A Yuchi Girl's Diary

Dear Diary,                                                                                      

            My grandmother gave me this diary today for a get well gift.  I have a sickness that the medicine man can not cure, and many people have died of.  At least when I go, I will be with the spirits.  So many people have died after the white strangers have left.  They came on huge ships full with guns and weapons.  Oh!  The medicine man needs me to tell him how I am feeling.
Back to the subject, it is confusing to me why they came and why they left in such a hurry, but one thing that I know, is they are evil. They stole our gold and ruined the roundhouse as we were having a dance.  I know that I should be nice to everybody, but I can't with these people!  I think I should stop writing now, I am very tired.                                                                                              
                                                                                                           Love,             
                                                                                                                Katigiwano             
 Dear Diary,                                                                                    


             Today I was about to leave this world for good.  My whole family was at my side and the medicine man had his blessing book out.  Every time somebody died, he said a blessing to tell the spirits to look after them.  He was about to take a deep breath and begin, when suddenly I opened my eyes and sat up.  My family gasped!  Then, I knew that they thought I was dead.  After that, I asked for some berries to satisfy my stomach, and the medicine man gave me this mush made out of deer fat and herbs.  He said that it would calm me down.  I think he thought I was feeling odd.  I am feeling odd at this moment, so I think I should stop writing now.    


                                                                                                    Love,
                                                                                                        Katigiwano
                                                                                                                   


Dear Diary,


            Today my best friend S'afifitteewehi (Gold Feather) came into our chickee and talked to me for a little bit.  She made me forget that I was even sick, how she encouraged me.  I think I will stop writing now, I am not feeling to well.




                                                                                                    Love,
                                                                                                        Katigiwano
                                                                                                                          

A Yuchi Girl

Chief Ho'bosata (Sky Hawk) called a meeting in the roundhouse.  My brother, T'calatasch (Red Water) and my grandmother, P'tsowaneetah ( Sun Women) rushed me to the roundhouse saying that grandfather, Talekoeetha (Story Man) was already there.  When we got there, Chief Ho'bosata asked for offerings for the spirits like he always did before gatherings.  I thought this was a normal gathering until Chief called my brother's name.  He called other boys too.  I ran home as fast as I could when I found out that there had been an attack on a nearby village, and my brother was going to protect our village from attack.  I put the flaps down on our chicksee, so know one would see me crying.  When  grandmother came in she said,
 "K'atigewano, don't cry.  Would you like your grandfather to tell you the story of how you got your name?"
This story always cheered me up so I said yes, and grandfather began.
   "One day, a child was born.  The fist thing that child did, was smile, a loving, friendly smile.  Her parents were delighted when they had that sweet child, but before they could give her a name, one of the wooden poles holding up the chicksee collapsed, and soon the whole chickee was down.  Her mother and father were killed, but the baby, alive.  Now, it was up to her grandparents to take her in, and give her a name.  The grandmother new what they should name the child right away: K'atigewano (Friendly Spirit).  All because of that smile."  I  went to bed feeling better that night, after the story.  It made me feel special inside, and distracted me from other things happening in my tribe.   When I grew up, I wanted my children to have special name, so they could cheer up In times of darkness, Just like me.                                                                                                                                             

Yuchi Information

Rabbit

On this blog, you will find out all about the Yuchi (YOO-shee) tribe and what they did in every day life.  For example, the climate where the Yuchi tribe lived was very hot.  They lived in the southeastern United States, so it was also humid.  They lived in chicksees, wich were houses with no walls.  When it started to rain, the Yuchi people put dearskin flaps on the sides of thier houses to keep the rain out.  Next, lets talk about the food they ate.  The Yuchi people were farmers, so they ate mostly corn, beans, squash, and sunflower seeds.  The men and boys hunted deer, wild turkeys, rabbits, and bears and fished for many kinds of different fish.  Little girls collected berries, nuts, and fruit for thier mothers to use in the kitchen.  When the crops were scarce, and they had a bad harvest, they ate different kinds of grasses.  With meat, the women made stews and soups.  For a after meal sweet treat, they had cornbread.           Next, I will explain what the Yuchi people wore in every day life. The women and girls wore wraparound skirts made of woven fibers and dear skin.  The men wore breechcloth,(a pice of dear skin sewn to a belt) and leather leggings.  In the winter, men and women wore ponchos made out of rabbit skin.  Everybody wore moccasins on their feet.  The Yuchi people did not wear long feather head dresses, instead they wore short porcupine hair head dresses.  The men shaved all of their hair off but a little bit on the top.  They also painted themselves when they did something important in battle.  Finally, the women put beads in their hair for special dances.  In the Yuchi tribe, no shirts were necessary.
Also, all children worked at a young age. The girls learned to make dolls, cradleboards, and other helpful objects while the boys helped their fathers hunt and fish.  The men and women told stories to the children about different happenings in the tribes history.  The women did most of the farming and childcare.  The final topic we will talk about is their religion and entertainment.  The Yuchi people believe in keeping the land how it is, and respecting it.  They have many dances for religion and entertainment.  They held dances in a round house.  I hope you have learned a lot about the Yuchi people and how they live. 

Cornfeild

Deer 

Sources:

law_keven's photos via Getty Images( deer photo)

Barbara L. Slavin (cornfield pic)

eschipul (rabbit )