Culture & Tradition

Cherokee History, Myths and Sacred Formulas by James Mooney

The book is divided into three distinct primary-source sections: Cherokee History: A detailed chronicle tracing the Cherokee Nation from initial European contacts in the 16th century through the Trail of Tears and into the late 19th century. It details political shifts, tribal geography, and the impact of federal policies on indigenous sovereignty. Myths and Folklore: A collection of over 120 narratives transcribed directly from tribal elders, sacred keepers, and community members in western North Carolina. This section includes creation stories, animal fables, historical traditions, and wonder tales that explain the origins of the world, natural phenomena, and human-animal relationships. Sacred Formulas and Rituals: Transliterations and translations of traditional medicine, prayers, and incantations recorded in the Sequoyah syllabary. These formulas cover practical and spiritual matters, including botanical healing, hunting rites, protection from illness, love, and weather management. Cultural Significance & Modern ContextMooney was one of the earliest ethnographers to live extensively among the Eastern Band of Cherokee, and his work preserved a vast amount of oral literature and botanical knowledge during an era of heavy forced assimilation. Today, while the text remains an invaluable archival resource, contemporary scholars and Cherokee historians also approach it as a product of its eranoting that Mooneys non-native perspective, framing, and collection methods affect how the oral traditions and ceremonial knowledge were recorded. Foreword from the Principal Chief of the Eastern Band and a new introduction from the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. This is a must have primary source book on Cherokee. It contains 126 legends obtained on the Cherokee Reservation in N.C. in 1887-1888, covering many subjects including creation, animals, birds, snakes, fish, wonder stories, history and more. Combining James Mooneys two foundational 19th-century monographs published by the Smithsonians Bureau of American EthnologyMyths of the Cherokee (1900) and The Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees (1891)this volume serves as a core historical and ethnographic compilation of traditional Cherokee culture. Paperback, 408 pages.

Language

Cherokee (Cherokee)

Level

All levels

ISBN / SKU

9780935741278

Format

Printed Matter

Product type

Culture & Tradition

Region

United States of America