The Cherokee Nation, a resilient and culturally rich indigenous people, has a history marked by both profound achievements and immense hardship. Their story, woven with threads of diplomacy, resistance, adaptation, and enduring spirit, is powerfully reflected in the words of their leaders, warriors, and thinkers. These Cherokee Quotes offer a glimpse into their worldview, their struggles, and their unwavering commitment to their people and their future.
This exploration of Cherokee Quotes allows us to connect with the voices of those who shaped the Cherokee Nation, providing insight into their perspectives on land, identity, progress, and the challenges of navigating a world undergoing rapid and often brutal change. From the early interactions with European colonizers to the devastating Trail of Tears and the subsequent rebuilding of their nation, these quotes serve as poignant reminders of the Cherokee experience.
Early Encounters and Diplomatic Overtures
The initial interactions between the Cherokee and European colonizers were complex, characterized by a mixture of trade, diplomacy, and escalating tensions over land. Chief Attakullakulla, a prominent Cherokee leader known for his diplomatic skills, articulated the Cherokee perspective in a letter to John Stuart, a British agent, reflecting a willingness to coexist while expressing concern over the insatiable appetite for land:
"…I will eat and drink with my white brothers, and will expect friendship and good usage from them. It is but a little spot of ground that you ask, and I am willing that your people should live upon it. I pity the white people, but they do not pity me…. The Great Being above is very good, and provides for everybody…he gave us this land, but the white people seem to want to drive us from it."
Attakullakulla’s words reveal a desire for peaceful relations and a belief in the inherent goodness of humanity, juxtaposed with a growing awareness of the relentless pressure on Cherokee lands. His expression of pity for the white people highlights a sense of moral superiority, suggesting that the Cherokee understood the principles of sharing and respect better than their counterparts.
Old Tassel, another significant Cherokee Chief, further emphasized the Cherokee perspective on cultural exchange and the hypocrisy of the colonizers during a treaty discussion with the United States in 1785:
"Many proposals have been made to us to adopt your laws, your religion, your manners and your customs. We would be better pleased with beholding the good effects of these doctrines in your own practices, than with hearing you talk about them."
"You say, for example, “Why do not the Indians till the ground and live as we do?” May we not ask with equal propriety, “Why do not the white people hunt and live as we do?”"
Old Tassel’s insightful questions challenged the assumptions of cultural superiority held by the American representatives. He questioned the sincerity of their calls for assimilation, pointing out the discrepancy between their words and their actions. His remarks underscore the Cherokee’s ability to critically assess the situation and to articulate their own values and way of life.
Resistance and Foreboding
As encroachment on Cherokee territory intensified, a sense of foreboding and a determination to resist emerged among some Cherokee leaders. Dragging Canoe, son of Attakullakulla and a prominent Chickamauga Chief, vehemently opposed the ceding of Cherokee lands. His words reflect a deep understanding of the consequences of unchecked expansionism:
"The white man…is not satisfied with the land beyond the mountains, or the land beside the Watauga, or the land along the Nolichucky. Now he wants still more. And what we do not give him, he will take away until our whole Nation is gone from this earth…."
Dragging Canoe’s prophetic warning foreshadowed the tragic events that would unfold in the decades to come. His resistance, though ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the removal of the Cherokee, stands as a testament to his unwavering commitment to protecting his people’s land and way of life.
Adaptation and Assimilation
Faced with increasing pressure from the United States government, some Cherokee leaders believed that adaptation and assimilation were necessary for the survival of their nation. John Ridge, a prominent figure in the Cherokee Nation and creator of The Cherokee Phoenix, a bilingual newspaper, advocated for adopting aspects of American culture while maintaining Cherokee identity:
"Cherokee blood, if not destroyed, will win it’s course in beings of fair complexions, who will read that their ancestors became civilized under the frowns of misfortune, and the causes of their enemies."
Ridge’s statement reflects a complex understanding of the challenges facing the Cherokee. He believed that by embracing education and other aspects of American culture, the Cherokee could not only survive but also thrive in the changing world. His vision, however, was controversial, as it clashed with those who advocated for maintaining traditional Cherokee ways.
John Rollin Ridge, son of John Ridge, continued his father’s legacy, expressing a deep desire to see the Cherokee Nation achieve statehood within the Union:
". . . If I can once see the Cherokees admitted into the Union as a State, then I am satisfied. Until then, whether I win laurels as a writer in a distant land, or whether I toil in the obscurity of some mountain village over the dull routine of a small legal practice, winning my way by slow and painful steps to wealth and influence in this far-off state (California), I will bear that holy purpose in my heart of hearts. . . And if I fail in all that I undertake, and lie down to die, with this great purpose unfulfilled, my last prayer shall be for its consummation, and the consequent happiness of the Cherokee People!!!. . . . ."
His impassioned words reveal a lifelong dedication to the advancement of the Cherokee people. He believed that achieving statehood would provide the Cherokee with the political and legal protections necessary to ensure their survival and prosperity.
The Trail of Tears and its Aftermath
The forced removal of the Cherokee from their ancestral lands in the 1830s, known as the Trail of Tears, remains a defining tragedy in Cherokee history. The suffering endured during this forced march had a profound impact on the Cherokee people, and the memories of this traumatic event continue to shape their identity.
While no direct quotes from the Trail of Tears are included in the original document, Wilma Mankiller, the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, reminds us of the shared suffering of other marginalized groups during this period:
"It should be remembered that hundreds of people of African ancestry also walked the Trail of Tears with the Cherokee during the forced removal of 1838-1839. Although we know about the terrible human suffering of our native people and the members of other tribes during the removal, we rarely hear of those black people who also suffered."
Mankiller’s words serve as a crucial reminder of the interconnectedness of historical injustices and the importance of acknowledging the experiences of all those who suffered during this tragic period.
Rebuilding and Renewal
Despite the immense challenges they faced, the Cherokee people demonstrated remarkable resilience in rebuilding their nation after the Trail of Tears. Redbird Smith, a prominent Cherokee leader in the early 1900s, emphasized the importance of unity and cultural preservation in ensuring the future of the Cherokee people:
"I have always believed that the Great Creator had a great design for my people, the Cherokees. I have been taught that from my childhood up and now in my mature manhood I recognize it as a great truth. Our forces have been dissipated by the external forces, perhaps it has been just a training, but we must now get together as a race and render our contribution to mankind. We are endowed with intelligence, we are industrious, we are loyal and we are spiritual but we are overlooking the Cherokee mission on earth, for no man nor race is endowed with these qualifications without a designed purpose… Our Mixed-bloods should not be overlooked in this program of a racial awakening. Our pride in our ancestral heritage is our great incentive for handing something worth while to our posterity. It is this pride in ancestry that makes men strong and loyal for their principal in life. It is this same pride that makes men give up their all for their Government."
Smith’s words reflect a deep belief in the unique potential of the Cherokee people and the importance of embracing their cultural heritage. He emphasized the need for unity and collaboration in order to achieve their collective goals.
Chadwick "Corntassel" Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation in the early 2000s, echoed these sentiments, urging the Cherokee people to remember their legacy and to actively shape their future:
"The Cherokee legacy is that we are a people who face adversity, survive, adapt, prosper and excel."
He posed a series of questions to challenge the Cherokee people to consider their priorities and to ensure that their culture and language continue to thrive:
"Where will we be as people five, ten, fifty or one hundred years from now?"
"Do we brag about our full blood ancestor or do we brag about our Indian grandchildren?"
"Do we live in the past or do we focus on the future?"
"Is being Cherokee a novelty or a way of life?"
"Is being Cherokee a heritage or a future?"
Smith’s questions serve as a call to action, urging the Cherokee people to actively engage in shaping their future and to ensure that their cultural heritage is passed on to future generations. His powerful words encapsulate the essence of the Cherokee Quotes:
"Don’t forget the legacy we passed on. Don’t let it lapse. Pass it on, stronger and stronger to your children. Let the “Cherokee language laugh, speak and sing again. Let our history be known and discussed. Live by our wisdom. Don’t let us “die as a people. If you do then all our sacrifice will be for nothing and you will lose those things that fulfill your life."
Cherokee Quotes provide a powerful and moving testament to the resilience, wisdom, and enduring spirit of the Cherokee people. These words offer valuable lessons about the importance of cultural preservation, the challenges of navigating a changing world, and the unwavering commitment to creating a brighter future for generations to come. By reflecting on these Cherokee Quotes, we can gain a deeper understanding of the Cherokee experience and appreciate the rich cultural heritage of this remarkable nation.