Cherokee Women and Their Important Roles:
Women in Cherokee society were seen as equals to men. They could earn the title of War Women and have seats in councils as equals. Because of this, an Irish trader named Adair, who dealt with the Cherokee from 1736 to 1743, called their leadership a “petticoat government.”
Clan lineage was traced through the mother’s side. Children grew up in their mother’s home, and it was the mother’s brother’s responsibility to teach boys how to hunt, fish, and fulfill specific tribal duties. Women owned the houses and all their furnishings. Marriages were carefully arranged, but if a woman chose to divorce, she simply placed her husband’s belongings outside the house. Cherokee women also worked tirelessly. They cared for the children, cooked, maintained the home, tanned animal skins, wove baskets, and farmed the fields. Men helped with some household tasks like sewing but mainly focused on hunting.
Cherokee girls learned through example how to be warriors and healers. They practiced weaving baskets, storytelling, trading, and dancing. They grew up to become mothers and wives, embracing their heritage. The Cherokee people learned to adapt, with women at the heart of their community.