Soldiers learn history of Cherokee nation

Portrayals of American Indians on television and in the movies are usually wrong.

"Very little of it is truthful," said Joey Pierce, of Cherokee Indian descent, who spoke at Fort Gordon's Native American command program at Alexander Hall on Nov. 7.

And there have been few shows dealing with the Cherokee people, he said.

"TV and movies usually show Plains Indians," he said.

The Cherokee lived in seven-sided long houses rather than tepees or lodges. Instead of wearing buckskins, they wore clothing made from cloth such as muslin, he said.

Mr. Pierce also told the soldiers other facts about his ancestors.

"The Cherokee were the only Indians with a written language and alphabet," he said.

The alphabet was developed around 1812 but was not finished until 1823.

They also developed a printing press and printed a newspaper called the New Phoenix in a town near the Tennessee and Georgia border during the 1800s.

Joining Mr. Pierce during his presentation was Glen Snell, who played several tunes on Indian-inspired flutes.

Mr. Snell also played the drums as Mr. Pierce and Janell Wilder performed a dance - another important part of the Indian culture, Mr. Pierce said. The short dance was a dance for safety, he said.

Indian dances had spiritual and social significance.

"When I go into the circle, the creator picks me up and allows me to dance," Mr. Pierce said.

Reach Charmain Z. Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.