No one remembers the first time our people saw these mountains and rivers, but we know that it was many years ago. They came from the direction of the setting sun, and they walked a great distance to get here. One thing we know for certain, however, we were here before the pale-skinned ones.
2 Each one of our people belonged to one of seven clans. The Long Hairs were the peaceful ones. Many of the people from the Blue Clan were gifted in caring for children. Most of our leading warriors came from the Wolf Clan. Likewise, much of our cultivation and gathering was done by the Wild Potato Clan. Our runners and hunters came from the Deer Clan. The Bird Clan provided the feathers for our ceremonies. Most of our medicine came from the Paint Clan.
3 Unlike the pale-skinned ones, we never derived our identity or place among the people from our fathers. Instead, our families and inheritance were reckoned through our mothers.
4 Our first mother was from the Deer Clan. Thus, in accordance with Cherokee tradition, her great granddaughter married outside of her clan to a pale-skinned trader from a clan of the Scots. Their son, Edward “Ned” Vann, was the progenitor of two branches of the family: one living as Cherokee and the other as White.
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