Cherokee Mythology
Cherokee Mythology is hinged on solid beliefs about totemic spirits that were said to have created the world. Also, these spirits are believed to be the initiators and givers of dreams, vision, signs, and so many others. The Cherokee people believed that the first earth came to be as a result of the little water beetle (Dâyuni’sï), which came to down from the sky down to the earth. The earth at this time was surrounded by water and hanging as a result of ropes tied from it to each cardinal point.
After a little paddling, the beetle brought out mud from the water, and this mud expanded in all directions to form the earth. Many other spirits were eager to come down to earth following the little water beetle’s wonder in the sky. Hence, various animals were sent down to check it out; first, the bird was sent to ascertain the dryness of the ground, the buzzard came as a forerunner for others. This myth of creation is held in high regard by the Cherokee people.
The Cherokee Mythology is based on spirits who are responsible for signs, dreams, and visions. The centre of Cherokee Mythology is the goddess of the sun, Unelanuhi. Unelanuhi is said to be all-knowing, all-wise, and generally the commander of the earth. After creating the earth by the little beetle, Unelanuhi became the ruler of the earth and was the one to oversee affairs within it. Legend has it that she caused the earth to produce children for her.
In Cherokee Mythology, the sicknesses and evil encountered by the people are caused mainly by witchcraft with zero belief in the effect of science. The plants on the earth were believed to produce medicine for all diseases of the earth.
Cherokee Mythology will not be discussed fully if the spirits that make up most of the myth are not discussed. The stories and myths of the Cherokee people are passed from generation to generation mainly through oral literature, with only a few written pieces available in specific literature.