LEARN NC

11.2 Historical overviews and cultural traditions

By Kathryn Walbert

Provided by The North Carolina Humanities Council.

Highlights: Native American History in North Carolina
This resource from Documenting the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library provides a brief historical overview of American Indian history in North Carolina that includes links to relevant primary sources in the Documenting the American South digital collection. Teachers may be particularly interested in following those links to a wealth of primary sources, including engravings from 1590, the writings of European explorers and settlers, a resolution of the North Carolina General Assembly on Indian removal, information about Native American health and herbal medicine in the nineteenth century, personal narratives, and documents related to American Indian education in the era of segregation.
North Carolina American Indian History Timeline
This timeline from the North Carolina Museum of History starts ca. 40,000-15,000 B.C. and continues through the twentieth century, offering a useful overview of many key events in North Carolina’s American Indian history.
Cherokee, The Principle People – Film
This film, which runs for nearly an hour, focuses on the history and culture of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation. It begins with the Cherokee story of creation and covers Cherokee history up to the twentieth century. You may view the film online in Real Player.
Cherokee Basketry
This overview of Cherokee basketry provides information about how baskets are made and the designs and patterns that are typically included in them. It was published in the North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine 45:1 (fall 2005).
Traditional Cherokee Pottery
This article, from the North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine 45:1 (fall 2005), details the history of traditional Cherokee stamped pottery, a style that dates back more than 1,900 years. The article describes the techniques that were used and also provides some ideas for creating your own decorated pottery style using clay, polymer clay, or even play dough.
American Indian Storytelling
This article by Jefferson Currie II in the North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine 41:2 (Spring 2002), provides information about the role of storytelling in North Carolina’s American Indian tribes, past and present. It specifically mentions storytelling traditions among the Coharie, the Eastern Band of Cherokee, the Haliwa-Saponi, and the Lumbee.
Legends and Myths: The “Three Sisters”
This retelling of the story of the three sisters by Shelia Wilson, a member of the Sappony Tribe, could be used in social studies and literature contexts, and would be an excellent companion to other resources on storytelling traditions. The article was written for the North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine 45:1 (fall 2005).
Lumbee Voices: North Carolina’s Lumbee Indians in Literature, Art and Music
This article by Glenn Ellen Starr Stilling and linked from his comprehensive bibliography, includes information on the origins of the tribe, its history, and details about Lumbee culture, literature, art, and music.
A Look at Stickball
This article, from North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian magazine 45:1 (fall 2005), focuses on stickball which is a traditional game played by the Cherokee and other southeastern groups. It is the precursor of modern lacrosse. Students interested in sports and games may find the photographs and description of the game in this short one-page overview interesting.
A Look at the Cherokee Language
This overview of the Cherokee language provides detailed information about the Cherokee language, its structure, its history, and its revival. It was written by Ben Frey in the North Carolina Museum of History’s Tar Heel Junior Historian 45:1 (fall 2005).