Native American Heritage Month is celebrated from November 1 through November 30 each year. What began as a day of honoring the first Americans became a full month in 1990 when President George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November as "National American Indian Heritage Month. Other variations of the month-long celebration include "Native American Heritage Month" and "National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month."
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Tradition: Anetsa The game of Anetsa, or stick ball, is played at many Cherokee festivals. Anetsa has been played for hundreds of years. It was traditionally played to settle disputes or for spiritual...
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Tradition: The Cherokee Language Children in Snowbird schools learn the Cherokee language at a young age. They, in turn, may teach a future generation of students the language. In the early part of...
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Mound Ceremony During the Mound Ceremony, people bring a turtle shell full of dirt from their homes. Participants then walk around a sacred fire seven times, one time for each of the seven Cherokee...
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Tradition: The Fading Voices Festival Each year, on the Saturday before Memorial Day, the Fading Voices Festival is held in Snowbird. The festival commemorates community elders and celebrates Cherokee...
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Tradition: The Trail of Tears Singing Every year since 1968, the Snowbird Cherokee have held a ceremony called "The Trail of Tears Singing." The ceremony is held in memory of the Cherokee who were...
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Tradition: Gadugi (ga-doo-gee) The word gadugi means "working together." Originally, the gadugi were a group of people in a Cherokee community who helped others in a time of need. The gadugi planted...
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In Snowbird, some children learn the Cherokee language before they learn English. There are festivals to celebrate Cherokee ancestors and elders and the changing of seasons. Traditional arts, dance...
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Over 500 Cherokee now live on tribal lands that make up the Snowbird Community. Tribal lands, or reservations, are protected for use by Native Americans. The Snowbird Cherokee have kept much of their...
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The Snowbird Cherokee community looks like a typical American community in many ways. There are schools, churches, cars and roads. The Snowbird Cherokee play on local football teams and Snowbird youth...
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Only a few Cherokee escaped the Indian Removal Act. Those who remained found safe hiding places in the remote mountains and valleys of Appalachia. Today, the Snowbird community is home to many...
