Before the White Men Came...
The Cherokee People are called "A ni yun wi yah" and is translated into "People of God" or "Principled People". The Cherokee always believed in the Supreme Being or "Ye ho waah" and monotheist. They believed that Ye ho waah could not be seen, who created life, and resided in heaven and on earth through purified people. They did not believe in idolatry but instead adored the Great Spirit and believed he was the giver and taker of life. Cherokee's believed that the Great Spirit gave man animals and vegetables so that they may survive and praise him for these things. Cherokee people who declared there existed three entities above, who were always joined together in action and spirit, and were of the same mind. It was said that these three entities were always one in sentiment, in thought and action. The Great Spirit created all things and governed all things.
The Cherokees never gave special adoration or worship to any images, dead men, evil spirits, extraterrestrial luminaries or any human-created being or personage. The Cherokee people were loyal and obedient to Ye ho waah and believed that worship was necessary to maintain a fruitful life. When the people were all seated for worship, the priest also known as U ku wi a hi (Uku), would commence his speech. The Uku would tell the Cherokees to obey Ye ho waah in every respect, telling people they must do all that he directed them to, do worship him in all they do, and to never disobey him secretly because they were never alone because Ye ho waah was with them. They were never to indulge in idle or vain conversation, or call others bad names. The children were told to behave and obey their parents so they may please Ye ho waah.
The Cherokees believed that if they did right and followed the beliefs of the tribe, they would dwell with Ye ho waah forever and if they did not, they were to spend eternity in a lake of fire. Other names for Ye ho waah were Oo n hlah nau hi, meaning ‘Maker of all things,’ or Cah luh luh ti a hi, ‘The One who lives above.’ It was also in their believe that Ye ho waah came to earth at times to teach the Cherokee lessons and to guide them through their problems. Ye ho waah commanded the Cherokee people to rest from all work, including harvest and hunt, on the seventh day and to show their adoration for him by holding their hands entirely still while they rested with their palms open and upward towards the sky on their knees. The people were to stop and be by themselves to talk to the Supreme Being that dwells on high on the seventh day.
The Cherokee did not use the word “religion,” but, every part of their world had a sacred connection or religious meaning. Spirtuality was everything to the Cherokee people. They believed the world should have balance, harmony, cooperation, and respect within the community and between people and nature. Certain numbers also play an important role in the religious ceremonies of the Cherokee. The numbers four and seven repeatedly occur in myths, stories and ceremonies. Four represents all the familiar forces (earth, wind, water, and fire), also represented the east, west, north and south. The number seven represents the seven clans of the Cherokee, and are also associated with directions. In addition to the four cardinal directions, three others exist. Up (the Upper World), down (the Lower World) and center (where we live, and where ‘you’ always are). The number seven also signified the number of days it took Ye hoo waah to make the world. The number seven also represents the height of purity and sacredness, a difficult level to attain.
The Cherokees never gave special adoration or worship to any images, dead men, evil spirits, extraterrestrial luminaries or any human-created being or personage. The Cherokee people were loyal and obedient to Ye ho waah and believed that worship was necessary to maintain a fruitful life. When the people were all seated for worship, the priest also known as U ku wi a hi (Uku), would commence his speech. The Uku would tell the Cherokees to obey Ye ho waah in every respect, telling people they must do all that he directed them to, do worship him in all they do, and to never disobey him secretly because they were never alone because Ye ho waah was with them. They were never to indulge in idle or vain conversation, or call others bad names. The children were told to behave and obey their parents so they may please Ye ho waah.
The Cherokees believed that if they did right and followed the beliefs of the tribe, they would dwell with Ye ho waah forever and if they did not, they were to spend eternity in a lake of fire. Other names for Ye ho waah were Oo n hlah nau hi, meaning ‘Maker of all things,’ or Cah luh luh ti a hi, ‘The One who lives above.’ It was also in their believe that Ye ho waah came to earth at times to teach the Cherokee lessons and to guide them through their problems. Ye ho waah commanded the Cherokee people to rest from all work, including harvest and hunt, on the seventh day and to show their adoration for him by holding their hands entirely still while they rested with their palms open and upward towards the sky on their knees. The people were to stop and be by themselves to talk to the Supreme Being that dwells on high on the seventh day.
The Cherokee did not use the word “religion,” but, every part of their world had a sacred connection or religious meaning. Spirtuality was everything to the Cherokee people. They believed the world should have balance, harmony, cooperation, and respect within the community and between people and nature. Certain numbers also play an important role in the religious ceremonies of the Cherokee. The numbers four and seven repeatedly occur in myths, stories and ceremonies. Four represents all the familiar forces (earth, wind, water, and fire), also represented the east, west, north and south. The number seven represents the seven clans of the Cherokee, and are also associated with directions. In addition to the four cardinal directions, three others exist. Up (the Upper World), down (the Lower World) and center (where we live, and where ‘you’ always are). The number seven also signified the number of days it took Ye hoo waah to make the world. The number seven also represents the height of purity and sacredness, a difficult level to attain.
