Ah-ni-gu-ta-ni shortly after the coming of the European. The influence of the white man became evident shortly after their ariving into the ancient homeland. The ancient prophecies kept the cultutre in secret until this time of fulfillment and time of change for the earth planet.
The true history of our people, where we came from, how we arrived here and in our homeland in the mountains, the acculturation of the main body and the separation of the AhNiYVWiYa ah-ni-gu-ta-ni and the way this truth would again be brought back to those who honestly seek to know the right path of our people has never been lost, diluted or recorded in books. It has been kept intact by the wisdom keepers and now is extended to those of our bloodlines who are honestly seeking.
There is nothing practiced by our people which came in after the European came. Some dances, etc came into existence by influences of the European but these are not a part of the true culture. AhNiYvWiYa Ah-ni-gu-ta-ni refused to let anything be brought into the culture which was not of our original people. Ceremonies and the sacred teaching of our culture are not open to the public. People of our bloodlines who seek the true culture of our people must demonstrate to the Tribe their honesty, sincerity and truthfulness to become part of the AhNiYvWiYa ah-ni-gu-ta-ni.
All of the yearly ceremonies are still determined by the thirteen traditional moons of our year and not a 12 month calendar.
All ceremonies are in the ancient language of our people and not the modern language which has been changed to correlate with the white language of English.
The Traditional dress of our people is worn in ceremonies. When we speak of ceremonies we do not mean modern generic "Indian" practiced by some but only the ancient traditions of our own people. We are AhNiYvWiYa ah-ni-gu-ta-ni only.
Our ancient stories have been kept and told only among our own people. These are not the stories known in books as "Cherokee stories" but our ancient stories which have never been recorded or sold in books.
Medicine ceremonies, dances, ancient prayers spoken by our people, only in the way our language and our people have ever prayed or spoken, identifies us as who we are and not a culture taken from books or modern cultures.
As spoken in and according to the ancient prophecies spoken long ago the time of fulfillment has come and now it is extended to those who are feeling the pull on their spirit to find their real path. The real culture is not for every person who claims our bloodlines but for those whose spirits are guided by the ancestors. We are not seeking to establish any other ways which may now be accepted as traditional but to give to others only what is the ancient traditions of our true people.
Our culture has never been correlated to the Bible or Christian religion. We did not come from the Jews nor did we come from the great Iroquois people. Ethnologist, archeologist and miss-informed writers have made us come from every place you can think of, but the true story of our people will be told in English for the first time when our Sacred Council Lodge is built.
