From the Actor
The Cherokee, as all Native Americans and indeed all indiginous peoples throughout the world, have a cultural heritage that is based in the natural world, a world that did in fact support and sustain them, clothe them, feed them, give them medicine, and provide for their daily living. In this modern, chaotic world of high technology and teeming human populations, where pressure on natural habitats has never been more acute and where humans have never been more disconnected from the natural world, we have important lessons to learn from these cultures and their relationship to the plants and animals, the earth, and the sky. The Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and Laurel Hill Press wish to encourage all people to reflect on the message of the Cherokee and understand that the natural world is the heritage of us all. Let us preserve this priceless heritage for our children and grandchildren. Take time, and take a closer look.
Product Description
Plants and the Cherokee is a cooperative effort by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the North Carolina Botanical Garden, and Laurel Hill Press. Second in the “Take a Closer Look” series, this 26- minute video tells the story about the relationship between the Cherokee and the plants that are a part of their world. The rich culture of the Cherokee is presented through vivid imagery of the land and people, the sounds of nature, and the sounds of the Cherokee, including their native language, their stories, and their music. The special stories of seven plants representative of the more than 800 kinds of plants used for food, clothing, housing, or medicine are told, first taking a close look at the plant as it lives in the natural world, then exploring the way in which the Cherokee people used and appreciated these native plants.
Plants and the Cherokee is a valuable resource for Native American studies in elementary, middle and high school curricula. Teachers, environmental educators, naturalists, and anyone interested in the natural world and Native American culture will find this colorful and authentic video invaluable.
