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 Stomp Ground. They are known as foot messengers and fast runners because they deliver messages from one village to another and/or one person to another. They are also responsibile for maintaining all sports equipment and for maintaining sports. They also teach about the knowledge of relaxing and of unconditional love. The clan teaches about the habitat of deer and all about the deer in general, and its willingness to sacrifice itsself to provide people with food and clothing. This clans color is brown, their flag is purple with yellow stars, and their wood is oak.
(4) Anigilohi (Twister Clan or "Long Hair" Represents Day and Night) - This clan is known as Long Hair (anigilohi), Hanging Down Clan or Wind Clan. Gilahi is a word short for ancient Gitlvgvnahita which means "something growing from the back of the neck." The live in the south on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. This clan paraded in a proud and vain manner and wearing their hair in elaborate different hair styles while twisting their shoulders. (Twister Clan). Their Peace Chiefs wore a white feather robe. This clan taught tradition, spiritual knowledge and intuition. A lot of the old spiritual priests came from this clan. The clan maybe referred to as the Stranger Clan because orphans from other tribes, prisoners of war, and others without no Cherokee tribe were welcomed into this clan. The color for this clan is yellow, their flag is black.
(5) Anisahoni (Blue Clan or Blue Holly Represents Sky) - This clan is the keeper of all children's medicines and they take care of the medicinal herb gardens. They remain in the southwest on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. There name Blue Holly came from a medicine from a bluish colored plant called the Blue Holly. This clan is also known as the Panther or Wildcat Clan in certain regions. They teach all the knowledge of the panther and its habitat, ability to balance power, truth, physical strength, intention, growing and grace, preparing herbs for food and medicinal purposes and using it. This clans color is blue, their flag is blue with white stars, and their wood is ash.
(6) Anigatogewi (Wild Potato Clan or Tobacco Represents Flesh) - The wild Potato Clan are known as farmers and gatherers of wild potato plants in swamps (gatogewi meaning swamp), and for making flour and bread. They live in the south on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. They teach the knowledge of in-sight, gathering, growing and preserving food, introspection, providing shelter, and gathering, growing and perserving food. The teach of the habitat of the bear and about it too and about the bear's sacrifice to provide food and clothing for their clan. They may have been known as the Bear Clan too. This clan gathers and nurturers by nature and they were once known as the Kituwah Clan. This clans color is green, their flag is yellow with green stars, and their wood is birch.
(7) Aniwodi (Red Pain Can Represents Death) - These people were known as the "Corn People," as well as the Red Paint or Paint Clan. They lived in the southeast of the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. This clan made red paint. Dida:hnvwi:sgi (medicine men and healers/sorcerers) and Adawehi (wisemen) they are said to have come from this clan at one time in history. This clan is most secretive and smallest of the groups. They taught things to be kept secret, second sight and illusion, this also included their ceremonies, rituals and tools. This clan was the only clan allowed to make a special red paint and dye used for their ceremonial purposes and warfare. Prominent Medicine People and Conjurors comes from this clan. Their color is white, their flag is black with red stars, and their wood is locust.