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Native American Cultures

N ative Americans throughout the east

A Cherokee chief called Stalking Turkey, painted in London by F. Parson in 1762 (below).

Five Civilized Tribes The larger nations of this area were the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, Choctaw, and Seminole who became known by the European settlers as the Five Civilized Tribes. This was because their societies were organized in a way that was familiar to Europeans. For example, in the Creek nations town councils met every day to discuss problems and affairs. They had a very strong clan system, which meant that families were loyal to each other. Creek towns were set out around a public square, with summer and winter council houses, a hot house for winter activities and an open yard for games in summer. Their houses were rectangular and built from wood with walls plastered in mud and grass. There was always a hole in the roof to allow smoke from the fire to escape. Each house was occupied by several families of one clan. Cherokee Villages A Cherokee village surrounded a huge, seven-sided, domed council house. It could hold up to 500 people and was used during ceremonies and council meetings. Around it were the games fields and farming land for the whole community. On the edges of this land were the Cherokees’ small rectangular houses.

played team games. This one, painted by Charles Deas in 1843, shows an early form of lacrosse.

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