The Cherokees and Native Americans are often viewed as heathens by people in the south along the Bible Belt and the Appalachian Region. However, it is important for individuals to realize that Christianity played a vital role for the Cherokees. The Cherokees in particular were spiritual in their beliefs and they also prayed in their own ways, they accepted the Europeans beliefs because of their openness within several organizations. Overtime several different denominations began to enter into Cherokee lands and slowly began to preach, settle, and eventually convert numerous Cherokees into Christianity.

The Native American culture, having been commonly viewed as heathens by Christians, had their own sets of beliefs prior to the Christianization efforts. Christians did not and some still do not realize that their forms of worship and their beliefs are not that different from Cherokee traditions. The Cherokees believed in a Supreme Being, who was the Creator of all. The term spiritual for the Cherokee culture meant an “active and alive flow of energy that connects us all to the Universal Spirit.” [1] Garrett also describes that to a Cherokee being spiritual is similar to holding on to something that we value, such as a lesson in life that we are taught. That is directly related to the way in which we are brought up as children, and how each family teaches and stresses different moral and traditional values to their offspring. While the term spiritual is interchangeable between a way of life for the Cherokees or a religious belief, the spiritual paths of the Cherokees were not taken away by the Europeans who tried to Christianize them. In fact it seemed that the Cherokees wanted to fit into the European culture and by converting to Christianity they were able to fit in and for them that meant become a more civilized culture as a whole.

Prayer is also another term that people associate with Christianity and modern religions. However, the basis of the term was set years ago by the Native Americans. Prayers for them were often in the form of chants or ceremonies. During a prayer the Cherokees did not ask for anything but guidance, but more commonly prayers were believed to be used to give thanks. “The process of praying for Native Americans is fairly open, but subtle; we use certain hand movements…the same is true [for Native Americans] with pointing the open palm(s) toward the sky in ceremonies, which signifies giving thanks to the Universal Spirit and the Great One.” [2] A prayer may be sent by the offering of tobacco much as the tithes that are paid to a church today.

The Cherokee beliefs were generally polytheistic and the belief in multiple gods existed, but one was held to a higher stature than the others. For instance, they believed that the setting Sun was the holder of evil gods, the reason most of their dwellings had openings that only pointed to the east toward the rising sun. Most believed in some form of afterlife and believed that during the afterlife there would either be punishments or rewards meted out by the Great Spirit. One Cherokee after the conversion to Christianity described his belief prior as: “To reverence the great and Supreme Being, love my friends deeply and to take vengeance on my enemies [and after converting to Christianity] In the Indian devotion there is nothing like pure religion. Tho’ they have faint ideas of Deity, yet they are far from loving him with all the heart.” [3] The Christian Cherokee reported his findings in 1823; nearly 25 years after the missionaries began entering the Cherokee country.  

The process of Christianizing the Cherokees was a long process that took place over the course of several years. Upon initial arrival the problem amongst the missionaries was the language barrier. The Cherokee syllabary was created around 1821. With the use of the syllabary Cherokees could now learn to write their language on paper. In 1824, John Arch a full blooded convert became inspired to translate a section of the Gospel according to St. John into Cherokee. This invention facilitated the transformation of the Cherokees. [4] Then by 1828, Samuel Worcester, the editor for the Cherokee Phoenix[5], translated the Lord’s Prayer.[6]

Missionaries began coming into America as early as 1566 with a Catholic Priest by the name of Father Rogers. Rogers upon contact with the Native Americans was uncertain and was unable to communicate with them. Rogers was not able to provide much teaching to the Cherokees, but he was the first recorded missionary. [7] Rogers was not the only missionary to enter and not be able to communicate with the Native Americans. In 1758, a Presbyterian missionary by the name of John Martin began trying to devise a plan to convert Cherokees into Christianity, and in 1799 Moravians entered the Cherokee land and was taken aback at how they were unable to communicate with them.

In the early 1800’s, missions into the Cherokee lands began to increase. At first the Cherokees was not officially opposed to the preaching of Christianity, but they did not want churches built. Cherokees instead wanted their children to be able to attend a school and learn reading, writing, and arithmetic so that their children would be able to communicate with the increase number of Europeans. The Cherokees wanted their children learn all that they could so that they would not be as illiterate and ignorant as they considered themselves to be. The same concepts exist today with the parents of children wanting their children to go beyond what they have been able to accomplish.

Gideon Blackburn, a Presbyterian who was contacted by John Martin after he had visited the Cherokee country, began asking for a government grant in order to educate the Indians. The process was slow and the two began talking in 1758, but it was 1803 before Blackburn received a grant of two hundred dollars in order for him to create a school. Blackburn received the Cherokees approval and was able to construct and establish his first school, one year after receiving his grant. Two years later, in 1806, Blackburn was able to create his second school by using left over funds from the first, and by the success of his first school.

The same year that Blackburn established his school, John Gambold a Moravian missionary was also looking into the Christianization of the Cherokees. Gambold came into the Cherokee country in 1804 and began trying to educate and preach to the Natives. Gambold found out that the Cherokees wanted schools and not churches just as Blackburn had discovered and in 1805 established the Spring Place Missionary School. The missionary school began with mostly young children but later branched out to have some adults in attendance as well, hoping to learn English. In 1819 Spring Place had 2 to 14 children in regular attendance and by 1830 they had 32 adults and 31 children. [8]

Cyrus Kingsbury was the next large player in Christianizing the Cherokees. Kingsbury saw the success of Blackburn and Gambold’s missionary schools and decided to create some of his own. In 1816 Kingsbury, created the Chickamauga Missions School on a 25 acre plantation. The Chickamauga school was a small portion of Kingsbury’s plans to aid in the education of the Cherokees. Kingsbury created what became known as the Brainerd Missions. Brainerd held numerous schools of different branches. Taloney was created in 1819; Creek Path in 1820; Hightower, Willstown, and Haweis in 1823; Candy’s Creek in 1824; New Echota in 1827; Amohee in 1831; and finally Redclay and Running Waters were created in 1835. All of the schools worked together but separately to educate Native Americans living in different parts of Cherokee country during the time period.

In addition to the Moravians and Presbyterian, there were also the Baptists and the Methodists that came to the Cherokee country. The Baptist associations came into Cherokee country from Georgia around 1816. The Baptists and Methodists did not set up any schools; however, they did preach and teach to the Cherokees. The Methodists came into the Cherokee country from Tennessee. The Methodists was under the Conference of Tennessee, directed by William M. Mahan. They set up four schools and had all of them established by 1828. The Baptists and the Methodists found the aid of the Cherokee Phoenix to be very helpful because they could distribute scriptures as well as hymns in both English and Cherokee. [9]

The missionary efforts were great by 1829, it is recorded that there were 1,028 Methodist Converts. The Methodists were the most effect in reaching out the Cherokees first. By 1831, it has been recorded that there were 192 communicants, 120 Baptists, and 74 Moravian converts.[10] According to Gulick in 1960, “There are as far as we know 17 churches.” 11 Baptists, 1 Episcopal, 3 Holiness, 2 Methodists, and the Roman Catholic and Mormon services are held in a community building, all of which would not have been made possible had it not been for the early missionaries that began working toward Christianizing the Cherokees in the early 1800s. Four of the 11 churches that Gulick found still offered church services in the native Cherokee Language. [11]

For the most part, Eastern Cherokee churches preach of the sinfulness and evilness of mankind along with the necessity of the belief in Christ so that the Native American can be saved and escape hells fire. With non-Indian church goers there is an intense emotion. The Native Americans, on the other hand, remain impassive and their social behavior does not typically express emotions during church services. However, they are accepting of the emotional responses of the non-Indian church goers and have grown to expect the outburst. The texts are sometimes sung in the Cherokee language, but they are sung to tunes derived from non-Indian backgrounds. [12]

In conclusion, the Cherokees may have been unwilling to accept Christianity and churches at the beginning, but they finally allowed missionaries to begin creating schools in 1799. To the Cherokees the schools were a necessity for their children to be able to live a civilized life amongst the Europeans. It was easier for them to realize the benefits of education than it was for them to see the benefits of Christianity. However, through the blending of Christianity and education the missionaries were able to accomplish both the education of Native Americans and the converting of Cherokees to Christianity. After 1816, missionaries built a network of boarding schools which catered primarily to the highly acculturated Cherokee leadership of the early 19th century. [13]The progress was great, acceptance was wide spread, and children as well as adults began to attend. The converting of Christianity grew and exists today in the Cherokee Nation. Today many people still view the Native Americans as being uncivilized and heathen, but in reality they have been quick to accept Christianity and are no different than the non-Indian American’s.  

Bibliography

Baird, W. David. “Cherokees and MIssionaries, 1789-1839.” The Western Historical Quarterly (Western Historical Quarterly, Utah State University ) 16, no. 2 (1985): 191.

Collins, Linton. “The Activities of the Missionaries Among the Cherokees .” The Georgia Historical Quarterly (Georgia Historical Society ) 6, no. 4 (1922): 285-322.

Corman, Catherine. “Writing Indians: Literacy, Christianity, and Native Community in Early America .” The William and Mary Quarterly (Omohundro Institute of Early American History and Culture ) 58, no. 3 (2001): 742-745.

Garrett, J.T. and Garret, Michael. Medicine of the Cherokee: The Way of Right Relationship . Santa Fe, New Mexico : Bear and Company Publishing , 1996.

Gulick, John. Cherokees at the Crossroads . Chapel Hill , North Carolina : University of North Carolina , 1960.

Kilpatrick, Alan. “A Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts .” American Indian Quarterly (University of Nebraska Press) 19, no. 3 (1995): 385-405.

Malone, Henry. Chrokees of the Old South . Atlanta , Georgia : The University of Georgia Press, 1956.

McNally, Michael. “The Practice of Native American Christianity .” Church History (Cambridge University Press) 69, no. 4 (2000): 834-859.

Perdue, Theda. “Cherokees and Missionaries, 1789-1839.” American Indian Quarterly (University of Nebraska Press ) 9, no. 2 (1985): 188-191.

[1] Garrett, Medicine of the Cherokee, page 110.

[2] Garrett, Medicine of the Cherokee, Page 116.

[3] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A People in Transition, Page 91.

[4] From a Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts, the article points out how without a written language the Europeans had great difficulties in communicating with the Native Americans who spoke mostly in their own language.

[5] The Cherokee Phoenix was originally called the Cherokee Press at New Echota and that led to the Phoenix which became a National Newspaper by 1828.

[6] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A people in Transition, page 114.

[7] Extracted from a journal Article, A Note on Cherokee Theological Concepts.

[8] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A people in transition, page 95.

[9] Collins, Activities of the Missionaries among the Cherokee, page 18.

[10] Malone, Cherokees of the Old South: A people in transition, Page 117.

[11] Gulick, Cherokees at the Crossroads, page 36.

[12] Gulick, Cherokees at the Crossroads, pages 118-119 goes into great detail describing the non-Indian verses the Indian churches.

[13] Perdue, Cherokees and Missionaries. 

Sunshine’s by name;

Sunshine by nature;

How true is this??

Well not always but I will not be sharing any of my darkest secrets on here-ha ha ha -

It was a week yesterday that I decided to find out more about about The Cherokees.

Ever since I have become totally engorossed in their lives,beliefs ,faith and lifestyles.So for today I am going to be Sunshine Ray.

Lone Wolf

ever since

I have

been with child

this canine wonder

has never

ever

left my side .

He loves

my beloved man

Silver Creek

with

every breath

of his

canine being

and has become

my protector

for

every moment

when my beloved man is

not around.

I pat the green ground

by my side

and

Lone Wolf

without

hesitation

walks

or

almost

glides

to my side

in a floating motion.

His wise head

resting

on my knees

and those

deep seeing

eyes

almost lock

with mine.

Their untold message

so clear:-

‘I am your protector’

‘I am your saviour’

‘Yours and Silver Creek’s babe

I will protect forevermore.’

‘Never worry as l am by your side’

We sat together as one

watching

absorbing

and

allowing

our minds

to be inspired

by

each beauty

enfolding

and

carressing

each view

locked in our

hrearts

and

spirits

forevermore.

I tenderly rub my

swollen form

in which lay our

precious new life; a life

brought forth

by

the most loving connection

there could be.

Oh Silver Creek

we are so as one. Our hearts

spirits

and

souls united

with Earth Mother’s

loving grace

and her

blessings.

Oh Gods

of the

mountains

dales

valleys

and

rivers

unite in harmony

each breath

we take

and

each word

we speak.

Source: wikimedia.comSunshine Ray.

I sit high

on top of the mountain;

I sit leaning back to allow

the spring breeze

to blow through

my long dark

glossy locks.

How I allow

inspiring values

to enter my being and into the depth of my spirit.

Far down below

almost like small

insects

I see a hive of daily activity.

Our stallion

‘Morning Mist’

the leader

of our horses

is kicking

and

frollicking

in frenzied excitement

to his

heart’s content.

Next I can

quite clearly

make out

Crimson Red

with her

little group of children

her pupils

so eager to

learn

Distance hinders

but my

mind’s keen eye

tells me so much.

She tells me

all about

of little faces

eager

hungry to learn

in awe

wondering

and loving

each step

and

each day

of

Crimson Red’s

teachings.

They sit in full circle

young spirits entwined

so new

so fresh.

They absorb

each lesson

like a flower

to sunshine.

They wave their hands

in tune to her lead

like flower fairies ;

free flowing

brimming over

with

love and joy.

Beside me there is a rustling

from the

midst of the

yellow laden gorse.

In my mind

I knew

before

this rustle

became vision

that it was

Lone Wolf.

I

Source: wikimedia.com

I have already felt

the very first stirring

of life

from my womb.

Likened to the

the

soft flutterings

of a

butterfly;

of being at one

with Earth Mother.

I look far

down below me

with an inner pride

and

love

that was new

and so wholesome.

I coud

see the

beginning of a brook

which ran into

the silver thread

of

the river.

At the end

of the journey

many rivers

came together

and ran as many estuaries into the sea.

These

estuaries

I liken to our lives .

Which one

we take

is our desicion.

Source: wikimedia.comTHE RIVERS OF LIFE.

.

A splutter and a gurgle

From deep inside the earth

Is a flowing indication

Of a shimmering new birth.

Leisurely she’ll flow along

Over the earth and its charms

Bringing peace, love and solitude

Like a new babe in mother’s arms.

Over obstacles she’ll meander

Until she conquers her fight,

Compare we this to childhood

As we learn wrong from right.

Wearily she’ll flow along

Into estuaries she’ll divide,

These are the rivers of life

Which one? Is ours to decide.

Source: flcikr.comMy Journey.

I have a journey to travel beofre the birth of our little one.

To clear the slightly overgrown pathways to my heart and soul.

A pure and sure heart our baby will be nourished from;his very first look into my eyes will show me as a strong person with inner pathways cleared.

Silver Cross and my spirit entwined; fitting so well ;each contour;

fitting with ease.

My heart misses a beat as I see my man ;far down below me gathering together his horses;horses that had been injured or were ill;but had now recovered due to his gentle care;the care of a loving and tender hreart.

Lone Wolf also looked down and with bright eyes and wagging tail.

He understood;as he had that deep set gift given to him by our Earth Mother,of spiritual understanding.

A knowing which ran almost as if on an invisible silver thread from his soul to yours Earth Mother; a gift which will last while he is on this earth.

I know that I have this journey to travel but I am not alarmed or worried,I have a deep set trust and understanding inyou my Earth Mother . I accept my journey and I know that I will emerge a better person.

A cleansing of my deepest spirit; in order to be a true mother in all ways.

My Journey.

Oh Earth Mother

I trust you so;

Wherever I am

Wherever I go.

I see you in each sunrise

I see you in each life;

In Lone Wolf’s cries

Your prescence is rife.

I will follow you

As I travel along;

I trust you too

So sweet your song.

I will be cleansed

I will be wholesome.

I will be blessed.

I accept the outcome.

Earth Mother I do love

In Earth Mother I trust.

So like a white dove

This journey is a must.

Source: wikimedia.comSource: flciker.com

As Lone Wolf

and I

sit in

seren silence

those up till now

flutters

had blossomed

into a much stronger

kicking movement.

I look down

in deep wonder

and I see our baby

move as if in

an almost

slow motion;

Oh yes

‘Lone Wolf’

another

day has

begun..

Indians were a “problem”

American white settlers who lived near the western borders, as they were called in those days within early American federation, had mostly negative reactions and feelings to the locals that increasingly interacted.

Whites did not hide contempt at all brave Native Americans, while also feared them. 
For them, these true owners of the lands inherited from generations of ancestors were more than some unfamiliar faces at the wrong time and place, weird strangers with reddish skin and feathers in hair, occupying land that white settlers not only coveted him, but believed that they deserve.

Neither the U.S. then not thinking differently at Indians. 
Himself nation’s father, President George Washington, believed that the best solution for the “Indian problem” consists simply in “civilizing” force of these innocents. What was “forced civilizing” the concept is not hard to guess whites: cultural destruction, social leveling, settling, major restrictions, discrimination and, above all, stealing their land.

One of the main goals of these so-called “civilization campaign” consisted of an exact model of the natives on the block office of American white Protestant, by converting to Christianity, learning English and adopting concepts and habits of European origin, such as property individual seasonal nomads and even stop the slave trade. 
Some communities and tribes in south-eastern United States have adopted these ideas partly imposed by Washington. Consequently, whites and the Indians were graduated Chochtaw tribes, Chikasaw, Seminoli, Creek and Cherokee with the title of “The Five civilized nation”.

Clearly, Washington was not satisfied with the social and cultural assimilation of these tribes. Their lands were increasingly tempting for the invader white land hunger. 
territories held by the five nations were the places where today there Member Georgia, Tennessee, Albama, North Carolina and Florida, and were very valuable, having a high potential agriculture. Many of the settlers were interested only in cotton growing and cattle breeding. They did not care how “civilized” or “Christians” were Native Americans, all they wanted was their land and were not given the stop at nothing to obtain it. Native sedentary settlements burned, shot or robbed them and killed animals and those who were opposed.

Obviously, the governments in Washington have supported the colonists in their efforts of the natives to drive out west and south. Some U.S. states have issued a series of laws under which arrogates the right to confiscate Indian territory and sovereignty severely limit the rights of natives. Although the Indians sued in those states and processes famous Cherokee Nation v. Georgia in 1831, and the Washington Supreme Court ruled that Indians were sovereign nations “to which state law Georgia and other states have no power” looting and abuses have continued unabated. 
President Andrew Jackson proud note in 1832 that “the southern states are determined to conquer the Indian territory and will do anything to secure their borders.” Elimination

Andrew Jackson, then president of the American Union, was one of the strongest supporters of American Indian banishment and confiscation of their land. 
As he was an army corps general, Andrew Jackson fought for years in violent campaigns against tribes Creek in Georgia and Alabama and Seminole of Florida. His campaigns resulted in the transfer of thousands of hectares of land owned by natives in the white farmers.

Q n the role of president, Jackson continued to campaign the same zeal. In 1830 rushed to sign the unambiguously titled “Indian Removal”, which empowered both local authorities and settlers who had such a free hand to acquire Indian lands.

The federal law prohibiting that time however the President or other state authorities to force the Indians to leave their territories where they lived, hunted and practiced rudimentary agriculture.However, both President Jackson and government officials deliberately ignored the letter of the law and have oppressed the Indians by every means imaginable, so that they get to take the world head to own …

In the winter of 1831, tribes were first chased Chocktaw on earth, and their deportation deportations served as a model for other tribes. Native American tribes followed Seminole, who were deported in 1832, two years later ethnic Creek suffered the same fate, because Indians Chicksaw be deprived, in turn, once in 1837. Cherokee warriors were driven to the sad year 1838. All these innocents have started a long march to exterminate the famous “Indian Territory”, a land of barren land, barren and inhospitable, appointed by U.S. authorities as a surrogate home for these disinherited of fate. Only a small proportion of the populations mentioned managed to hide and escape evacuation campaign.Their descendants are found today in small communities scattered throughout the states Mississippi, Florida, Alabama and North Carolina. Expulsion continued until the end of 1840.

Result was a grim: tens of thousands of Indians perished or were driven out and the white settlers just înhăţaseră virgin territory with a total area of approximately 100,000 square kilometers! 

Suffering and Memory

The banishment of the natives continued unhindered until Washington found that the number of natives had sufficiently low so that they do not represent a major threat if wished to rebel.

Unfortunate, herded like cattle to lands designated by the authorities, have gone through unimaginable torment. No wonder some American historians consider the episode as the most painful road Tears sad page in the history of genocide that have been subjected to North American Indians.

Thousands of natives, some chained, marched on foot, cold or heat, without water and food. Assault suffered hunger, of thirst, disease and exposure to the elements. Many have died. For example, of the 15,000 Cherokee Indians, about 4,000 have not reached the destination of Oklahoma State today. Road killed … Tears 
came quickly new land administration authorities and thousands of settlers were given land so free.

In 1838, only 2,000 ethnic Cherokee live in their territory now included within the borders of Georgia State. Washington has found that there were too many. Consequently President Martin Van Buren sent expeditionary corps of 7,000 federal troops led by General Winfield Scott, to chase the Indians rebelled. Under threat of bayonets, soldiers brave Uncle Sam robbed the natives of the few goods Cherokee and money acquired it.

Then they lined and forced them to march 2,000 miles to the place designated by the authorities.Typhus, virosis, dysentery, cholera and famine have killed a lot of Native Americans. 
even those who have reached the so-called Indian Territory have fared better. The federal government promised that the new territories will live in peace, undisturbed by anyone. 
Obviously, it was not. 
As settlers continued exploration of the West, Indian Territory decreased continuously, so that when Oklahoma State was proclaimed in 1907 , land of the Indians surrogate gone for good.

Sad moment in history was commemorated in 1987, when federal authorities have authorized the opening of a road historic memorial, with a total length of 3500 km.
Entitled “Trail of Tears National Historic Trail”, this unique historic portions of nine states across the U.S. and serves today as a place of meditation of Native Americans.

Image via Wikipedia

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It led to the forcible (and if anyone says differently they’re ignorant or lying) removal of tribes such as the Cherokee from their lands. The reality is, Jackson may well have been a Military hero, but he was also by any standard of decency, a deeply despicable man.

Now his defenders will say that for all his faults he did more good than evil, and others will say that in signing the IRA he was just appeasing those who wanted it put in place, but if he had any heart whatsoever he would have opposed the IRA with fervor.

According to everything I have heard though, Jackson not only did NOT oppose the IRA, but was one of it’s most enthusiastic supporters, AND THIS is the man we HONOR on our $20 bill??

Jackson’s presidency had both many strengths and weaknesses. Like other outstanding presidents, Jackson too was very notable during his time in office. He made actions that were considered strengths and weaknesses. He was one of the four candidates of the “corrupt Bargain” of 1824. He had strong appeal in the West and won the popular vote. He is acknowlegded today for being on the twenty dollar bill. He liked being heard. He is most know for the Spoils System and the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Also, he distrusted big monopolies.

“Jackson’s followers presented their hero as a rough-hewn frontiersman and a stalwart champion of the common man.” (American Pageant p.260) Andrew Jackson had a strength. He knew what he wanted and stood up to his word. He wasn’t whimpy, and wanted others to speak boldly of his name. He had many workers, or volunteers, that would reside in all the states. Those people employeed even more workers to form small sections which would work in a certain area and spread the good rumors about Jackson. Those people were asked to do good in Jackson’s name so citizens (voters) knew who he was and so they would vote for him. Eventually, this has done great good for his campaign. Jackson was elected president. Then the workers wanted their reward for getting him to a high position in governement. Now, Jackson was famous so his care for his helpers went down, but he was still true to his promise. He rolled out the spoils system which encouraged rotation in office in order to prevent any corruption in the government (Definition from dictionary.com). This allowed Jackson to put any person he wanted into any goverment job in the country. This was good for Jackson’s workers but not good for the people that were being replaced.

Although he had many strengths, Jackson was known for the controversial part of his decision on the Indian Removal Act. Some people favored that he kicked out the Indians, which would allow further expansion to the West and the United State’s population could flourish. Some didn’t think the same as Jackson on this issue. The Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee Indians could stay where they were. Jackson wasn’t pleased with what the court said and sent troops to move the Cherokee Indians out. The reason why this is looked upon as a negative weakness on Jackson’s part is because his decision resulted in the “Trail of Tears” and the deaths of around 4,000 Indians.

President Jackson and his administration used unethical methods, while dealing with Indians. About 500 Cherokee Indians, who were not the chiefs nor had they any actual power signed the treaty, which sold all of their lands for just five million dollars plus an entitlement of seven million acres out west, for the entire Cherokee nation. When a petition was quickly organized among the Cherokees, 16,000 Indians gave they signature against the treaty. President Jackson just ignored it, because the voices of those 500 were more suitable to him, than the cries of those 16,000.

            In essence, President Jackson did everything to remove the Indians and used both unethical and undemocratical ways to achieve that goal. A treaty, which was signed with the Creeks was broken, the government did nothing to protect them from white settlers, who cheated the Creeks of their land. And because the Creeks were forced to steal, Secretary of War ordered the removal of the Creeks as a military requirement. Similar situation was with the Chickasaws. The tribe signed a treaty, that would protect them until they moved, but the War Department backed down on its promise. US government didn’t hold their end of the deal, but expected the Indians to do so.

We all know about the current removal of the Cherokee nation. I don’t know how far they have reached, but seeing them leave, I was left astonished. The tribe, about 16,000 people, moved barefoot, including children and elders. They were basically robbed of their land and now, they are forced to travel hundreds of miles in inhumane conditions.

And now, seven years after signing the Indian removal act, President Jackson and his administration has removed 46,000 Native American people from their land east of the Mississippi. About 25 million acres of Indian land is now populated by cotton growers and other white settlers, who light heartedly cultivate the land, without knowing what heartbreak it had caused for numerous Indian tribes.

Image by Todd Ryburn via Flickr

For this reason I have always loved the wisdom of native American people insofar as they have spent centuries pulling profound truths out of their natural surroundings.  They look at nature and see correlations to their own circumstances, and life values.  It’s a profound pity that in our busy, technology crazed world, we fail to see such wisdom, and too often don’t really care.  We solve our problems with the click of a button, or soft touch on an iPad. 

Just the other day I was battling with my own two wolves, and for a moment the bad wolf was winning.  I found myself being consumed by negative thoughts, and feelings of bitter anger over a situation within which I found myself.  The story of the two wolves came to mind as I closed my eyes and imagined confronting the bad wolf inside me, letting it know that I was not going to feed it anymore.  I visualized this creature foaming at the mouth, and positioning itself to attack me, yet the more I screamed at it, and removed it’s source of food, it seemed to grow weak and timid.  I then imagined hand-feeding the good wolf who was peacefully devouring the morsel I held out to it.  I experienced a profound sense of peace inside me as I saw the bad wolf whimpering, and growing weaker.

Years ago I would have laughed at the idea of such imagery, mostly due to a strain of closed mindedness that I have carried with me throughout life.  I have since come to realize that the power of the mind is fully capable of assisting us in changing our lives, and as the biologist Bruce Lipton has pointed out in his brilliant book, The Biology of Belief, we can literally change our lives by merely changing our beliefs, and attitudes.  a big part of this is learning not to feed the bad wolf inside of us.

There is a great value, I believe, in visualizing our positive and negative traits in this manner, in that we can vividly attach what ails us to something concrete, not in a physical, substantive way, but nonetheless in an effective use of our “real” imaginations. 

Other examples I have heard, regarding the use if imagery, involves imagining a big red stop sign popping up in your mind as a way of stopping you from lying, or saying something inappropriate, or perhaps acting out in an inappropriate manner.  Again, the mind is a powerful tool to help us develop into better people, and to allow our better angels to reign supreme in our lives.

I believe this is also a gift from God, the giver of life, and all that is good and decent.  He created our minds, and expects us to use them in ways that not only bring glory to Him, but to enable us to live positive, and productive lives.  There are a couple of New Testament verses that come to mind regarding the positive use of the mind.  Philippians 4:8,  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  The admonition here is to fill the mind with goodness, and virtuous thoughts, and this is something that is impossible to do if we continue to feed the bad wolf.  Another verse is found in James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”  How can any of us live consistent lives when we attempt to feed both wolves?  

Facts: Samuel Worcester was a resident of the state of Vermont sent to The Cherokee Nation as a missionary. Yet the state of Georgia does not permit U.S citizens to enter The Cherokee Nation unless they receive a passport from the governor. Worcester argued that this Georgia law broke Indian sovereignty treaties, which are held at a federal level. Worcester was convicted by the state of Georgia and sentence to four years hard labor at a penitentiary.

Issue: Wether the act of legislature of Georgia, under which the plaintiff in error has been prosecuted and condemned, be consistent with, or repugnant to, the constitution, laws and treaties of the United States.

Held: No.

Rationale: The court ruled that only the United States had the authority to make treaties and regulations with Native Americans. Georgia has absolutely no authority in the matter, the plaintiff was on tribal land. All treaties offer a federal jurisdiction. However, treaties made with The Cherokee Nation promise “the benefit and comfort” and “prevention of injuries and oppression” of these Indians, yet the United States still has control over their trading regulations and regulation of all affairs. Therefore the treaty is hypocritical considering that the articles state that The Cherokee are capable of governing themselves, and may ascertain boundaries between themselves and the United States. Thus the treaty has been renewed several times, and specific pledges have been added. Such as allowing The Cherokee Nation to punish citizens whom are unlawfully in their land. The United States has also pledged to recognize Indian Nations as distinct political communities, having territorial boundaries. States only have jurisdiction over Native lands if they are being invaded.

Five hundred years ago, Native American tribes lost 1,854,000,000 acres of ancestral land to white settlers and their expansion. A few gave up their land in unfair trades but many were forced off their land by American explorers, settlers and military men. In the 1960’s Native American activism began to emerge nationwide along with the rest of the civil rights movement. Now that Native Americans have finally had their chance to speak freely about their hardships, American citizens are looking for the truth about why Native American health, education and economic averages are below national standards in many Native American reservations. They are lacking basic healthcare even as the rest of the nation worries about their pre-existing coverage changing. Education is not any better. Many Native American teenagers drop out of high school due to the fact that their employment options are few. Therefore, the reservations’ economies have been failing, diving farther into economic problems than those of the nation they live in. The United States’ government is not providing Native Americans the three basic rights of an American citizen: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

            One might think that Native Americans should simply leave their reservations to get proper healthcare, education and careers. However, it is not this simple. To a Native American, their reservation is not simply territory. It is their home, and every neighbor is a part of a larger family they call their tribe. Reservations are more closely knit than most people would know. Many Native Americans would rather not leave their reservation due to the fact that they usually do not have friends outside the reservation. Also, their traditions and cultures tend to make “outsiders” think badly of them, so many Native Americans would rather not leave the reservation even for serious health reasons. Therefore, healthcare is provided within, although it is most often, not the greatest. Native children were taken off of reservations to be “whitewashed” in schools such as the Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. It is known that some brave high school graduates have tried to leave reservations to study in universities but have returned before graduation due to the fact that life outside their reservation, away from their tribe, is difficult. These are only a few reasons as to why a Native American would not want to leave his or her reservation. Ben Nighthorse Campbell wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Times; part of his letter stated: “ At the time of Columbus’ arrival in the New World, Native Americans had advanced cultures with strong family structures, devout religious beliefs, representative and elective governments, respect for elders, sophisticated medicine and an ecologically sound way of life.” For those who complain about how Native Americans would be better off if reservations did not exist: reservations are a way of keeping tribes together and keeping the old ways. Tim Giago, editor and publisher of the Lakota Times stated that “We (Native Americans) are not living in the past when we talk about our sacred treaties, sacred sites or the visions handed down to us through the oral history of our ancestors. We are talking about yesterday, today and tomorrow. To us they are all one and the same.” Native Americans would rather live in their ancestral land than in some foreign territory they were forced onto. It was also stated that “The modern Indian rights movement is rooted in reverence for land. Native Americans have never forgotten the vast territory they surrendered to the U.S. government more than a century ago. At the same time, they retain a deep attachment to the land they still hold. For tribal Indians, land is more than a source of food and work. It is an integral part of their religion and world view.” (Worsnop) Reservations were not needed before the white men landed on the shores of the “New World”. They were a white man’s creation and now the descendents of he who invented the reservation are complaining about how Native Americans would be better off leaving them. One positive aspect is that every reservation is treated as sovereignty. “This means that many local, state and federal laws are suspended on Indian territory.” (Querry 48) Sometimes the question of “Should America just have left it all alone in the first place.” arises and the answer tends to be “yes”. If European settlers had never been rude to the Native Americans in the first place, there would not be so many disputes over territory and legal rights today. However, there are also disputes over the quality of Native American health as well.

            Native American healthcare is poor. In reservations, for every 100, 000 people there are only 96 doctors and 251 nurses. For the general population, for every 100,000 people, there are 208 doctors and 672 nurses. This shows that although they do receive medical attention it is nowhere near the amount of medical attention the general population of the United States receives. It is difficult to comprehend how Native Americans, those who were here before the “Founding Fathers” of the United States of America, could be ignored as they are today. They suffer from diseases that average Americans do not normally acquire due to the fact that most Americans have easy access to many doctors and hospitals. This is never a good thing especially when easily treatable illnesses and disorders are on the rise on many reservations.

Suicide and alcoholism are two of the major causes of death for Native Americans.  Many of those deaths are teenagers who drop out of high school or just do not receive enough education about the dangers of alcohol abuse. According to an article from CQ Researcher Online, $70,000 was taken from a juvenile alcohol abuse prevention program to finance a fitness retreat for the Indian Health Service managers. While Native American healthcare nears oblivion, greedy “outsiders” take funds that are rightfully the native’s and use them for their own gain.

Another factor that leads to teenage suicide is the use of Native American names for sports teams. Susan Shown Harjo, president of the Morning Star Foundation in Washington D.C. “feels very strongly that Indian names for sports teams, such as Chippewas, Braves, Apaches and Chiefs, lower the self esteem of Native American teenagers and thus contribute to their high suicide rate.” To put this into comprehendible terms, the teenagers believe that they must live up to the name of the team but many of them feel as though they never can. Other times, teenagers feel as though the crowds who boo the team are really booing and jeering at them, rather than the team itself. Lastly, many gymnasium floors have a picture of the team mascot on the floor. When thousands of people walk all over that mascot, especially if it is a stereotypic face or emblem, it hurts emotionally. It would be as if a picture of Jesus was painted on the floor of a famous school and many basketball teams and teenage dances walked all over it, without a care in the world. To many Native American teenagers, seeing non-Native Americans carelessly step on a face of an “Indian” or scream “war chants” and wave tomahawks at football games hits home hard and scars them emotionally. It is essentially a form of emotional harassment towards Native Americans. Many high schools and colleges across the nation have accepted the fact that “portraying Native Americans as one dimensional warrior figures robs them of their dignity.” (Worsnop) Other teams such as the Washington Redskins refuse to change. Their owner, Jack Kent Cooke states: “‘The name was never intended to offend anyone.’ A Redskin’s policy declares, ‘Over the long history of the Washington Redskins, the name has reflected positive attributes of the Native Indian such as dedication, courage and pride.” If one were to ask ten Native American teenage boys across the country whether they agreed with Mr. Cooke’s statement, it would be probable that at least six out of the ten would disagree.

Other surprising causes of death include: depression, diabetes, tuberculosis and sudden infant death syndrome. Such things as depression and tuberculosis are usually easily treatable, however in Native American reservations, such a level of healthcare is not as easily provided, and so many more people die from these illnesses than is usual in the United States. As a matter of fact, death rates from tuberculosis and alcoholism alone are 650% higher than the overall United States’ rates. Suicide rates of Native American teenagers are three times higher than that of the general youth population of the United States. (Katel) Part of the blame should go towards the fact that according to the 1980 census, 392,000 Native Americans were living in poverty. One quarter of reservation houses lacked complete plumbing such as running hot and cold water, a flush toilet or an indoor bath of shower. Sixteen percent of reservation house lacked electric lighting. How is a citizen of the United States supposed to maintain their health and proper hygiene when they are still in a state of living in a 3rd world country?

Thankfully, since 1980 laws have been passed that help to raise the standards of living in a reservation. One law protects against child abuse, as it ensures that workers dealing with Native American children do not have criminal records. In addition to this law, if anyone knows about a worker with a criminal background does not report it, and later gets exposed, they will be fined. Another law provides funding for immunizations, mental health care, child abuse treatment, health awareness and disease prevention. However, currently, in Arizona’s San Carlos Apache Reservation, they are dealing with a fatal methamphetamine epidemic. The Upper Plains and West Native American reservations are the third largest group of methamphetamine users. This is another negative aspect of Native American health. Many teenagers on Native American reservations face alcoholism and drug abuse. The worst part is that help is not as available to them as it is to the general population of the United States; so many cases of drug and alcohol abuse go unheard along with other diet problems.

 Eating habits in many reservations are also not to the standards of the average, healthy American. Due to their low incomes, many Native Americans do not have the funds to buy healthy foods such as fresh vegetables so many have no choice but to purchase cheaper, less nutritious, processed foods. This unhealthy trend leads to serious health problems, just as it has to over a million ‘general population’ Americans already.

Overall, the average age of death for all races in 1960 in America was 62 years old. For Native Americans, it was 42. The health of an average Native American is clearly not as high-quality as that of an average person from the general population. Due to problems in government, reservations do not receive enough funding for healthcare and this leads to serious issues in the lifespan of the average Native American. If the government does not provide Native Americans with the funding they require to be as healthy as an average American of the general population, then aren’t they allowing them to become ill and die? The three basic rights of an American citizen are: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. How can a Native American ill with tuberculosis, without proper medical attention have life, have liberty and be able to pursue that which makes them happy? The government is not doing what it should to ensure that Native Americans have a fair chance at the three basic rights the United State’s forefathers ensured to all American citizens, and technically, Native Americans were the first citizens since they were here even before the forefathers of the United States were. Native Americans have always had a complex culture and they taught each generation well. However, things have changed since the 17th century. 21st century skills are lacking in many reservations.

            Native American education has not been doing well, now or ever. One out of every five Native Americans, older than twenty five years old in tribes that do not own any form of gambling business have less than a 9th grade education. Of those children who are educated, 90% go to state operated public schools outside of reservations, and 10% of children go to tribal schools, of which many can be described as “condemnable buildings.”(Katel) In the early 1900’s, Native American children were taken from their reservations and sent to white boarding schools such as the Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where they were not allowed to speak their native languages. These boarding schools were run by the government and were designed to “whitewash” the “Indians”. This was just another way of trying to forcefully integrate them into the Neo-American culture. These schools tore tribes apart and ruined their culture because the young children were not allowed to practice their culture in these “whitewashing” schools. If the children could not learn or practice their culture then they could not pass on their knowledge of their ancestors to the next generation. Due to the lack of passing on of tribal historical education, the culture overall weakened in many tribes. This caused a decrease in the amount of historical stories and language knowledge, thus many tribes suffered spiritually as well as culturally.

In 2007, the Department of Education spent one billion on Native American education, six million less than 2006. However, the only thing that seems to be helping Native American education is revenue from gambling businesses such as casinos. The revenue is distributed among many categories of tribal life, including the education of their youth. Many tribes have difficulty educating their children because of their economic standings and overall status of schools. While many average American children go to school in well-kept public schools, the average Native American who goes to school on a reservation will not receive the same level of education as one who attends a state-regulated, well kept public school. This low level of enthusiasm towards Native American education leads one to conclude that the government does not care about the Native Americans anymore. The reasoning behind this is that they are merely putting a billion dollars in their fund without thought to what the money will go towards. To the extent of the researched information, there are not nearly as many regulations, laws and standards for Native American schools as there are for state regulated, public schools such as Northwestern Regional 7 High School. Due to the attitude of the government and education officials toward Native American schools, many choose to drop out before their 12th grade graduation. This does not help either the employment rate of the reservation or the overall 21st century knowledge level of the average Native American. There is a sense that the government simply does not care about the education of Native Americans. This apathy towards what some believe to be the most important ethnicity in the United States is reflected in the quality of life in many reservations. The level of poverty, disease, and substandard living conditions are all what one would find in a 3rd world country. However, one must still keep in mind that these words are being used to describe the lifestyle of a Native American in the late 20th and 21st century of the United States of America. This absence of knowledge in Native American reservations leads one to conclude that Native American education is no doubt below national standards.

            Many Native American economies have been suffering more than the average American. This is due to many reasons, one of which being that there are very few employment options on many reservations. Native Americans suffer from “rampant unemployment and underemployment.” (Worsnop) It is a fact that American Indians have the highest unemployment, poverty and disease rates of any ethnic group in the United States. To combat the shortage of jobs and lack of government funding, Native American tribes that reside near populated areas and famous tourist attractions may decide to build casinos.

Casinos have been zproven to increase the standards of three aspects of a Native American lifestyle: health, education and personal economies. However, not only do they bring revenue but also employment opportunities.  According to R.L Worsnop from a C.Q. Researcher Online article, “Indians get $1.3 billion from their casinos and many tribes say that those kinds of revenues are ‘crucial to their economic survival.’ Gambling is a key source of jobs on reservations, where unemployment rates are above 40%, which is not uncommon.” (Worsnop) These gambling centers bring tourists and therefore revenue into tribal hands. Many Native Americans have been able to find work in casinos and this helps both the employment rate of the tribe and the Native American’s well-being. According to an article by P. Katel in CQ Researcher Online: “Two hundred twenty-eight tribes in thirty states opened 367 high stakes bingo halls or casinos in 2004 and earned an estimated $19.6 billion.” These gambling businesses helped to ease the problems created by low government funding. Although casinos have decreased the status of Native American people, they have increased funding for education, health care and tribal government. They are “powerful economic energies for many tribal economies”. (Katel) Overall, fifteen grossed $250 million or more, forty grossed $100 million to $250 million, fifty-seven earned $3 million to $10 million and ninety four earned less than $3 million. (Katel) If properly distributed, even $3 million dollars makes a difference in the lives of Native American tribes. Even those casinos that never make more than five million dollars, still obtain some sort of revenue to help pay for tribal expenses.

Many presidents have not been helping to aid the Native Americans, such as President Reagan in the 1980’s. He cut 1/3 of the federal assistance to Natives. $ 3.5 billion dollars was cut to $2 billion dollars. Very few tribes were able to recuperate and gain revenue from other sources. President Regan also pocket-vetoed a bill that was to provide $100 million for an Indian Redevelopment Finance Commission that was to make loans to Indian businesses. However in 1970, President Nixon reorganized the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Native Americans were given top level bureau positions. Also, federal funding for Indian programs was expanded.

Although the presidents have a large responsibility to fund Native American tribes, there have been some that have successfully funded themselves through ancestral ways. Take the Navajo for example, they decided to grow potatoes, and now they are Frito Lay’s largest supplier of potatoes! (Worsnop) Since they took their financial issues into their own hands and figured out how to make ends meet and beyond, they earn enough to keep the reservation running healthy and also provide enough for a better education than most Native Americans receive in general. However, their potato sales are not enough, and in 2004 they finally approved gambling on their reservation, they only approved it for two reasons: they needed the jobs and the extra revenue it would bring to the tribe. When Native American unemployment on reservations nationwide is 49%, which is ten times the national rate, (Katel) ideas like these bring about positive changes to Native American tribes and eventually help them to recover from their social depression.

As of 2006, the per capita income has increased 20% on reservations to $7,942. In tribes who operate a casino, it has increased 36% to $9,771. Unemployment, on the other hand has decreased five percent on reservations and Native American areas. Child poverty in non-gambling tribes dropped from 55% of the child population to 44%. Times have been changing for many Native American tribes, but when one’s ethnicity makes up a bit more than 1% of the national population, (All percentages and values, Katel) the changes are not seen as prominently as if they were changes made to white populations. Although the Native Americans were here before the forefathers of this nation and the immigrants who came here to escape the countries they hailed from, they were pushed down and disregarded as anyone important. Immigrants from many nations quickly overtook the land the natives called home. In addition, when immigrants were given their rights, not a single thought was spared for the Native Americans, those whose land was now inhabited by strangers. Still today, they do not seem to have the full rights of an American citizen. At least, they technically have the rights, but the government will not approve anything for them, leaving many tribes out of sight and out of mind. If the government is supposed to represent that which it governs and stands for, then how can is represent that which it does not care for? It is common knowledge that in modern times, if one does not have the means to support themselves, then they will not go far.  

In conclusion, Native Americans have been struggling for centuries to catch up to the United States government’s standards of health, education and economy. However, the government has not been trying its hardest to support America’s true founding fathers. Therefore, if they are dying from disease, forced to stay on reservations for their own safety and economic security, how can one say that Native Americans have the same basic rights as the general population of the United States? What does America really owe those who inhabited this land before the white men, those who taught him the ways of this land? What does America fail to give back to those who gave us everything in return for nothing, moved their people almost without opposition? Has the United States failed to provide to the true forefathers of this land, that what Americans declared in their Constitution, “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness?”

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Works Cited

Cooper, M. H. (1996, July 12). Native Americans’ future. CQ Researcher, 6, 601-624. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996071200

Katel, P. (2006, April 28.) American Indians. CQ Researcher, 16, 361-384. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher.com/cqresrre2006042800

Landers, R. K. (1991, January 18). Is America allowing its past to be stolen?. CQ Researcher, 1, 34-49. Retrieved March 1, 2010, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher.com/cqresrre1991011800

Querry, Ronald B. Native Americans Struggle for Equality. Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Corporation, Inc, 1992.

Worsnop, R. L. (1992, May 8). Native Americans. CQ Researcher, 2, 385-408. Retrieved March 1, 2010 from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher.com/cqresrre1992050800

Minor Sources

Davey, Monica. “Insult or Honor?” The New York Times: Upfront.

Josephy, Alvin M. Red Power.

Image via Wikipedia

I encourage you to review this image in larger detail, then view the image below. Please go to their Wikipedia link and zoom. It is unbelievable what the new settlers of America have done in only a few millennium.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

Spanish Moss hanging on a fallen limb.

Take a drive through any forest or tree lined lane in the southeastern United States, and you will see Spanish Moss draped on the oak trees.

Spanish Moss (tillandsia usneoides) is a flowering herb plant that grows on host trees in the hot humid areas of the United States. It seems to favor large trees such as the Southern Live Oak and Bald Cypress.

Known as an epiphyte or air plant, Spanish Moss has no aerial roots and tiny inconspicuous flowers. It is well recognized by its curly heavily scaled leaves that grow in a chain like fashion to form large hanging masses.

While rarely causing harm to the host tree by stealing its nutrients, it can harm the tree by blocking sunlight or weakening the branches with its weight. This can cause damage to homes, property or people, if the branches break especially during hurricane season.

Another problem with Spanish Moss is the creatures who make a home within its tangled grey depths. It is a popular habitat for birds, bats, warbles, reptiles, redbugs, chiggers, rat snakes and one species of jumping spider. Care must be taken when removing Spanish Moss as the bug population can cause itching or a rash to exposed skin.

Now that we have discussed the scientific aspects of Spanish Moss, let’s delve into the more romanticized local legends that have been told for generations about the origins of this unique plant.

The story told in South Carolina goes like this: In 1700 a traveler came to Charleston with his Spanish fiancée to build a fine plantation. While walking over the site of their new home and making plans for the future, they were attacked by a band of Cherokee and killed. As a warning to stay away from the Cherokee Nation, they cut off the long raven locks of the doomed fiancée, and hung them in the branches of an oak tree.  The hair shriveled and turned grey and begin spreading from tree to tree. Soon it spread from the Carolinas to Florida and Georgia. A testimonial to the direr warnings of the Cherokee Nation to stay off the land of their forefathers.

In Louisiana this is the tale of the Spanish Moss: An Indian brave of the Choctaw Clan lived on the banks of the bayou with his beautiful, and much loved wife. His wife died in childbirth with the couple’s first child. The grieving husband buried his wife and child, at the base of a huge oak tree, and hung her long midnight braids on a tree limb to mark the gravesite. In time, the braids turned grey and hung down from the branches like flowing teardrops. Soon the winds carried the weeping strands from tree to tree until they covered all the villages along the Gulf of Mexico. And the tree hair or Itla-okla, as it is known in the Choctaw Indian language still weeps to this day for a grieving husband and father.

In Florida this is how the legend goes: In the early days of Florida’s history, when the Spanish ruled the Gulf of Mexico, a villain named Gorez Goz fled Spain for the panhandle. Finding little more than a rough village under Spanish rule, Goz set about making his mark. While his heart was hard and cruel, it was touched by love for a beautiful Indian maid. He bargained with her father, and bought her for his bride with a yard of braid and a bar of soap. The Indian maid was afraid of her new husband-to-be and fled from his sight. Finding the object of his affection had taken flight, he gave chase. The young Indian lass was so bent on being free of the Spaniard, she climbed on the slender branch of an oak tree and dove into a lake. Hell bent on catching his prize, Goz climbed out on the limb after her, and caught his long grey whiskers in the branches. His fight to free himself ended with his own beard choking him to death. The Indian maiden was free and the whiskers left in the limbs as a warning to other Spanish crooks. Soon the whiskers began to spread from tree to tree and were called Spanish Moss.

Image via Wikipedia

Spanish Moss hanging off an oak tree.