Yuchi Creation Story

Before the beginning, water was everywhere. But no people, animals, or earth were visible.
There were birds, however, who held a council to decide if it might be best to have all land or all water. "Let us have land, so we can have more food," said some of the birds. Others said, "Let's have all water, because we like it this way."
Subsequently, they appointed Eagle as their Chief who was to decide one way or the other. Eagle decided upon land and asked, "Who will go and search for land?"
Dove volunteered first and flew away. In four days he completed his hunt and returned, reporting, "I could not find land anywhere."
Crawfish came swimming along and was asked by the council to help search for land. He disappeared under the water for four days. When he arose to the surface again, he held some dirt in his claws. He had found some land deep in the water.
Crawfish made a ball of the dirt and handed it to Chief Eagle, who then flew away with it. Four days later he returned and said to the council, "Now there is land, an island has been formed-- follow me!"
The whole bird colony flew after Eagle to see the new land, though it was a very small island. Gradually, the land began to grow larger and larger as the water became lower and lower. More islands appeared and these grew together, creating larger islands into one earth.

Tuskegee Indians say they were chosen by the Great Spirit to be the first people to live upon the new earth, a long, long time ago.

The Origin of Earth

Tuskegee

Native American Lore
http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore35.html

I AM FLOORED!

Wow, is all I can say! I just got a hold of a Yuchi Historian! YAY! EXCITED!! But, as I was asking for landmarks and such he began to tell me that the state of Tenneessee doe not reconize the Yuchi to ever have lived there!?!? Which to me is funny because the Yuchi is who named Tennessee. The yuchi word is "Tana-see" meaning the meeting place! Wow! So, I will not be looking at anything of use when I go to my trip to the mountains that will say yes the Yuchi was here. But, they do have a lake and there is yuchi artifacts of such at the bottom of it! He was super nice to speak with and he also has a website! Take a look it is full of great information!
http://www.yuchi.org

Let's talk about Yuchi Native Americans

Some of the interesting facts that I have found out along the way.

First off the question most ask is how in the world do you pronounce Yuchi? Well, It is really said just like it looks! Or if you would like to see the way it sounds, ( that is what I usually say (;) "YOO-chee" The tribe has other names also, they are Euchee, Uchi, or Uchee. They all mean the same and are said the same.
This tribe orignated in Tennesse and Kentucky. They are moved now and reside in Oklahoma. This move took place in the 1800's and they re still living there today. If you do a search online for them you can find maps and such that have the area they use to live in. That would be something that you may like to check out yourself if you are interesting in Native Americans.
Their housing was very neat looking! I have a link in my side bar where you may click and it will take you to their house. It also has other Native American housing in it so be careful on which one you find. Yuchi housing was made of clay and wood. They would put up a wood frame of sorts and pack the clay on it to make it sturdy. This would also insulate the house.
This is just a tid bit of information that I have found through my search. I am trying to make this flow as good as I can. But, I felt like this information should be taking into your mind ;) when reading more of the things I will write about during my semester. There may be a few more out of place posts that I will explain some more things about the Yuchi Natives!! Hope that you enjoy what I have written so far! Also, like I have said before questions or information would be greatly appreciated! No questions are stupid so feel free to ask so I may DIG for the answer you seek!

Another Yuchi Story writer

http://books.google.com/books?id=GXvNInszta0C&pg=PA87&dq=yuchi+written+poetry&hl=en&ei=P5VOTsOZNoqosQKVnIHXBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CEIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false
I have found so many good books written by Yuchi Indians on google free books. If you have any extra time take a look. The link above is one that I have interesting. It is about a man that is Yuchi and writes books and poems.

My Dream 1896

Doing research I found several Yuchi Indians that have poetry written!! I am very excited. This is one that I found and it is exactly like he wrote, no grammar changes to it. PLEASE ENJOY!! The bottom reads HOLY GHOST down. The blog just does not set it up right for some reason. This is the google free books site I found it on.
http://books.google.com/books?id=r-d-VMCTtqMC&pg=PA179&dq=yuchi+written+poetry&hl=en&ei=RXFITveJL66psAKA9uCRCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDcQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Yuchi&f=false




My Dream Rufus Buck(Yuchi)

I drempt I was in heaven
Among the Angels fair;
I'd near seen none so handsome,
The twinge of golden hair;
They looked so neat and sang so sweet,
And play'd the golden harp.
I was about to pick an angel out
and take her to my heart;
But the moment I began to plea,
I thought of you my love.
There was none I'd seen so beautifull
on heaven or earth above.
Good bye my dear wife and mother
all so my sisters
1 day of July H Rufus Buck
Tu, the yeore O Youse truley
off L
1896 Y

father son
G
H
O
S
T
Virtue and Resurrection
Written 1896 Published 1898

Changing Is Not Vanishing: A Collection of American Indian Poetry to 1930 By Robert Dale Parker

Four days after birth the BABY is considered HUMAN!

The Yuchi believe that their babies are a reincarnation of another relative. They believe that once a baby is born it is to not be around its mother for four day so that it may not suck. The four day period is a time that they believe the old spirit leaves the body and crosses over. Once the fourth day arrives it is able to suck, be named, and reunited with its mother. The naming of a child goes along with this also, the parent chose a name that is in the family. Maybe an aunt or uncle, great aunt or great uncle. They believe that this helps keep in the family a name of choice. They believe this helps to sooth the circle of life.

Men and Women- the role of birthing

While reading this book "Ethnology of the Yuchi Indians" By Frank Gouldsmith Speck 1909 I found some interesting things about the the birthing process and what the mother and father does.
When a female goes into labor is taken to another camp site away from the tribe. There is one to two other older ladies that go with her to help her labor. An interesting fact was that sometimes, another lady comes and as the woman in labor lays flat on the ground she sets on her abdomen to help aid in labor and give the parent something to grab out to. The women is also given a drink while in labor of water with a bullet in it. This is suppose to have a effect on the birthing process.
When the baby is born is will not have clothing or mothers milk until the fourth day. Due to beliefs which I will describe another day. :) The father starts the day it is born on making a trinket of some sorts depending on the sex of the child. If it is a boy the father will make a miniature bow and arrow set and tie the umbilical cord around and throw it in the deep woods so not to be found by anyone. This is believed to make the boy a strong hunter when his is grown. The father makes a mortar and pestle if it is a girl and they set this around the house in hopes that the girl will grow to be a great house wife. Her umbilical cord is put under neath the ground by a normal sized mortar and pestle that is in front of every home. If the child is a male the father is pleased, if it is female the mother is pleased.

New findings on husband and wife

In one of my previous posts I had the Statement one man one women. Doing research I found this to be untrue! While reading "Ceremonial songs of the Creek and Yuchi Indians, Volume 1, Issue 1 By Frank Gouldsmith Speck 1911" The Yuchi were allowed to have more than one wife. The men had their own property, but his wives had what belonged to them and the children they had. Also, if a woman were found unfaithful she was punished by having her ears cut off! The Yuchi tribe had no ritual on marriage that I have found so far. The man just went off and built a house and when the girl he chose left their home to move in they were married. It was fairly simple to be married among this tribe.

Mother's NATURE By Dancing Star

Mother's NATURE

Snow her comforter
Rain her tears
Sun her smile
Clouds her secrets
Sleet her bitterness
Wind her anger
Thunder her disapproval
Lightening her warning
Sandstorms her house cleaning


We are Her thoughtless Husband
blindly ignoring her
'til in violent desperation
She turns!

DancingStar (1973)
This is A poem that was written by a Native American I am not sure of the tribe, But it made me look into other poems that is written by Native Americans and I just wanted to share.

'Saòh Koeetah 'Saòh Waneetah

"One Man One Woman"
I am very excited!! I found some Yuchi words last night in my search. Doesn't the words look so beautiful? The roles of man & women were about the same as today. The ladies cooked and did all of the child care. They also did most of the farming. Men did the hunting and went to war to protect their families. They both played parts in the roles of story telling, crafts, and medicine. Back along time ago the roles of the Chief were for men, but in today's time there is know to be women that are chiefs also.
I am really excited to do the searching and digging about this tribe! I have found so many facts!! Hope you all enjoy the things that I am finding out and leave me a comment if you would like me to find you something not on my blog here!
THANKS AND GOD BLESS!

Need a good Book??!!??

Digging around today online I found a great place to find books to read! In general there are so much books, I will have to dig a little deeper and find some that are directly from the Yuchi tribe. I have been reading Native American book ever since I found my book list for this class! YOU WILL FALL IN LOVE!!! So check out this website and pick you out a book!

http://www.native-languages.org/books.htm

Hello!! My name is Amber and I am starting this blog for my Native American Lit class. I hope to add photos, recipes, and more as I go through the class!