Native Indians of the U.S.

I joined some friends for an annual church retreat at the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and I enjoyed the nature there. Then someone asked whether I had seen an Indian before, I said they are from India and I have many Indian friends. I never knew that the so called natives or aborigines of North America are also called Indians, or American Indians. One day, my husband decided to take me to the Cherokee Indian Reservation in North Carolina which is located near the Smoky Mountains so that I would meet and learn about this tribe.

To view the video on the short introduction of the Oconaluftee Indian Village, click here. You will be able to see some pictures on this replica village of the 18th century depicted here.

I took pictures of the craftsmen at work. Here is a lady weaving a basket.


This man is working with some polished stones and I have forgotten what he was trying to do. Do you have any idea?


This group carved the wood from the tree and used the trough, pestle and mortar-like stuff. I think one man was trying to crush something. It is not easy to visualize or remember things that happened back in the 18th century.


It was a guided tour with demonstrations on tribal ceremonies, where history, culture and style of the Cherokee tribe were explained. I remember that the Trail of Tears was very tragic. The Cherokees were exiled from NC to Oklahoma and traveled on a forced march of six months in a bitter winter where many of them died along the way.

I felt the term "Indian" was confusing and found the answers to why native americans are called Indians here.

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