Studying Cherokee Culture

​Saturday, June 15th -- After taking General to the Mountain Farm to walk the trail, we went just a little ways further up the road and visited the Mingus Mill. It was pretty interesting to see the water plume coming down towards the building. And it reminded us that the Cherokee use hollowed logs to channel water wherever it is needed. 

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​So, while we have been in Cherokee, we have learned alot more about their culture. We had been seeing election posters all over town, and thought it was interesting and awesome that a woman, Teresa McCoy, was running for Principal Chief, and another woman was running for Principal Vice-Chief. After having studied more about their tribal elections, we found there have been women elected to the Principal Chief office before, but it is very rare.

We also found out that a certain percentage of profits from the Casino in Cherokee get divided among all members of the Tribe, and minors will receive monies put into trust for them at age 18, if they graduate from high school, or 21 if they do not graduate from high school. And to be a member of the Tribe, you have to have an ancestor of the 1924 Roll, and be at least 1/16th Cherokee blood. Profits from the Casino also go toward infrastructure improvements, so the Cherokee Tribe actually runs their own schools now. And because they run their own schools, they were able to require that all graduating seniors be able to speak the native Cherokee language before they are permitted to graduate. The signs throughout town are even written in both English and in Cherokee.

​We found the Cherokee culture extremely interesting, and can't wait to learn about other tribes as we travel across the states.

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Related Blog Entries - 
06/11/19 - Heading to Cherokee NC
06/12/19 - Blue Ridge Parkway and Mountain Farm Museum
06/13/19 - Out and About Town
06/14/19 - Learning About the Cherokee Indians
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06/17/19 - Where there are Roads, there are Rocks
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