The Rise of Night Hawk, Dinh of the Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation was a group of nomadic tribes, establishing temporary residences in an area until they noticed a decrease in the population of the local game. They would then move on to a new area in order to survive to be able to feed their people. The Cherokee were if nothing else, practical; although they were a large group, they could survive in an area for almost an entire generation before moving on. Most Cherokee hunters only went through the nomadic moving process once in their lifetime.
The story of Night Hawk has to begin with his father, Talking Bull, the great-grandson of the founder of the Cherokee Nation, Sitting Bull. Talking Bull was the teacher of the Cherokee hunters. When a Cherokee boy turned 10 he would be sent to work with Talking Bull for the next two years, learning and practicing his skill with the club and bow. Talking Bull was a necessary evil within the Cherokee lands. His skill with words allowed him to teach even the most dim-witted Cherokee youths, however his bull-headed nature left the tribes divided on many issues.
The leader (or “dinh”
of the Cherokee was Greybeard Fox, a wise old man who led the Cherokee to their current surroundings – a great forest off the coast of a large sea with warm temperatures and good hunting. However Greybeard was old, and when he passed from this earth in the year 4000BC, the tribes knew the decision to name their next leader would be trying. Cherokee tradition stated that all of the hunters would gather for a three day meeting to come to an agreement about who among them should lead the Nation.
Talking Bull, thinking himself the most important hunter in the tribe, of course began travelling among the encampments, making his case to be the next leader of the tribe. His great-grandfather before him brought our people together, he would say, just imagine what he could accomplish as dinh. His first-born son, Night Hawk, along with his two brothers, came on these journeys in support of Talking Bull, as any good son would do. You see Night Hawk, while he was the most accomplished hunter in the Cherokee Nation, was also not known for his speaking skills and generally kept to himself. He was thoughtful and almost every Cherokee person; man, woman, child all loved Night Hawk. He thought of others before himself and was considered the thread that kept the tribes tied together.
Night Hawk was named so for his keen vision, especially at night. No one else in the tribe could hunt as effectively as him after the sun went down below the earth. At a young age, Night Hawk was able to kill the smallest and quickest of the game with one shot from his bow during even the darkest nights. He was named “Hawk” for his ability to quickly kill his target with ruthless abandon, “Night” for when he did his best work. He was in the prime of his life and known throughout the tribes as being the best hunter, even if not the most polished with his skills. His methods were strange, yet surprisingly effective.
After a week of mourning for Greybeard (during which of course Talking Bull thought it appropriate to tell everyone why he should be dinh), the tribes sent all of their most accomplished hunters to gather on the shores of the Clean Lake, a small clear lake in the northern half of the Great Woods. During the three day gathering, much was spoken of many hunters, including Talking Bull. Greybeard was honored routinely; however the hunters were at a standstill. Everyone mentioned had major flaws. Talking Bull especially was regarded as too full of himself and many wondered whether he would do what was best for the Nation and not himself when hard times inevitably fell upon them. It seemed as if no decision was a good decision, and many began wondering whether the tribes might go their separate ways into the wilderness.
At the end of the second day, a group of hunters around the fire, including Night Hawk, wondered aloud what their fate would be and how they would handle the ruthless world without strength in numbers. Night Hawk said, “I think I may keep my family here by the Clean Lake. There is enough to sustain us here between the fruits of the lake, the wild corn fields nearby and the game in the woods. We have never travelled in my lifetime and I see no reason to start now.”
The hunters were shocked, yet the logic was flawless. That night and all of the next day the idea of staying put spread through the encampments like wildfire. Night Hawk’s strange idea was taking root and many were considering naming him dinh of the Cherokee people. Talking Bull, upon hearing the idea, said, “There is no way such a plan would work for all of us. The game population has clearly been decreasing over the last decade. We would hunt all the animals clear of the Great Woods and then what?”
When prompted with the question, Night Hawk said, “What about the wild corn fields to the north and the rice fields to the south? We already consume the fruits of these plants regularly, could we not harvest and grow them ourselves to provide enough food to feed our people? If we can control the game population there is no reason why our people can’t stay here forever.”
To this, Talking Bull had no response. And with no response, there was no stopping the wave of support for Night Hawk which followed. By that evening Night Hawk was elected dinh of the Cherokee Nation. There was a celebration for three days to commemorate the selection of their new leader, and even Talking Bull began to feel satisfied that the choice was right and the people could survive. Because really what risk was there? Even if there was not enough food to survive, they would have to move anyway and Night Hawk would lose all credibility, giving Talking Bull just the opportunity to seize control of the Cherokee…
With his first orders, Night Hawk said, “Let us divide the Nation into two factions. The first shall stay with me up here by the Clean Lake and harvest the corn fields. The second shall set up permanent residence in the southern half of the woods near the rice fields. We shall begin work on a great road to link our encampments and share the fruits of the earth among us. Only hunt for game when absolutely necessary in order to sustain the local population. If we do this, our days of travelling are finished!”
And so the beginnings of the permanent residences of the Cherokee Nation were made. Work was started on a fine palace in which Night Hawk and his family should live as dinh of the people. The northern encampment was named “Golden Monkey” after the strange golden monkeys which roamed the Great Woods. The southern encampment was named “Raven’s Claw” after the numerous ravens which flew over the rice fields and hunted the small animals in the area. Being the resourceful people they were some of the men began research into the strange rocks which littered the hill-tops of the Great Woods, hoping to find some use for them…
A few days ago on the Hill they pray a man appeared and nearly killed me! Since then I've noticed signs, I believe we have an Omen, for when I looked upon myself in the water I saw this man. He has mighty power for I looked down at the tree I fell threw. When I awoke it was like the Forests around the hills came alive with birds. When I woke some time later I could barely move but I was shown a sign, the birds were guiding my way, Its hard to describe but I feel like they are working with me. Did this man look like me Man with Thick Feet? Yes
