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Pottery has been around since the beginning of time and is very common in many native american tribes. It is used often times for storing seeds, carrying water, serving food, and even cooking. The natives made their pottery by hand using different techniques. It comes in many different shapes and sizes. Some are carved or painted to make simple or elaborate designs.

“As the settlements became more permanent, we realized we needed something to store our necessities.” Explains Pari Oviya. Pari is a 35 year old Native American potter from the creek tribe in Kolomoki Georgia. She makes her pottery using coil and slab techniques. The coil technique allows her to build thicker, more durable pieces of pottery. The slab technique is an older method that requires several different pieces to be stuck together using clay diluted with water. This is one way Pari creates patterns for her pottery.

When Pari was asked why she decided to make pottery, she simply said “As a young girl I watched my people weave baskets, make clothing, and craft many other things. Pottery just struck me. It is something so interesting and fun. It is what I love.” Pari hopes to one day teach her daughters the ways of pottery making and pass her techniques down through each new generation.

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The Cherokee Indians had many fierce warriors that were honored for their bravery, fitness, and overall commitment to their tribe. Many children saw warriors as their role models and dreamed of growing up to become a warrior themselves. During the 16-1700’s, it was not as common, but game players were also seen in the same light.

Games were played not only for enjoyment but for much more. The national museum of man contributed to an article that states, “ … games were played ceremonially to bring rain, ensure good harvests, cure illness, expel evil spirits, and give pleasure to the gods by demonstrating physical fitness.” The Bean Game was one of the games that the Cherokee played ceremonially. Multiple beans would be marked on one side and placed unmarked side up in a basket. The goal was to flip as many beans as you can on the marked side without any falling out of the basket. If any beans were to have fallen out of the basket, the team or player would lose a turn and any points earned that round would not be counted. This game was ideal for young children learning to count because the score was usually low and was kept using pieces of corn. Girls were usually forbidden to play.

As mentioned previously, athletes were viewed highly by all. Especially the games that demonstrated more skill and/or physical fitness. These games and athletes were praised even more by the fact that the Cherokee beliefs supported well being, and a happy life. An article states, “ Native Americans highly honored skilled athletes as we do nowadays.”

These North Carolinian Naturals were very creative in their ways of adapting to their environment and holding onto traditions. Well being was the most important lesson in the native life and playing games was one of the important ways that well being was kept steadfast.

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Members of the Creek Tribe love corn, and think that this is the most important crop that there is. Corn is very versatile and can be cooked in so many ways, it can be preserved during cold winter months and it can be eaten right away. Our Creek Tribe uses corn in every meal whether it is the star of the dish or one of the ingredients that helps bring out the flavor in the dish. We live in the perfect area to grow corn, we live in southern Georgia and the weather is beautiful and it is a perfect climate to grow this beloved crop.

Corn isn't just for food. Believe it or not, corn can be used for many other things such as sleeping mats, dolls, and even shoes.The husks can be used as well, so don't throw out that husk. Corn can be basically anything; when it comes to food its used for corn syrup, corn pudding, soups, and many other foods. There are a couple of really common dishes shared by native american sources. The first dish I will share is hominy, its nickname is indian popcorn and it is prepared by soaking the cob in water for several hours. After the cob is soaked it is fried over a slow fire and eaten almost immediately after that. This next dish is a nutritious dish said to be used for energy on long voyages; called Succotash. Succotash is an energy filled dish using melted bacon fat, water, beans, and corn. In this dish, the corn is not the star but it is still a great way to use corn, Finally, this last dish is the most popular known as 3 Sisters Soup. You are probably wondering why the natives call it the 3 Sisters Soup, and no it is not named after 3 sisters, this soup is actually named after the 3 sister crops. The soup contains the three sister crops; corn, beans, and squash. Corn can be used for so many things, so don’t waste it.

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The Native Americans are people of many tribes. Every tribe has it’s differences, but what they all have in common is that they are hard-working. Every member of every tribe has a very particular job, sometimes they keep the same job and sometimes it’s switched up. Kids and adults alike serve their communities in some way or the other. But what do they do in their spare time? With all the work they do day after day, there must be some point where they are confident that they deserve a time-out. Or perhaps they don’t believe in breaks. Perhaps they never rest, and it’s the “way their God’s want it”. What is their culture outside the essentials of survival?

First off, their idea of leisure is much more physical and serious. When the children played their games, they were distinctly focused on strategy. It’s no chess or dice. One of the many activities they partake in is known as “Ring The Stick”. Like many of the other games they are commonly playing, it’s rather simple. A string is tied around one edge of a stick. On the opposite end of the string is a ring. The objective is straight forward; land the ring on the opposite end of the stick by swinging it upwards at a particular angle. It’s no secret that the simpler activities would attract the young ones’ attention, however, the adults’ idea of entertainment has a lot to say about their culture, especially the religious area.

There is a wide variety of dancing, singing, and music. Many of their instruments are visibly made of materials like turtle shells and buffalo horns. Their ceremonies are, to say the least, intense and loud. They style strange costumes and makeup, usually resembling their “gods” and miscellaneous animals. One of the elder’s claimed music was so important to their religion because it was “the language of the spirits.” This further proves that these people seem to make almost everything about religion. While their foreign religion is relatively hard to understand, some of their dances give a tad more of an idea on what they’re all about.

Some of the dances they do routinely are the Bow and Arrow, The Doll, and The Devil. They are just like they sound; every dance has a meaning to it. Every dance represents a part of their life, religion, or both. It’s very fascinating, the symbolism in everything they celebrate, worship, and mourn. It’s truly surprising that they work so hard to survive, battle, and look after one another, and yet they still have time to stay true to everything they were raised to believe in, and follow the guidelines their gods ordered them.

The lives of the Native American people are truly an outlier in the lifestyles we are used to. They are very openly passionate about their art and culture and are able to incorporate their beliefs into these areas very easily. What they call entertainment is very different than our idea of it. It is equally as strange as it is beautiful.