April 27, 2013
Returning home on Friday we noticed the sign and decided to attend
Saturday morning before work. That
evening Pam, our neighbor (remember her from previous posts?), said this was
the second annual celebration and we should come.
Saturday morning it is cloudy and misty. The show goes on rain or shine, really,
should rain stop a Cherokee event? Down
the mountain we go to the open field near the school and rain has dampened the event. At 9 AM people are gathering for a short
opening ceremony followed by several traditional dances. The mist increases but
this does not deter the children heading towards the bounce houses or the stick
ball players from gathering into two teams.
Yes, bounce houses are not traditional Cherokee but it is good
exercise and training for the children.
Additionally, the children are happy and occupied so the parents and
elders can enjoy the ball game.
Cherokee stickball is a traditional game with a few simple rules:
teams are a minimum of ten players each, a stick must be used to pick up the
ball then the ball can be transferred to the hand or mouth, and get the ball
through the goal posts (generally two trees).
Each goal is worth one point; the game is over when one team reaches
twelve points. There are no rules about
physical combat so the game was often used to settle disputes between tribes
rather than fight a war.
The first game featured the “B” team which meant males 35 and
younger including young children. The
youth are treated with respect and only the small ones can tackle each
other. The teams are polite but play
seriously. It was interesting to observe
the ball was not always the focal point, often a group would tackle the player,
the ball would be transferred to another player but the pile of men continued
to wrestle on the ground while the game proceeded. So while the ball is in play there may be two
to three piles of men wrestling on the field apparently oblivious to the
ball. It is easy to see how this game
substituted for war. A wise decision. Guess there is more profit in real war than a
game… too bad our politicians like the proceeds of war.
As we wander through the few vendors and information tables I
hear, “Are you volunteers?” My response
is “Not officially but how can we help?”
We are asked to monitor the bounce houses. Cindy Thompson is already by her ‘station’ so
I take the slide and leave Bill to watch the third bounce house. Cindy, a Cherokee, brought her son to the
event. She knows most of the children
through other functions and her experience at as a day care and high school
teacher aide.
The children are fun to watch and need little guidance or supervision. Most are respectful of others taking turns
and helping the toddlers. It is
fascinating to watch the toddlers who want to slide but are scared at
first. An older child climbs the ladder
with the toddler, holds them in their lap and descends the slide. The toddler smiles with a slight look of fear
and heads up the ladder for another ride.
After several trips with the older child they are soloing down the
slide, all smiles.
The first ball game is followed by the “A” team players who play
hard this is a faster and more challenging game. There are no children or novices in this
game. They play in a steady rain fall,
adults head for cover, and the children take breaks from playing to watch the
game. Speaking of breaks, Billy took a
break, started talking to Perry Shell, council member, and found a new job cooking
burgers and hotdogs. He and Perry flipped
burgers in the rain for quite some time.
Not having rain gear, a tribal member gave Billy a ‘tourist’ poncho with
“Smokey Mountains” and bears printed on the plastic.
The rain did not dampen the enthusiasm, there was an hour of
gospel singing, the playground stayed active, and the stickball game
ended. Around noon there is a prayer of
thanksgiving in Cherokee and lunch begins.
Lines form in the rain to share hot dogs, hamburgers, beans, chips,
cooked salad, ramps, and sochan.
 |
| After lunch remains |
Thank you to
Betty, Mary, Perry, Pam, and the Big Cove Community
for another
glimpse of Cherokee life.
