Spotted Hawk

Welcome to my Sweat Lodge

Osiyo, Let me introduce myself, I am Spotted Hawk, AKA Dan. I live with my family in Chattanooga, TN. I am of mixed heritage

but hold strong to my Tsalagi (Cherokee) blood. I do not claim to be an expert on any customs but am trying to learn all I can and

help others in their search for their native roots. The Cherokee, have a form of Lodge known as Asi, and it is used strictly to

facilitate Healing and for no other purpose. I call this my sweat lodge because I want it to be a place of healing and

a place to meditate and seek answers.

This web page is my humble attempt at hosting a place for others to meet and share knowledge of things that interest

them. I hope the forum will both entertain and help in the sharing of knowledge.

I hope to add links to other sites of interest and if you have a web site you would like to link here please ask.

At present, others and myself are in the process of forming The BEAR SOCIETY INTERTRIBAL. This is an ancient Cherokee

Society of warriors. It is our desire to promote learning of the customs and culture of our Cherokee ancestors.

We have over 800 members at present.

Our Chief is Dr. Ernie Reynolds, Grandfather Eagle, (Udo Wahali), the war chief is Aaron Reynolds, and our priest is Red Bear.

If anyone may be interested in becoming a member, contact me via e-mail.

Grandmaster Reynolds is also the founder of the Black Dragon Association, a mixed martial arts association.

The Bear was respected for great physical and spiritual power, both as a fearsome fighter and as a wise healer. Membership

in the Bear Society was very prestigious and such warriors and medicine men were greatly respected by friends and enemies alike.

ORIGIN OF THE BEAR CLAN

In the long ago time, there was a Cherokee Clan called the Ani-Tsa-gu-hi (Ahnee-jah-goo-hee), and in one family of this clan

was a boy who used to leave home and be gone all day in the mountains. After a while he went oftener and stayed longer,

until at last he would not eat in the house at all, but started off at daybreak and did not come back until night. His parents

scolded, but that did no good. The boy still went every day until they noticed that long brown hair was beginning to grow out all over his body.

Then they wondered and asked him why it was that he wanted to be so much in the woods that he would not even eat at home.

Said the boy, "I find plenty to eat there, and it is better than the corn and beans we have in the settlements, and pretty soon

I am going into the woods to stay all the time."

His parents were worried and begged him not to leave them, but he said, "It is better there than here, and you see I am beginning

to be different already, so that I cannot live here any longer. If you will come with me, there is plenty for all of us and you will never

have to work for it, but if you want to come, you must first fast seven days."

The father and mother talked it over and then told the headmen of the clan. They held a council about the matter and after everything

had been said they decided, "Here we must work hard and have not always enough. There he says is always plenty without work.

We will go with him." So they fasted seven days, and on the seventh morning at Ani-Tsa-gu-hi left the settlement and started for the

mountains as the boy led the way.

When the people of the other towns heard of it they were very sorry and sent their headmen to persuade the Ani Tsaguhi to stay at

home and not go into the woods to live. The messengers found them already on the way, and were surprised to notice that their

bodies were beginning to be covered with hair like that of animals, because for seven days they had not taken human food and

their nature was changing. The Ani Tsaguhi would not come back, but said, "We are going where there is always plenty to eat.

Hereafter we shall be called Yonv(a) (bears), and when you are hungry come into the woods and call us and we shall come to

give your our own flesh. You need not be afraid to kill us, for we shall live always." Then they taught the messengers the songs with

which to call them and bear hunters have these songs still. When they had finished the songs, the Ani Tsaguhi started on again and

the messengers turned back to the settlements, but after going a little way they looked back and saw a drove of bears going into the woods.

Aho! We Are All Related!

Bear Warning!

The Colorado State Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, and golfers to take extra precautions

and be on the alert for bears while in the Dillon, Breckenridge, and Keystone area.

They advise people to wear noise-producing devices such as little bells on their clothing to alert but not startle the bears unexpectedly.

They also advise you to carry pepper spray in case of an encounter with a bear. It is also a good idea to watch for signs of bear activity.

People should be able to recognize the difference between black bear and grizzly bear droppings.

Black bear droppings are smaller and contain berries and possibly squirrel fur.

Grizzly bear droppings have bells in them and smell like pepper spray.

The tradional Cherokee philosophy is that even the smallest drop of Cherokee Blood
makes one a Cherokee.

                                                               There is no such thing as 'part-Cherokee.'
                                                                Either you're Cherokee or you're not.
                                                                It isn't the quantity of Cherokee blood
                                                               in your veins that is important,
                                                               but the quality of it . . . your pride in it.
                                                               I have seen full-bloods
                                                              who have virtually no idea of
                                                               the great legacy entrusted to their care.
                                                               Yet, I have seen people
                                                               with as little as 1/500th blood
                                                               who inspire the spirits of their ancestors
                                                               because they make being Cherokee
                                                               a proud part of a their everyday life."