Library of Congress Calendar - Cheyenne History
buffalo hunters. I don't know Cheyenne history (I'm Lenape) but did
they
> really ABANDON and MOVE? There is a Lenape history titled Delawares
Westward
> Migration. The title kept me from reading it for years because
it made me
> angry to call what happened a migration but without the title
the book is
> good.
Jackie,
This is early Cheyenne history. The Cheyenne people are the most western
branch of the alogonquian people. They originally came from the great
lakes area. There are many theories about why the Cheyenne moved from
the great lakes area. Most of them involve competition in the area with
the Ojibwe, Ree, and Mandan.
Basically the Cheyenne, have evolved from an agriculture based society to
the plains warriors that fought Custer in 1876.
Religiously, the Cheyenne were guided to the plains area by Maheo'o.
They also were sent a prophet name Sweet Medicine who helped organize
themselves, and develop a code to live by. He gave them their first
sacred item -- the four sacred arrows. It was at this point the Cheyenne
became a powerful force to be reckon with. Their hunting territory
extended from the platte river to what is now eastern montana. A southern
group, also had a hunting grounds around the arkansas river. Another
group of people known as the Sohtaio also joined the Cheyenne. It is
said that these two groups of people were one day fighting, when the
Cheyenne overheard the Sohtaio speak amongst themselves. To their
surprise, they could understand the people. Peace was quickly sued for
and these people have lived with the Cheyenne every since.
You also noted the word tsetsestah. Tsetsestah is what the
Cheyenne call themselves. The word Cheyenne was believed to come from
the french word chien for dog. The french traders called these people
this because of the famous dog soldiers of the cheyenne tribe. This is
erroneous. The now accepted etymology of the word cheyenne is that it is
the anglocized word Shyhela which is Sioux.
This is probrably more than you asked for. If there is any other
questions I can answer please feel to free to contact me. Thanks
Eric Spotted Elk
Hanaya, Netonetomohta? |
