Manataka American Indian Council
Cherokee Medicine and the Little People
In the old days the Cherokee Medicine Man would travel to the rock caves to meet
with the Little People and share in their secrets. The medicine men would stay
in the mountains for seven days and nights telling stories around the
campfire.
On the fist night they would tell the story of the bear and sing the songs the bear had taught the Cherokee. The songs were for good hunting.
On the second night, they would dance the Green Corn Dance for good crops, singing and dancing all night long.
On the third night a song was sung to invoke the deer spirit to be kind to the Cherokee hunters.
The
fourth, fifth and sixth nights were spent on more storytelling, dancing and
singing. Each medicine man told about sacred formula that the Little People has
entrusted to him.
On the seventh night, at the darkest hour, as the drums beat louder and louder,
the Little People or Yundi Tsundi danced into the circle. They danced and
chanted sacred songs. Then the Little People told the medicine men to return the
secrets that had been shared with them that year. One by one the medicine men
placed the secret formulas in the hands of the Little People.
The
medicine men left the cave and returned to their people. They would return again
and again to receive and return the spirit gifts of the Little People.
Cherokee Nation Cultural Resource Center, cultural@cherokee.org
Submitted
by Little Mother
Our thanks to Blue Panther - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Fn_sala/