There are seven clans of the Cherokee Indian. It is important to know these clans and the differences between them, because the Cherokee people are not allowed to marry inside their clan. Because women are the head of the household in the Cherokee nation, children are placed in the clan of their mother. Members within a clan are considered brothers and sisters.
It is said that there were originally 14 Cherokee clans, but some would not obey the laws and customs of the people and were driven out of the nation. The expelled clans formed the tribes known now as the Erie, Mohawk, Onandaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Oneida.
The seven clans that remained became known as Ugaya, or the Seven Clan Society.
THE SEVEN CLANS
The Seven Clans of the Cherokee Nation
- Aniwahya
- Ani Tsiskwa
- Anikawi
- Anigilohi
- Anisahoni
- Anigatogewi
- Aniwodi
1.) Aniwahya (Wolf Clan or Panther Clan)
THE WOLF CLAN
The Aniwahya Clan Represents War
The Wolf Clan is the largest and most prominent clan. Most of the war chiefs in Cherokee history have come from this clan. They are the keepers and trackers of the wolf, and only they are the only clan who can kill a wolf through special ceremonies and wolf medicines.
It is their responsibility to develop, maintain and teach the knowledge of loyalty, protection and security. They stay up to date when it comes to intelligence regarding the surrounding environment and function as part of the group while maintaining their own individuality, much like the wolf. The clan color of the Aniwahya is black, their wood is hickory.
THE SMALL BIRD OR EAGLE CLAN
The Ani Tsiskwa Clan Represents Spirit
The Small Bird Clan rests in the north, on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Members of this clan are keepers of the birds, sacred feathers and bird medicines. They are very skilled in using blowguns and snares for bird hunting. These clan members are the messengers of the Cherokee nation. They are responsible for teaching the importance of recognizing the whole pattern of life regarding positive and negative events. They teach keen observation, sharing and giving, interpretation of dreams, the birds, interpretation of their messages and their willingness for self-sacrifice for the sake of the two-legged ones. They are also responsible for collecting feathers earned by others, because they were the only ones authorized to collect them. Their color is purple, their wood is maple.
THE DEER CLAN
The Anikawi Clan Represents Peace
These clan members are the keepers of the deer, deer hunters and trackers, tanners and seamers and keepers of the deer medicines. They reside in the northwest on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. They are known as fast runners and foot messengers, delivering messages from village-to-village or person-to-person. They also maintain all sports and sports equipment. It is their responsibility to teach the knowledge of relaxation and unconditional love. They also teach of the deer and its habitat, including its willingness of self-sacrifice in order to provide the two-legged ones with food and clothing. Their color is brown or white and, their wood is oak.
THE LONG HAIR CLAN
The Anigilohi Clan Represents Day and Night
Members of the Twister Clan are also known as Long Hair, Hanging Down Clan or Wind Clan. The word Gilahi is short for an ancient Gitlvgvnahita, meaning “something that grows from the back of the neck”. They reside in the south on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Members of this clan wore their hair in elaborate hair styles, walked in a proud and vain manner, twisting their shoulders with each step (hence the name, Twister Clan), and Peace Chiefs wore white feather robes. This clan’s responsibility is to teach tradition, spiritual knowledge and intuition. Many old spiritual priests came from this clan. It is sometimes referred to as the Stranger Clan because prisoners of war, orphans from other tribes and others with no Cherokee tribe were often adopted into this clan. Their color is bluish gray.
THE BLUE CLAN
The Anisahoni Clan Represents Sky
Members of the Blue Clan are keepers of all children’s medicines and caretakers of medicinal herb gardens. They reside in the southwest on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. They became known for a medicine that came from a bluish plant called the Blue Holly, ultimately being named after it. They are also known as the Panther Clan or Wildcat Clan in some regions. Their responsibilities include teaching knowledge of the panther and its habitat, truth, ability to balance power, intention, physical strength, grace, and growing, preparing and using herbs for food and medicinal purposes. Their color is blue, their wood is ash.
THE WILD POTATO CLAN
The Anigatogewi Clan Represents Flesh
Members of the Wild Potato Clan are known as farmers and gatherers of wild potato plants in swamps (“gatogewi” meaning swamp) and along streams to make flour or bread. They reside in the south on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Their responsibilities include teaching the knowledge of insight, introspection, gathering, growing and preserving food, and providing shelter. They also teach of the bear and its habitat and the bear’s willingness to self-sacrifice in order to provide food and clothing for the two-legged ones. This clan may have also been known as the Bear Clan. They are nurturers by nature, and gatherers. Their color is yellow their wood is birch.
RED PAINT CLAN
The Aniwodi Clan Represents Life and Death
The people of the Red Paint Clan, or Paint Clan, were also known as the “Corn People.” They resided in the southeast on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Members of this clan made red paint. Dida:hnvwi:sgi (spiritual healers and medicine men) and Adawehi (wisemen) traditionally came from this clan at one time in our history. This clan is the smallest and most secretive of the groups. Their responsibilities include teaching the knowledge of life, birth, death, and spirituality.
They also teach of things kept hidden, second sight and illusion, including the ceremonies, rituals and tools needed for these aspects of Cherokee life. They were the only ones allowed to make a special red paint and dye, used for ceremonial purposes and warfare. This clan is known for their prominent Medicine People. Their color is red, their wood is locust.
CLAN CONTROL
Clan Control
Each clan is controlled by elected women and by elders of both genders. The women were given this responsibility because they were the ones who stayed home with their babies and assured the continuity of the family and clan. Because of this, all property belonged to the women, and the children belonged to their mother’s clan. It was also women who inherited field rights, which were handed down from mother to daughter.
It was the responsibility of each clan to judge and execute any punishment of any social wrong done by a clan member, but the clan did not and could not make the laws or social customs. All laws and customs were made either by the Anidawehi, the people or evolved from of ancient acceptance. All religious laws were handled by the Anidawehi, and Cherokee’s believed religion was part of every day life.
THE FOUR SACRED COLORS
Each of the four sacred colors represents a direction and is associated with certain meanings.
- Red: East / Success / Triumph
- White: South / Peace / Happiness
- Black: West / Death
- Blue: North / Defeat / Trouble
Bonnie Ramsey, Owlcation