Colonialism, Christianity, and Cherokee Identity
Colonialism, Christianity, and Cherokee Identity
This chapter examines the impact of Christianity and colonialism on the Cherokees’ established modes of life. At the opening of the nineteenth century, the Cherokee struggled to rebuild their communities amid the devastation caused by the Revolutionary War. During this period, tribal nationalism was deeply influenced by the teachings of Christian missionaries. This chapter considers how the Cherokee people wrestled with the possible uses and limitations of both Christianity and nationalism in their quest to define Cherokee identity in terms recognizable not only to themselves but also to Euroamericans. It also explores how influential Cherokee leaders viewed education and literacy, as well as trade and economic prosperity, with respect to Cherokee identity and migration. Finally, it discusses the Cherokee syllabary as an example of cultural syncretism, along with issues of race and sex in relation to the Cherokee diaspora.
Keywords: colonialism, Cherokee, Christianity, nationalism, Cherokee identity, education, literacy, migration, Cherokee syllabary, Cherokee diaspora
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