Big Cove Community Day - Ko La Nv Yi

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.