CHEROKEENative American PrideEnforcer at's blog: ""

Cherokee Word: Pronunciation: English: a-da Woman a-da-do-li-s-do-ti Pray a-da-hi Young a-da-ne-lv House a-da-nv-do Great Spirit a-da-s-da-di-ga-ka-hv-i Stove a-da-s-da-ya-di-ga-ka-hv-i Cooking stove a-da-s-da-yv-hv Cook (V) a-da-s-da-yv-hv-s-gi Cook (N) a-da-s-ta-ti Kitchen a-da-tlo-s-di Belt a-de-la Money a-de-la-di-ya-tso-di Beads a-de-lv Sister a-de-lv-u-ne-ga Silver a-do-da Father a-do-gi-ya-s-gi-i-na-dv Black racer a-do-hi Forest (or) Forever a-do-hi-yu True a-ga Ate a-ga-do-li Eye a-ga-li Sun (is shining) a-ga-li-ha Sunshine a-ga-na Groundhog a-ga-s-ga Raining a-ge-yu-tsa Girl a-ga-yv Wood a-ge-yv-ga-du-i-u-nu-wo-gi Blouse a-ga-yv-li Old a-gi-go-hv Saw (I) a-gi-na-so-qui-li Colt a-gi-yo-si Hungry (I am) a-gu-s-do Pillow a-gu-yo-dv Paid a-gu-yv-di Pay a-gv-du-lo Mask a-gv-yi-yi First a-ha-wi-ya-gv-na-wa-do-di Frying pan a-ho-li Mouth a-hu-tsa-wa-la-gv-i Chimney a-i-su Walk a-ka-dv-ga-nv Hear (I) a-la-ga-lo-di Ball a-la-su-lo Shoe a-la-tsa-do-ti Preach a-la-tsi-do-ho-s-gi Preacher a-la-tsi-do-lo-s-gi Minister a-le And a-li-he-li-s-di Happy a-li-ho Sock a-li-s-da-yv-di-ga-s-gi-lo Table a-li-s-dv-tsu-s-di-ga-s-gi-lo Stool a-li-s-que-ta-wo-gi Hat a-li-s-ta-yv-ne-ti Food a-li-ta-ma Wren a-li-ye-su-s-ta-wo Ring a-ma Winter (or) Salt a-na-da-nv-tli Brothers a-na-ga-li-s-gi Lightning a-na-wo-a-da-ne-lv Tipi (cloth) a-na-yo Cloth a-ne-s-ge-ha Building a-ni-la-s-da-lv Tribe a-ni-s-ga-ya Men a-ni-si-di Place to lay down a-ni-tsu-tsa Boys a-ni-yo-wi-s-gi Soldiers a-ni-yv-wi-ya-hi Indian a-nv Strawberry a-ma-ye-li Island a-qua-du-li-s-gv Wanted (I) a-qua-ya-du-li Want (I) a-que-nv-sv-i Home a-quo-hi-yu Believe a-quo-hi-yu-nv Believed a-s-du-di Close (or) Door a-s-du-i-s-di Key a-s-du-i-dv Open a-s-ga-yv Man a-s-ga-yv-u-nu-wo-hi Shirt a-s-gi-na Devil a-s-go-li Head a-s-ta-tlv-da Cream a-sa-no Dress (or) Skirt a-se-li-do Plates a-si-v-s-gi Fishing a-si-wi-s-ti paint a-so-di-ta-lu-gi-s-gi-u-li-gi Anvil a-su-ge-da-se-lu Dougn (corn) a-su-ge-da-u-lo-le-s-da Dough (flour) a-su-ge-di Batter a-su-go-s-di-se-lu-tsu-wa-ni-ge-i Gritter a-su-lo Trousers a-su-tlv-i Bridge a-sv-no-yi Nighthawk - a-sv-s-ti--ka-nv-su-lv Bedroom a-sv-tsi Bridge a-ti-sv-gi-tlu-gv-i Birch tree a-tli-s-do-di Container a-tlo-ya-s-di Cry a-tsa-di Fish a-tse-hi Green (or) New a-tse-s-do Mattress a-tse-sa-do Apron a-tsi-s-do-di Empty vessel a-tsi-ye-hi Wife a-tso-du-di Car a-tso-s-dv Light a-tsu-s-di Match a-tsu-tsa Boy a-tsv-s-di-go-i Lamp a-wi Dear a-wi-ni-tsa Under a-wi-sv-di-yi Garden a-wo-ha-li Eagles a-ya Me a-ya-do-lv-i Chapter a-ye-li Between, Center, Central a-yo-hu-hi-s-di Death a-yo-tli Child a-yu-gi-dv Hazlenut da-da-he-tse-lv Agree da-go-hi-yu-ni Believe (will) da-lo-mi-ge-a-dv-dv-s-ka-i Apricot da-lo-ni-ge-i Gold da-qua-sa-nv Turnip da-tsi-wo-ni-si Talk (I will) da-na-wa War da-ne-lo-hv-s-ga Play da-wa-tsi-la-tlu-gv-i Elm tree de-ga-lo-di Bag de-tlu-gv Trees de-wa Flying squirrel di-da-nv-wi-s-gi Doctor (or) Medicine Man di-de-yo-ho-s-gi Teacher di-do-di Spoon di-do-le-qua-s-di School di-ga-da-tla-dv Arrow di-ga-da-tla-dv-tsu-s-go Arrowheads di-ga-di-li Eyes di-ga-do-ga Tais di-ga-ga-lo-i Legs di-ga-le-yv-ta-nv-hi-go-we-li Newspaper di-ga-tla-wa Twin di-ge-la-wi-s-ti Church di-go-dv-di Pear di-go-we-lo-di Pencil di-go-yv-ga Teeth di-ka-ne-i-s-di Words di-ka-no-wa-di-do-hi Angel di-la-gv-na-ge-i Black skunk di-li-ho-he-di Phone di-li-yo Socks di-ni-tla-wa Twins di-ni-yo-li Children di-nu-wo Clothing di-se-hi-s-ti Dresser di-se-s-di Numbers di-te-li-do Plates di-ye-ga-li Quilts do-da-qua-a-gv-i Sunday do-da-qui-de-na Saturday do-da-quo-nv-hi Monday do-ga-wa-ni Mudhen do-hi-yi Peace do-la-tsu-ga Grasshopper do-lo-di-ge-i Yellow do-sa-u-dv-na Mosquito do-tsu-wa Cardinal (or) Redbird do-ye-hi Outside do-yi Beaver (or) Go out du-di Snowbird du-do-da-qui-sv Days du-na-da-tli-gi Groups du-nv-da-tlv-i Mountains du-ya Bean dv-da-tsi Lion dv-di-s-di Pheasant dv-de-gi Eel dv-ga Fly dv-gv-ni-la Hit it (will) dv-na-ga-lu-ya-s-di Broad ax e-do-da God e-du-tsi Uncle e-gv-i Flowing e-ha Lives e-he-na Come e-la-di Down e-la-di-tlv Below e-la-ne-i Quite e-la-qua Snail e-la-qua-a-ma-e-qua-hi-e-hi Couch shell e-lo-gi Aunt e-lo-hi World e-lo-hi-no Earth e-lo-hi-no-do-hi-yi-ge-se-s-ti Peace on earth e-lo-we-hi Quiet e-me-nv Amen e-qua Big e-qua-di-do-di Big spoon e-qua-nv-no-hi Highway e-quo-ni-ge-yv-i River e-tlo-gi Aunt e-tsi Mother e-ya-si-ta-dv-hi Inch ga-da Dirt ga-da-lu-go-di Plow ga-de-gu-gu Jug ga-do What ga-do-ga Tail ga-do-le-qua Learn ga-du Bread ga-du-hv-i City ga-dv-gi Heard (I) ga-dv-gi-dv Hear ga-ga Who ga-ga-dv-ga-ni Hear (will) ga-ga-lo-i Leg ga-ga-ma Cucumber ga-la-nv-da Street ga-le Ear ga-le-si Black snake ga-li-ha Asleep ga-li-quo-gi Seven ga-li-quo-go Seven ga-li-s-ge-s-ti Think (I will) ga-li-se-tsi Sugar ga-li-tsa-di Bow ga-li-tsa-di-a-le-di-ga-da-tla-dv Bow and arrow ga-li-tso-de House ga-lo-go-di Hoe ga-lo-hi-s-di Doorway ga-lo-ne-da Christ ga-lu-ya-s-di Ax (or) Tomahawk ga-lv-la-di Heaven (or) Up ga-lv-la-di-i-ga-di Tall ga-lv-lo-i Sky ga-na-do-gi Saw ga-na-li Lazy, Ox, Steer ga-na-tse-di Rattle ga-ne-ga-a-da-ne-lv Tipi (skin) ga-ne-sa-i Box ga-ni-si Bed ga-nu-go-gv-a-ma Spring (of water) ga-nu-hi-lo-di Cup ga-nu-lv-hi Grass (or) Weeds ga-nv-hi-dv Long ga-s-gi-lo Chair ga-s-nv-hi-dv-ga-s-gi-lo Bench ga-sa-le-na coat ga-tsa-nu-la Fast ga-wa-nv Duck ga-ye-wi-s-do-di-yv-gi Needle ga-yu-la Already ga-yv-tlv-i Nose ga-ne-nu-tlv-i Passageway ga-tli-ha Sleep ga-ye-wi-s-di Sew ga-we Coffee ge-da-li-yv-i Valley ge-ga Going ge-ge-s-ti Going (will be) ge-gv-i Going (was) ge-li Think ge-li-s-gi Pie ge-li-s-gv Thought (I) ge-ya-ta-hi Wild gi-ga-ge-i Red gi-gv Blood gi-la-su-lo Shoes gi-li Dog gi-lo-sa-quo-hi Someone gi-ni-tlo-yi Like gi-yu-ga Chipmunk gi-yv-ha Come in go-dv-di-a-hu-tsa-wo-la-dv Fireplace go-gv Crow go-hi-i-ga Today go-hi-u-sv-hi Tonight go-ga Crow go-la-nv Raven go-no-he-nv Rice go-s-du Ashes go-sa-nv-hi Butter go-ti Snowing (it is) go-we-li Book (or) paper go-we-li-u-ha-ge-dv Bible gu-le Acorn gu-le-di-s-go-ni-hi Dove gu-que Partridge (or) Quial gu-que-di-ga-na-sa-i Guinea gu-sv-tlu-gv-i Beech tree gu-wa Mulberry gv-he Bobcat (or) Wildcat gv-li Racoon gv-na Turkey gv-na-ge-i Black (or) Negro gv-na-ge-tsi-s-qua Blackbird gv-na-ta-u-qua-do-tli Peacock gv-ni-ga Hit it gv-ni-li-da-s-da Hammer ha-da-na-wi-dv Jump ha-na-ni Place ha-ne-ta Try ha-le-wi-s-ta Stop ha-lv-ni Bell ha-tlo Where ha-wa All right ha-wi-ni Deep (or) Inside ha-wi-ya Meat - ha-wi-ya--u-ka-yo-sv Bacon hi-go-li-ya Read hi-la-yu-i When hi-s-gi Five hi-s-gi-i-ya-da-nv-te-di Nickle (coin) hi-tsa-ga-lv Tears (rips) hi-wo-ni Talk hi-ya This ho-we-lv-ga Write hu-hu Yellow mockingbird hu-lu-tsa Return hu-tsi-lv-ha Flower i-ga day (or) Noon i-ga-e-hi-nv-do Sun i-gv-yi-di-tlv Before i-na-dv Snake i-ya Pumpkin i-ya-nv-da Month ka-lu-se-tsi Candy ka-ma-ma Butterfly (or) Elephant ka-na-s-da-tsi Sassafrass ka-na-s-go-wa Heron ka-ne-i-s-di Word ka-ne-s-ga Hay ka-ni-gi-dv None ka-no-he-lv-v-s-gi Tales ka-no-na Corn Beater ka-nu-ga-hi Blackberry ka-nu-nu Bullfrog ka-nv-si-ta Dogwood ka-wi Coffee ka-wi-a-di-di-tsu-la-s-gi Kettle ka-wi-a-do-di-tsu-la-s-gi Coffee pot ka-wo-nu Duck ka-wo-nu-a-ni-dv Duckling ka-yu-ga Tooth ka-li-se-tsi Sugar la-me-ha Bat na That na-a That is na-hi-yu-i Then na-hna There na-qui-si Meadowlark na-s-quu Also ni-ga-da All ni-la-dv-na Creek no-da-tsi Spicewood no-quo Now no-tlv-si Star no-tsi Pine no-tsi-i-yu-s-di-sv-ga-ta Pineapple nu-nv Potato nv-gi Four nv-no-hi Road nv-tsi-da Brain nv-wa-ti Medicine nv-ya Rock o-gi-na-ni-li Friend o-gi-na-li-i Friend (my) o-ni Last, Lawn (or) yard o-ni-di-tlv Behind o-s-da Good o-si-yo Hello o-we-nv-sv Home o-yo-i No good qua-lu-si Grapes qua-lv-yi Qualla qua-me-na Banana qua-na-tsi Hickory-nut-soup qua-nu-na-s-di Plum qua-nv Peach qui-wo-ni-sv Talked (I) s-gi (pronounced 'shgi') Thank you s-go-di-ta-wu-qui Hundred s-go-hi Ten s-go-i-ya-da-nv-te-di Dime s-go-ye-a-ne-s-gi-lv-s-gi Caterpillar s-ka-i-li-ye-su-lo Glove s-qua-du-gi County s-qua-la-hi Short s-gi-li Witch sa-di Walnut sa-go-ni-ge-i Blue sa-la-qui-s-gi Muskrat sa-li Persimmon sa-lo-li squirrel sa-lu-ga-du Corn bread sa-qui-i One sa-quo One (or) Soccer sa-quo-i-ya-ga-yv-li Thousand sa-quo-u-gi-da-li One feather sa-sa Goose (or) Swan sa-sa-a-dv Gosling sa-sa-u-ni-go-di Geese si-qua Hog si-qua ha-wi-ya Pork si-s-qui-li-s-da Blackbird si-yu Hello so-hi Hickory nut so-ne-la Nine so-qui-li Horse su-da-li Six su-li Buzzard su-na-le-i Morning (or) Tomorrow sv-do-ni Barrel sv-ga-ta Apple sv-gi Onion sv-no-yi Night ta-la-du Cricket ta-la-la Woodpecker ta-la-s-ge-wi Mouse ta-li Two ta-li-ne-i-ga Tuesday ta-lu-gi-s-gi Metal ta-lu-gi-s-gi-go-yi-nu-s-di-a-ma Bucket ta-wo-di Chicken hawk ta-ya Cherry ti-li Chestnut ti-li-tlu-gv-i Chestnut tree ti-ne-qua Mole ti-s-qua-lv-di Run tla-i-ge-go-li-ga Understand (won't) tla-i-go-li-ga Understand (I don't) tla-no No (or) No thank you tla-ya-quo-tsi-i Understand (didn't) tlv-da-tsi Panther tlu-gv-i Tree tlu-tlu Purple martin tsa-la-gi Cherokee tsa-la-gi-ti-a-ye-li Cherokee Nation tsa-la-gi-yi Cherokee(place) tsa-ne-la Eight tsa-quo-la-da-gi Bluebird tsa-ta-ga Chicken tsa-ta-ga-a-gi-si Hens tsa-ta-ga-i-go-di-e-hi Prairie chicken tsa-tlo-hi Kingfisher tsa-yo-ga Bluejay tsi-ga-ta-ha Know (I) tsi-ga-wa-yi Heron tsi-ge-yu-i Love tsi-gi-li-li Chickadee tsi-go-ti See (I) tsi-go-wa-ti-ha See tsi-li-tsu-ya-s-di Brave tsi-lu-ga Kill tsi-lu-gi Welcome tsi-lv-quo-di Love tsi-quo-la-de bluebird tsi-s-de-tsi Rainbow (or) Rat tsi-s-du Rabbit tsi-s-dv-na Crawfish tsi-s-ga-tsi-da-lo-ni Weasle tsi-s-qua Bird tsi-s-qua-ga-wo-ni-s-gi Parrott tsi-s-qua-ya Sparrow tsi-s-quo-quo Robin tsi-sa Jesus tsi-ta-ga-a-s-ha-ya Rooster tsi-tsi Thistle (or) Wren tsi-wo-di Hawk tsi-wo-ni Talking tsi-yi Copper tsi-yo-hi-s-da Quit tsi-yu Canoe, Boat (or) Popular tso-ga-li-i Friends tso-ge-si Field tso-i Three tso-i-ne-i-ga Wednsday tso-la-ni Window tso-lv Tobacco tso-tsi-da-na-wa Enemy tsu-ga-na-wv-i South tsu-ga-no-nv Ash tsu-ga-sa-wo-dv Tears (cry) tsu-gv-ha-dv Fog (FAR) tsu-la Fox tsu-la-s-gi Cast iron pot (or ) cooking pot tsu-li-e-na Dusky horned owl (or) Nuthatch tsu-lu-tsa Basket tsu-lv-da-ge-wi Log tsu-lv-da-ge-wi-a-ne-s-gv-di Log cabin tsu-na-gi-lo-s-ti Friday tsu-na-s-di-a-tsa-di Minnows tsu-ne-ti Christian tsu-s-qua-ne-gi-dv Goat tsu-s-qua-nv-ni Blanket tsu-tso-da-li Pair tsu-yv-tlv-i North u-da-nv-ga-lv-da Clean u-da-ta-nv-a-gi-s-di Fruit u-da-tli-gi Group u-da-tsa-dv-di Rough u-de-nv Birth u-de-ti-yi-s-gv-i Birthday u-di-la-ga Hot u-di-le-ga Heat u-do Brother u-do-hi-yu Very u-do-sv-no-e-hi Moon u-dv-na Grown person u-dv-na-ga-sa-le-na Overcoat u-dv-sv Grown plant u-ga-lo-gv Leaf (or) tea u-ga-ma Gravy (or) Soup u-ga-na-s-ta Cake u-ga-na-s-dv Sweet (or) Cake u-ga-na-wa Warm u-gi-ne-i-ga Thursday u-gu-gu Owl u-gv-tsa-di-a-li-s-que-ta-wv Cap u-gv-wi-yu-hi Chief u-ho-i Bad u-ge-da-li-yv-i Cove u-ge-tsa-s-gv Smile u-gi-da-li Feather u-gi-tsi-ha Daylight u-gu-gu-hi Hoot owl u-ha-ge-dv Thick u-ka-dv-i Face u-ka-na-wi-a-tsv-s-do-di Candle u-ka-yo-di Dry u-li-di-tlv Beside u-li-tso-hi-dv Fat u-lo-gi-la Cloudy u-lo-gi-lv Cloud u-lo-i-s-di-gi-gv Vein u-lo-que Mushroom u-lv Sister u-na-de-ti-yi-s-gv-i Christmas u-na-gu-hi-s-di Tomato u-ne-ga White u-ne-s-da-la Ice (or) Glass u-ne-s-da-la-di-s-ta-nv-hi-u-nv-di Ice cream u-ne-s-da-la-u-ne-sa-dv-i Icicle u-ni-lu-tsv Emegrants (or) Returns u-ni-na-gu-hi-s-di Tomatoes u-ni-tsi-la Itch u-no-de-na Sheep u-no-ga Bass u-no-le wind u-nu-tsi Snow u-nv-da-tlv-i Mountain u-nv-di Milk u-nv-si-yv-i Corner u-nv-tsa-dv Speckled u-s-da-s-di Holly u-s-da-yv-hu-s-gi Wife u-s-di-a-ga-na-do-gi Handsaw u-s-di-a-so-qui-li Pony u-s-di-a-tsa-di Minnow u-s-di-ga Baby u-s-di-ge-yv-qua Branch (Stream) u-s-di-nv-no-hi Trail u-s-di-nv-no-hi-u-lo-hi-s-di Path u-s-di-u-wa-ni-ga-lv Branch u-s-ge-wi Cabbage u-s-go-lv-gi-ga-ge-i Pink u-s-gu-ta-nv-hi-no-tsi Pine cone u-s-ka-no-la Slow u-s-ti Little ,Small(or) Tiny u-s-ti-i Baby u-ta-ni-di Bigger u-ta-no-hi Sheet u-te-lv-nv-di Work (go to) u-tli-s-da Hurry u-tlv-ga Sick u-tlv-hi Yesterday u-tsa-le-s-da Flour u-tsa-le-s-di Wheat u-tse-sa-di-a-su-i-o Overalls u-tso-na-ti Rattlesnake u-tsu-gi Tufted-titmouse u-tsu-wo-di Moccasin u-wa-ga Passion flower u-wa-sa Alone u-we-se-di Pitcher u-we-tsi Child of, egg (or) Son u-we-tsi-a-ge-ya Daughter u-we-tsi-dv-hi Son (of another) u-wo-du-hi Beautiful u-wo-ha-li Eagle u-ya-dv-ha Frost u-ya-s-ga Shell u-ye-hi Husband u-yv-la-dv-dv-i Gap (MTN) u-yv-tla Cold v-v Yes v-da-li Bay (also lake or pond) v-gi-wi-na Nephew wa-di-ge-i Brown wa-do Thank you wa-du-li-si Bee (or) Cake wa-ga Cow wa-gu-li Whirlpool wa-hu-hu Screech owl - wa-ka ha-wi-ya Beef wa-le-lu Hummingbird wa-lo-si Frog wa-ne-i-tlu-gv-i Hickory tree wa-s-ti Clock wa-ya Wolf we-sa Cat wo-di Indian plant wo-di-gi-a-s-go-li Copperhead wo-hi Pigeon wu-de-li-gv-i West ye-ga-li Quilt ye-la-s-di Knife yi-ho-wa Jehovah yo-hv-s-ti-a-na-dv-ni Kinfolk yo-nv Bear yv-gi Fork (or) Nail yv-wi-tsu-na-s-ti-ga Little people yv-wi-ya-hi Indian -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Update: 11 April 2004

The Last High on bleak, stony rag, Unmoving, he sits astride His ragged coated pony. Only telltale frozen breaths, Separate them from The still, winter black boles Of ancient leafless trees. The pony, blown and lame, Stands with lowered head, Ears flattened to the sound Of a distant wolf pack. The man on his back, All weapons lost, Ignores the trickling blood From savage wounds, Mingling his war paint. Eyes burning fiercely He strains to find The sign he seeks: Behind, the sound of enemy Draws ever closer. At last, faith rewarded, He sees far below In the deep valley, Arriving at the edge Of the fast flowing river, The great she bear With two gamboling cubs: To fish the racing salmon, Drawn relentlessly toward Their age-old spawning ground. Silently, the wounded brave Offers his final prayer To the eternal clan bear; Totem and guardian Of his battle slain tribe. The enemy, exultant, Are almost upon him, Yet he looks not behind: He sees only the Great Spirit, Surrounding him kindly In loving, firm embrace. While the enemy closes in, He straightens himself; His voice rings loud and clear, Echoing across the land To the distant cloudless sky. One last defiant war cry As he spurs on his pony, And leaps... Into the world of his ancestors.

There is an unspoken conversation with death between the wolf and it's prey. The outcome of the hunt is usually settled in the first moment, the moment of eye contact between the animals. What transpires between those moments of staring between predator and prey is probably a complex exchange of information regarding the appropriateness of a chase and a kill. This encounter is the conversation of death. The conversation falters noticeably when wolves encounter domestic stock, animals that have had the language of death bred out of them. The domestic horse will almost always panic and run. It will always be killed. When a wolf encounters a herd of sheep, it kills in anger and frustration, because there is no fight to live. Therefore, the wolf has not accomplished anything. There must be that ritual and choice. There is nobility in such a death. The wolf grows strong eating an animal that knows how to die with it's whole heart. He wastes away on the flesh of animals that do not know how to live or how to die. Preditor and prey grow stronger together by means of a series of tests, through all the years of their lives; tests that pit them against each other at both psychological and psysiological levels; tests that weed both culturally and genetically.

Native American Prayer Oh Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world - hear me. I come before you, one of your children. I am small and weak. I need your strength and wisdom. Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make my hands respect the things you have made, my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make me wise, so that I may know the things you have taught my people, the lesson you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I seek strength not to be superior to my brothers, but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, *MYSELF*. Make me ever ready to come to you, with clean hands and straight eyes, so when life fades as a fading sunset, my spirit may come you without shame. Yellow Hawk, Sioux Chief Indian people were part of a great civilization. The Indian nation had a society that was strict and well organized. Each tribe had it's own language and culture. Each tribe had its own traditional technology for healing, caring, learning, teaching, creating their own shelter, methods for hunting and harvesting food, judicial system system, political system and religious spirituality. The Indian people held these values in objects which were most important in all of existence: Great Spirit, as I understand the circle of life. The great and holy power that is above everything. Myself, as I am. The Indian had a deep sense of pride in himself because he was an Indian, and regarded himself as extremely important because he was free. My fellow man, as he is. His attitude toward his fellow man was one that caused him to share with and to help him. This made for a strong people. The world itself, the way it is. (Mother Earth) The Indian people regarded the world (sky, stars, sun, trees, animals, rain and birds) as all one and related. The world was considered to be holy, because God (Great Spirit) is in it. Oh Great Spirit Let your voice whisper righteousness in our ear through the west wind in the late of the day. Let us be comforted with love for our brothers and sisters with no war. Let us hold good health mentally and physically to solve our problems and accomplish something for future generations of life. Let us be sincere to ourselves and our youth and make the world a better place to live. A Prayer of the American Indian

Medicine Wheel The Medicine Wheel is representative of American Indian Spirituality. The Medicine Wheel symbolizes the individual journey we each must take to find our own path. Within the Medicine Wheel are The Four Cardinal Directions and the Four Sacred Colors. The Circle represents the Circle of Life and the Center of the Circle, the Eternal Fire. The Eagle, flying toward the East, is a symbol of strength, endurance and vision. East signifies the renewal of life and the rebirth of Cherokee unity. East = Red = success; triumph North = Blue = defeat; trouble West = Black = death South = White = peace; happiness There are three additional sacred directions: Up Above = Yellow Down Below = Brown Here in the Center = Green Winter=go-la The color for North is Blue which represents sadness, defeat. It is a season of survival and waiting. The Cherokee word for North means "cold" u-yv-tlv. Spring=gi-la-go-ge The color for East is Red which represents victory, power. Spring is the re-awakening after a long sleep, victory over winter; the power of new life. The Cherokee word for East is ka-lv-gv Summer=go-ga The color for South is White for peace, happiness & serenity. Summer is a time of plenty. The Cherokee word for South means "warm" u-ga-no-wa. Autumn=u-la-go-hv-s-di The color for West is Black which represents death. Autumn is the final harvest; the end of Life's Cycle. The Cherokee word for West is wu-de-li-gv. RED was symbolic of success. It was the color of the war club used to strike an enemy in battle as well as the other club used by the warrior to shield himself. Red beads were used to conjure the red spirit to insure long life, recovery from sickness, success in love and ball play or any other undertaking where the benefit of the magic spell was wrought. BLACK was always typical of death. The soul of the enemy was continually beaten about by black war clubs and enveloped in a black fog. In conjuring to destroy an enemy, the priest used black beads and invoked the black spirits-which always lived in the West,-bidding them to tear out the man's soul and carry it to the West, and put it into the black coffin deep in the black mud, with a black serpent coiled above it. BLUE symbolized failure, disappointment, or unsatisfied desire. To say "they shall never become blue" expressed the belief that they would never fail in anything they undertook. In love charms, the lover figuratively covered himself with red and prayed that his rival would become entirely blue and walk in a blue path. "He is entirely blue, " approximates meaning of the common English phrase, "He feels blue. "The blue spirits lived in the North. WHITE denoted peace and happiness. In ceremonial addresses, as the Green Corn Dance and ball play, the people symbolically partook of white food and, after the dance or game, returned along the white trail to their white houses. In love charms, the man, to induce the woman to cast her lost with his, boasted, "I am a white man," implying that all was happiness where he was. White beads had the same meaning in bead conjuring, and white was the color of the stone pipe anciently used in ratifying peace treaties. The White spirits lived in the South. Two numbers are sacred to the Cherokee. Four is one number, it represented the four primary directions. At the center of their paths lays the sacred fire. Seven is the other and most sacred number. Seven is represented in the seven directions: north, south, east, west, above, bellow, and "here in the center" the place of the sacred fire. Seven also represented the seven ancient ceremonies that formed the yearly Cherokee religious cycle. Medicine Wheel The medicine wheel is a symbol for the wheel of life which is forever evolving and bringing new lessons and truths to the walking of the path. The Earthwalk is based on the understanding that each one of us must stand on every spoke, on the great wheel of life many times, and that every direction is to be honored. Until you have walked in others' moccasins, or stood on their spokes of the wheel, you will never truly know their hearts. The medicine wheel teaches us that all lessons are equal, as are all talents and abilities. Every living creature will one day see and experience each spoke of the wheel, and know those truths. It is a pathway to truth, peace and harmony. The circle is never ending, life without end. In experiencing the Good Red Road, one learns the lessons of physical life, or of being human. This road runs South to North in the circle of the medicine wheel. After the graduation experience of death, one enters the Blue or Black Road, that is the world of the grandfathers and grandmothers. In spirit, one will continue to learn by counseling those remaining on the Good Red Road. The Blue Road of the spirit runs East to West. The medicine wheel is life, afterlife, rebirth and the honoring of each step along the way. End of the Trail An end to the old ways of life, Freedom to hunt and fish, Nomad, migrating with the season. Eagle feathers represent: Four directions on Mother Earth, Four seasons of the year, Four age groups. Ernest Hunt - Navaho Medicine Shield The medicine shield is an expression of the unique gifts that it's maker wishes to impart about his or her current life journey. This can be a new level of personal growth, or illustrate the next mountain a person wishes to climb. Every shield carries medicine through it's art and self-expression. Each shield is the essence of a time and space that carries certain aspects of knowledge. All persons carry shields of the lessons they learned from the four directions on the medicine wheel. They are the healing tools we give ourselves to sooth the spirit and empower the will. The truth needs no explanation,, just reflection. This allows intuition to guide the heart so that humankind may celebrate more than it mourns. Medicine Cards Sun who looks to four winds on Mother Earth: North, South, East,West. Enriching one's health, Bring good luck, fortune, Healing the sick. Buffalo horns for strength, protection Eagle feathers for wisdom, honesty, happiness. Ernest Hunt - Navaho Medicine Wheel - Circle of Life The medicine wheel is sacred, the native people believe, because the Great Spirit caused everything in nature to be round. The Sun, Sky, Earth and Moon are round. Thus, man should look upon the Medicine Wheel (circle of life) as sacred. It is the symbol of the circle that marks the edge of the world and therefore, the Four Winds that travel there. It is also the symbol of the year. The Sky, the Night, and the Moon go in a circle above the Sky, therefore, the Circle is a symbol of these divisions of time. It is the symbol of all times throughout creation.