Here you go Carico:
The fact that Native Americans have been labeled 'Pagan' is
up for debate...however...
Since some of the kindest souls consider themselves Pagan, I
take this as a compliment, and with honor.
Now, having said that:
First, I don't label myself, yet I am of Native American descent
from my Father's side, and have chosen to walk the path of light
and true human existance. If that is Pagan, I gladly accept the title.
"I have Indian Blood in me. I have just enough white blood for you to question my honesty!"
-Will Rogers aka "The Cherokee Kid"
To continue; the Cherokee were peace-loving, very spiritual, and
killed only out of necessity. The Cherokee have 7 clans, taken
from the Mother. Women held high status within the Cherokee clans.
When children were born, they took their mother's clan and you were forbidden to marry within your clan. The members of the same clan were considered brothers and sisters.
The seven clans are: Wolf - (a-ni-wa-ya), Deer - (a-ni-a-ha-wi), Bird - (a-ni-tsi-s-qua), Longhair - (a-ni-gi-lo-hi), Wild Potato - (a-ni-go-da-ge-wi), Blue - (a-ni-sa-ho-ni), Paint - (a-ni-wo-di).
One of the reasons the women were given the clans was that they were the givers of life. When a man married a woman, he usually took her clan. During ceremonies he sat with her clan. Other tribes have clans. Some names of the clans are different and some are similar to the Cherokees.
The women were free to choose the men they wished to marry, as long as they were from different clans. When a woman divorced her husband, she would pack all his clothes and set them outside the door --- it was that easy.
Now to Religous Beliefs.
Excerpts taken from "THE ANCIENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE CHEROKEE PEOPLE" by Chief Charles Jahtlohi Rogers, M.D.
Cherokee Nation of Mexico
Be warned that calling a Native American a Pagan is an insult to the majority of those who follow the ancient traditional beliefs. The name for Cherokee People is A ni yun wi yah, which in English means The Principle People or akin to The People of God. To the Cherokee, they were the chosen people of the Creator, similar to the Jewish traditions that the Hebrew were the chosen race of the God of Abraham. Yet, this is a topic for another thread, another day. The devotion of the Cherokee people was to the Supreme Holy Spirit (The Creator) who could not be looked upon and whose energy was the fire of all creation and the fire of all life and who resided in the heavens and on earth through purified people. They were rigidly non idolaters and neither would they observe any religious images among them or keep idolatrous religious ceremonies. Instead the Cherokee people adored the one Great Spirit, God, who they described as the only Giver and Taker of life. They were devoted to a higher principled way of living according to their ancient religious beliefs of the one benevolent God.
The Cherokees believed this sole Author of creation was with them and they with God by His blessing of mankind with animals and all plant and vegetable life. Thus, the place of worship for those of us who follow
such beliefs is nature herself. Religious worship very closely paralleled the Mosiac institution in the Old Testament of the Bible. They were not Pagans and were warned each year by their priests, just as the Old Testament warned about ...giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:1,2).
How's that Carico?
While I don't personally find the label 'Pagan' to be an insult,
I do feel that term is overused by the Christian extremists
who are blinded to consider other alternatives.
_________________
"The wolf is not just an animal,
but something inside you
that makes you want to fight back,
to come back, to be whole again."
People are funny.