Cherokee people have lived in the Great Smoky Mountains for
thousands of years. During all this time, they have told stories to
each other to explain how things came to be, to pass on lessons
about life, and to describe the mountains, animals, plants, and
spirits around them.
The Origin of the Milky Way and Other
Living Stories of the Cherokee collects 27 stories that are
great for kids and are still being told by storytellers today.
Presented by members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in
their own words, the stories appear in free-verse form, like poems
on the page, so that if you read them aloud, you can hear the
rhythm of the stories as they were originally told. Barbara R.
Duncan provides a helpful introduction that describes Cherokee
people's past and present ways of life and their storytelling
traditions. The book also includes a glossary of key words from the
stories, suggestions for further reading, and notes on the
storytellers. For young readers, for parents to read aloud to young
listeners, and for teachers and libraries,
The Origin of the
Milky Way provides an excellent introduction to Cherokee
culture. (For readers age 9 and up.)
Storytellers:
Davy Arch
Robert Bushyhead
Edna Chekelelee
Marie Junaluska
Kathi Littlejohn
Freeman Owle