Green Corn Festival

What does this story say about the jobs in the Cherokee community?

Read the story, and try to remember as many details as you can.

"Standing Deer of the Cherokee: The Green Corn Festival"

My people call me "a-wi-ga-do-go". In your tongue, I am Standing Deer. My people are Cherokee. The sun is high this time of the year, and we know this time as the time of ripening. It is warm and light. Soon we will celebrate the Green Corn Festival, and my people will dance, sing, feast, and play games for many days. I tell you this so you may know my people better.

Because it is a time of peace, our tribe is led by the white chief. In times of war, the red chief rules. The white chief is wise and good; he rules our people well, and we are glad. It has been many months since the council met to vote on war. For now, our warriors are content to help in the hunt. We have men who travel far to trade with other nations. Others hunt. The warriors gather only in time of war, but they are prepared and watchful, even when father sun shines so brightly.

Today, the warriors are helping our shaman prepare our ceremonial circle. Their chanting echoes throughout the woods and lets us all know that it is time now to fast and cleanse ourselves for the Green Corn Ceremony. The warriors circle the cooking fire with cornstalks. Soon we will boil this first corn and tie it to poles over the new fire. These we offer to the Great Spirit in thanksgiving for a fine, ripe harvest.

After the warriors and shaman prepare the circle, the fire maker comes to arrange the four logs crosswise for our fire. This new fire is sacred and powerful. We do these things with reverence and a knowing that much is at work that we cannot see. It is the Great Spirit who brings us all we have, and we acknowledge these gifts.

The medicine man is preparing the black herb mixture that will help cleanse and purify our people for the feasting that will come. He will make strong medicine to consecrate the ground on which we will soon dance. Our people will rejoice in this dancing: the stomp dance, the feather dance, and that of the buffalo.

The women will prepare a great feast. After fasting, at last we will feast and everyone will eat their fill. The women have gathered the corn, and it is ripe and ready for eating.

The hunters have brought bison, bear, and duck. When it is time, each will have their fill.

Our village is ready now, and the ceremony must begin. All the men and women have done their work, just as they always do. Each has a task, and together we form a family, a village, and a people of goodwill.