Cherokee Bonfire - Oral Traditions, Oral History

May 31st


Attending the Cherokee Bonfire was high on our to-do list  and the perfect invitation came when our friends Vallie and Richard said, "Do you want to go to the bonfire Friday night?"  They had spent 3 hours the previous evening with Sonny, the main presenter for Friday night, and wanted to share his stories with us.

The calendar listing captures the event theme but cannot do justice to the experience.
Cherokee Bonfire

Date(s): Jun 13, 2013 - Jun 15, 2013

When: 7p-10p

Where: Oconaluftee Island Park - Hwy 19 & 441N

Spend an evening with the Cherokee people by a roaring fire! Listen as Cherokee story tellers (in period dress from the 17^th century) spin tales of days gone by, myths and mysteries passed down through the ages and talk of the history of the greatest native nation in the southeast. Learn Cherokee survival skills and experience the dance. Your Cherokee hosts will provide light refreshments (marshmallows for roasting and drinks). Sit by the fire near the Oconaluftee riverside and enjoy a unique and entertaining experience.

The evening becomes a journey into history where you experience the history through sound, smells, and attitudes.  Walking towards the fire circle you feel the environment setting the stage for the mystery of the night:  the river splashing down the mountain side, the tall trees where birds begin to roost, ducks and geese making a last trip across the river, and the smoke rising from the fire.  You sit on the long log bench, acknowledge others in the circle, and await the program. 

Suddenly you are swept back in time as Sonny, Freddy, and Lisa walk into the fire circle in traditional 1800 Cherokee attire.  

Freddy in traditional 1800 Cherokee attire

Those unfamiliar with history are amazed the clothing is similar to 1800 woodsmen attire.  Sonny explains how the Cherokee traded deer skins for clothing, cloth, metal (knives and tools),  food, seeds, and other goods.  The woodsman attire was used for formal and daily dress, the significance of each items was explained.  Later he described the war dress which involved limited clothing for speed, ease of movement, and camouflage   War paint was used to signify strength, provide additional camouflage, and as a ritual to prepare the man for the fight.  I pondered the similarity to Celtic traditions.  Is war paint a universal tradition spread by thought or did the Celts and First Peoples have common ancestors?

Traditional Cherokee Dance

Continuing his story, Sonny explained the importance and reverence of women by the Cherokee.  Tribal members often seek the advice of elder women before embarking on new paths or making major life decisions.  They were keepers of family history through the oral tradition.  Often women wore wrap skirts and throw coats, large sections of cloth where the edges are bound and decorated with ribbons.  These garments served multiple purposes that could serve as a garment, shawl, blanket, ground cloth, door cover, or decoration.  Again I am reminded of Celtic dress and how clothing developed throughout the world.

Lisa in 1800 traditional clothing

We learn the Cherokee language which is a pictorial language where speech incorporates hand movements to describe the situation.   The trail of tears during the removal period included many tribes but not all people in the North Carolina mountains were removed to Oklahoma.  When the First Peoples could not be removed they were often sent to boarding schools for education.  The education was actually a re-education to indoctrinate students into the accepted US lifestyle.  As I do not fit 'the norm' and I ponder my experiences with acculturation in school and the eventual return to my true self.

Oral tradition.  This is the source of our history lesson and closer to the truth than one learns in a history book.  Recall that history is written by the victors so we come to the circle to learn the true history.