by Barbara Kasey Smith

Created on: May 09, 2009   Last Updated: May 12, 2009

The seven clans of the Cherokee...no-one is allowed to marry within their own clan and it is important that everyone is aware of this. In a clan, the women are known as the head of the households and membership is attained through the mother. Each member within the clan is considered as a brother and a sister.

Initally there were fourteen clans but some of the clans would not obey their laws and their customs and they were expelled and driven out of their nation. The clans that were expelled started to form their own tribes and they're now known as the Mohawk, Erie, Onandaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Oneida. The Chickamauga were taught all clans are part of the Bear Clan. The seven clans who remained are known as Ugaya (Seven Clan Society).

Listed below are the seven clans of the Cherokee's:

(1) Aniwahya (Wolf Clan or Panther Represents "War") - this is the largest and most prominent of the clans. It provides the war chief in our history. This clan is the keeper and tracker of the wolves. No other clan is permitted to kill a wolf through wolf medicines and special ceremonies. They are responsible for developing, maintaining, and teaching the knowledge of protection, loyalty, and security. It is their responsibility to keep up to date intelligence on the surrounding environment, functioning as part of the group as they maintain their own individuality and the wolf's habitat ,and of course, the wolf. The aniwahya clan color is red, their flag is red with white stars, and their wood is hickory.

(2) Ani Tsiskwa ( Small Bird Clan or Eagle Represents "Spirit") - The north on the Chickamaugan Stomp Group is where the Small Bird Clan rests. This clan is the responsibile keepers of the birds, sacred feathers and bird medicines. They are especially skilled in shooting blowguns and setting snares for bird hunting. This clan is known as messengers. They teach the importance of recognizing the pattern of the positive and negative events of life, and also teach sharing and giving, observation, interpretation of dreams, interpretation of their messages, the birds, and their ability for self-sacrifice for the sake of their clan. It is their responsibility to collect feathers, their color is purple, their flag is blue with red stars, and their wood is maple.

(3) Ankikawi (Deer Clan or Bison Represents Peace) - This clan is keeper of the deer, deer hunters and trackers, seamers and tanners and also keeper of deer medicines. This clan can be found in the northwest Chickamaugan

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