Cherokee Nation

A Cherokee woman doing beading of garments and belts.

The village potter - she is making pinch pots and fires them directly in the pit fire.

This is where all the baskets are woven. The cane (similar to sugar cane or bamboo) is split and sometimes dyed with natural dyes. The dark brown color in this basket comes from parts of the walnut tree used as a dye. The split cane is then thinner and flatter and easier to weave with.

The village woodcarver.

These women are finger weaving. It is an elaborate system of braiding. As the belt is woven, it is wrapped around the cane at the top of the poles until it is long enough to be worn.

Visiting the Cherokee village in the Cherokee reservation was the best part of my trip. If you ever go to North Carolina, you should really check it out. There were also mock battles and other highlights of the tribe's life there.