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Cherokee Plants: Their Uses--A 400 Year History
Over 400 plants are listed along with their traditional uses; an explanation of the spiritual relationship of the Cherokee people with their environment; material drawn from conversations with North Carolina Cherokee elders.
Compiled by ethnobotanist Paul B. Hamel and Cherokee elder and historian Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey, this 71-page historical guide documents the ethnobotanical tradition of the Cherokee people across four centuries of environmental and cultural change.
Compiled by ethnobotanist Paul B. Hamel and Cherokee elder and historian Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey, this 71-page historical guide documents the ethnobotanical tradition of the Cherokee people across four centuries of environmental and cultural change.
$4.50$4.95
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- ISBN
- 9780935741254
- Details
- The book is structured into two main components:Ethnobotanical Philosophy & Environment: An introductory framework detailing the spiritual relationship between the Cherokee people and their natural ecosystem. It explains how traditional gatherers approached harvesting with respect, balance, and gratitude, offering context on how plant gathering was integrated into daily life, medicine, and spiritual practice.Plant Catalog & Traditional Uses: An indexed compendium listing over 400 native and naturalized plants of the Southern Appalachian region. Each entry outlines traditional applications compiled from historic records, early European contact notes, and direct interviews with Eastern Band Cherokee elders. Categories cover medicinal preparations, wild edibles, dyes, construction materials, fibers, and ceremonial items.Cultural Significance & Modern ContextFirst published in 1975, the volume serves as a bridge between historical archival notes and living oral tradition. Co-author Mary Ulmer Chiltoskeya respected Eastern Band educator and librarianensured that the collection captured community knowledge that was at risk of being lost. While it is designed to be paired with field guides for plant identification, modern readers value it primarily as a primary cultural reference for indigenous ecology, land stewardship, and traditional Appalachian ethnobotany.
- System requirements
- Paperback, 71 pages.
- Weight
- 0.5 lb
- Shipping
- Usually ships in 3 days
- Product ID
- 515311