlequah, OK 74464 (918) 456-8833 
|
Popular Business directory links - Tahlequah Apartments | Tahlequah Attorneys | Tahlequah Auto Dealers | Tahlequah Auto Parts | Tahlequah Auto Repair | Tahlequah Beauty Salons | Tahlequah Car Rental | Tahlequah Dentists | Tahlequah Doctors | Tahlequah Flowers | Tahlequah Hotels | Tahlequah Insurance | Tahlequah Loans | Tahlequah Mortgages | Tahlequah Movers | Tahlequah Pizza | Tahlequah Realtors | Tahlequah Restaurants | Tahlequah Storage | Tahlequah Tax Preparation | Tahlequah Travel | Tahlequah Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
