Day 4 Cherokee History...Last Goodbye to Tahlequah

hi
It's Tori.I did many things today.  I went to the Cherokee Nation  Heritage Center. Did you know that if  you are native american and you have a argument with somebody you do a stick game.  He/She who knocks the fish off the top gets his/her way.   Girls/women are forbidden to touch the stick. all they can do  is pull on the guys shirts and hair and even bite them. It seems a little fun. We also saw a white albino squirrel.  It was so cool looking. I took a picture but it somehow got erased. I am so exited to go to another state tomorrow morning, visit with cousins and do more exploring. any way I love you all goodnight.
my daily feeling report: tired exited and amazed at the wildlife here in Tahlequah.

Susan:
The Cherokee Heritage Center is very much more instructive and "spruced up" since Lisa and I were here about 12 years ago, much less since they opened it when Tom and I lived here (dirt paths versus stone...but it IS now accessible to a wheelchair).  The  'Trail of Tears" play that began when we were here is 15 years gone, too expensive to produce...AND they are building a new village based on this one we toured which , according to our baby guide , was built "a long time ago"...in 1969  The stick game Victoria mentioned, blow darts--no poison, just viciously good aim--pounding chicory nuts for food in hard times, making arrowheads...all demonstrated before we went to the Council house where the business of the tribe was conducted.  Here there were 7 sections of seating for the seven clans within the tribe: wolf, deer, paint, bird...and three more (between us we can't remember them).  Cherokee is a Matrilineal tribe ( as is my tribe, the Muskogee Creek), so when a chief died it was not his son that became chief but his sister's son ( he had gone to his wife's tribe...his sister had stayed home and produced a son ... got it?).

We lunched at the Cherokee Nation restaurant...sort of healthy available, but I certainly enjoyed a piece of southern fried chicken.

And that is about IT for what to do and see in Tahlequah.

We decided to return to the New Hasting's Indian Hospital which we had discovered was NOT the Tahlequah City Hospital, but the one BEHIND it.  We were rewarded with an extraordinarily cool hospital, well set up and easily accessed, great Old photos on the walls and electronic medical records explained via brochures all over the place ( in Cherokee and English).   It is in a lovely wooded setting and inviting instead of forbidding.  The old hospital was fine...but it was probably built in the 40's if not earlier.  The Native Americans are well served here.  We THINK it is still staffed with Public Health Service staff..but will probably google it to really know.  There is no longer an "Indian Blood"percentage  requirement for care...perhaps even I could receive care...1/32 Creek.

After a lovely Italian dinner ( HOW did a Sicilian decide to open up here?...his wife, met in Italy, is from Lawton...) we said goodbye to Tahlequah with a walk around the surrounding neighborhood.  Victoria was sure we were lost,  but we were saying goodbye...I can't imagine we will be back.

Tom:
Between the Hospital and dinner ( we had seen everything in T) we drove a very curvy, lush road to the hinterlands populated with about 15 churches and virtually NO visible homes.  This is where the  rust old trailer park "mobile homes" have come to rest. We  arrived at  Lake Tenkiller where we came upon a very populated campground...THIS is the Lake Powell of Oklahoma.  HERE is where you bring your RV...your fishing gear...your skidoo...your motorcycle...your boat (pretty upscale)...your bikes...your laundry...

quote from Tom: "...Susan, I think I may be cured..."  Victoria says "What?"
                                                                                       I say: "RV-ing"
Post Script:  I could have enjoyed a life in Goodland...I am grateful not to live in Tahlequah.

I am certain that Chrissie and Sean will enable us to show some of the photos of these last 4 days.  I seem lost without the iPad...

Tom and Victoria sleep...I'd better sign off