Tsikamagi Government
ᏥᎧᎹᎩ ᎠᏰᎵᎤᏙᏢᎡ
We have our own government which is made up of our Principal Chief, Vice Chief, War Chief, Beloved Head Mother, Medicine Man, Faith Keeper, 7 Clan Chiefs and 7 Clan Mothers. The language of the Thunderbolt People is an Ancient Cherokee dialect which is close to the Eastern Band dialect of the Eastern Band Cherokee which live in Cherokee, North Carolina.
Principal Chief – ᏒᏃᏱᎡᎯᏅᏙ ᏩᏯ – Svnoyiehinvdo Waya
Vice Chief – ᏩᏯ ᏄᏓ – Waya Nuda
Beloved Head Mother – ᏩᎴᎳ – Walela
Grand Head Mother – ᏕᎴᎩ ᎤᏃᎴ – Delegi Unole
Medicine Man – ᏩᏯ ᎤᏳᏍᏗ – Waya Uyusdi
War Chief – ᏓᏄᏩ ᎠᏓᏰᎳᏍᏗ – Danuwa Adayelasdi
Sacred Fire Keeper – ᏩᏯ ᎦᏲᏟ – Waya Gayotli
Tribal Faith Keeper – ᎤᏓᏓᎸ ᎤᏔᎾ – Udadalv Utana
Tribal Researcher – ᏔᏬᏗ ᎡᎶᎯ – Tawodi Elohi
Head Councilman – ᎤᏍᏗᏩᏯ ᎦᎳᏅᏛ – Usdiwaya Galanvdv
Governing Council – All listed above plus 7 Clan Chiefs
Women’s Council – All listed above plus 7 Clan Mothers
OUR 7 CLANS
ᎠᏂᏩᏯ – Aniwaya (Wolf Clan)
The Aniwaya Clan Represents War
The Wolf Clan is the largest and most prominent clan. The Wolf Clan rests to the east of the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Most of the war chiefs in Cherokee history have come from this clan. They are the keepers and trackers of the wolf, and only they are the only clan who can kill a wolf through special ceremonies and wolf medicines.
It is their responsibility to develop, maintain and teach the knowledge of loyalty, protection and security. They stay up to date when it comes to intelligence regarding the surrounding environment and function as part of the group while maintaining their own individuality, much like the wolf.
ᎠᏂᏬᎰᎵ – Aniwoholi (Eagle Clan)
The Aniwoholi Clan Represents Spirit
The Eagle Clan rests in the south east, on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Members of this clan are keepers of the birds, sacred feathers and bird medicines. They are very skilled in using blowguns and snares for bird hunting. These clan members are the messengers of the Cherokee nation.
They are responsible for teaching the importance of recognizing the whole pattern of life regarding positive and negative events. They teach keen observation, sharing and giving, interpretation of dreams, the birds, interpretation of their messages and their willingness for self-sacrifice for the sake of the two-legged ones. They are also responsible for collecting feathers earned by others, because they were the only ones authorized to collect them.
ᎠᏂᏴᏑ – Aniyvsu (Bison Clan)
The Aniyvsu Clan Represents Peace
These clan members are the keepers of the deer, deer hunters and trackers, tanners and seamers and keepers of the deer medicines. They reside in the north west on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. They are known as fast runners and foot messengers, delivering messages from village-to-village or person-to-person. They also maintain all sports and sports equipment.
It is their responsibility to teach the knowledge of relaxation and unconditional love. They also teach of the deer and its habitat, including its willingness of self-sacrifice in order to provide the two-legged ones with food and clothing.
ᎠᏂᎤᏃᎴ – Aniunole (Wind Clan)
The Aniunole Clan Represents Day and Night
Members of the Wind Clan. The word ᎩᎳᎯ (gilahi) is short for an ancient ᎩᏢᎬᎾᎯᏔ (gitlvgvnahita), meaning “something that grows from the back of the neck”. They reside in the north east on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Members of this clan wore their hair in elaborate hair styles, walked in a proud and vain manner, twisting their shoulders with each step, and Peace Chiefs wore white feather robes.
This clan’s responsibility is to teach tradition, spiritual knowledge and intuition. Many old spiritual priests came from this clan. It is sometimes referred to as the Stranger Clan because prisoners of war, orphans from other tribes and others with no Cherokee tribe were often adopted into this clan.
ᎠᏂᎬᎮ – Anigvhe (Wildcat Clan)
The Anigvhe Clan Represents Sky
Members of the Wildcat Clan are keepers of all children’s medicines and caretakers of medicinal herb gardens. They reside in the southwest on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. They became known for a medicine that came from a bluish plant called the Blue Holly.
Their responsibilities include teaching knowledge of the panther and its habitat, truth, ability to balance power, intention, physical strength, grace, and growing, preparing and using herbs for food and medicinal purposes.
ᎠᏂᏦᎳ – Anitsola (Tobacco Clan)
The Anitsola Clan Represents Flesh
Members of the Tobacco Clan are known as farmers and gatherers of wild potato plants in swamps ᎦᏙᎨᏫ (“gatogewi” meaning swamp) and along streams to make flour or bread. They reside in the north west on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground.
Their responsibilities include teaching the knowledge of insight, introspection, gathering, growing and preserving food, and providing shelter. They also teach of the bear and its habitat and the bear’s willingness to self-sacrifice in order to provide food and clothing for the two-legged ones. They are nurturers by nature, and gatherers
ᎠᏂᏬᏗ – Aniwodi (Red Paint Clan)
The Aniwodi Clan Represents Death
The people of the Red Paint Clan, or Paint Clan, were also known as the “Corn People.” They reside in the west on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. Members of this clan made red paint. (healers/ sorcerers and medicine men) called Adawehi traditionally came from this clan at one time in our history. This clan is the smallest and most secretive of the groups.
Their responsibilities include teaching the knowledge of life, birth, death and regeneration. They also teach of things kept hidden, second sight and illusion, including the ceremonies, rituals and tools needed for these aspects of Cherokee life. They were the only ones allowed to make a special red paint and dye, used for ceremonial purposes and warfare. This clan is known for their prominent Medicine People and Conjurors.