The Cherokee people have always been monotheistic, believing in the Creator, Unelanvhi. The Creator and sustainer of life lives in heaven but draws close to the humble. Cherokees never worshipped physical aspects such as nature, statues, people, or spirits; all worship is to the Creator alone. Giving thanks has always been central to worship, as is humility, compassion, and seeking the common good ('gadugi').
When Christianity was introduced to the Cherokee people, it was seen by many as a fulfillment or completion of what they already believed. For Cherokee believers, Christ fulfilled all the aspects of what their traditional beliefs pointed to: purification, forgiveness, mercy, humbling oneself, laying down one's life for others, and seeking gadugi. For over three centuries, a significant percentage of Cherokees have been Christians, even through the darkest times such as the Trail of Tears in the 1830s. Cherokee hymns from that era reflect a deep faith in the midst of suffering. I recorded one of these hymns acapella in the Cherokee language.
According to the Cherokee Nation, the majority of Cherokees today identify as Christian (1). Worship is often expressed through traditional dance, art, and music in the Cherokee language.
Cherokee Girl Praying
2021
See the Paintings page for more art.
