Dissertation Title:

Eco-mythology of the Cherokee in the Southern Appalachian Mountains: The Bedrock of Appalachian Culture

Candidate:

Stacy Brooks

Date, Time & Place:

June 17, 2020 at 11:00 am
Virtual


Abstract

Generations of Cherokee children learned how to live in the Appalachian Mountains through a system of myths and sacred formulas, many documented in the works of James Mooney, Myths of the Cherokees, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees. Factual information embedded within these myths and formulas have a basis of factual information regarding observable behavior, phenomenon and relationships expressed through characters, symbols, colors, relationships and utilize associations from one myth or formula to another. Western science describes some of the same facts found in the myths through a variety of disciplines including geology meteorology, astronomy, human physiology, but ecology lies central of the indigenous culture and thought. Equity of an ecological system means all members including people, animals, plants, rocks, water, etc., have intrinsic value and purpose within the ecological system. Myths describe the niche of people within the ecological system, balance of gender roles in daily life, and the healing chaos of the trickster entity. The medicine man and trickster bridge the gap from the realm of myth to the physical world for healing. The associations of the West direction in the Cherokee Medicine Wheel includes water, thunderstorms, black, dreams, monsters, and tricksters, addressing psychological health. Language plays a profound role because different language bases help develop different paradigms by emphasizing different aspects, such as nouns or verbs, as in English and Cherokee, respectively. As other people enter the Appalachian Mountains with other language and myth, the factual information of the Cherokee becomes integrated within the stories and culture of the immigrants. Appalachian culture has developed from this combination of Indo-European, including Ulster, African-American and Cherokee blending into a modern era. Language, symbolic aspects of myth and observable factual information (scientific information) combine to bridge the gap between modern Appalachian culture. This bridge allows vital indigenous information to be better understood and utilized with deserved respect and benefit to the modern existential crisis of environmental degradation, mass extinction and climate change.

Note

Defense locations during novel coronavirus and Covid-19 guidelines:
For the time being, due to our nation’s social distancing guidelines and considering the health and safety of everyone, all oral defenses will be hosted virtually through Pacifica’s resources.

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Details
  • Program/Track/Year: Mythological Studies, Track I, 2013
  • Chair: Dr. Paul Zolbrod
  • Reader: Dr. Alan Kilpatrick
  • External Reader: Dr. Edward Karshner
  • Keywords: