T. Peter Park
Mon, 31 Jan 2005 16:48:10 -0800
Dear Listmates,
A traditional Tsalagi (Cherokee) legend may possibly throw
some light on a couple of modern diminutive humanoid sightings from
North Carolina. The best-known modern "mini-man" was probably the "Coke
bottle man" seen near Dunn, North Carolina in October 1976 by an
8-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman two weeks apart is one of the
best best-known modern reports of "mini-men" a few inches to less than
two feet tall. The Cherokee tradition suggests that "mini-men" may have
been sighted in the southeastern United States for cenuries.
Little Tonnlie Barefoot was playing in a cornfield near his home
on October 12, 1876, when he saw a little man "not much bigger than a
Coke bottle," wearing a black "German-type hat," a white tie, a blue top
and trousers, and black boots. He reached for something in his pocket,
froze, squeaked like a mouse, and ran off through the cornstalks,
leaving behind footprints 2 1/4 long by 1 inch wide with bootmarks. Two
weeks later, Shirley Ann McCrimmon, coming home from a party just before
daybreak on October 25, saw a little man with light-brown skin, wearing
boots and a thin garment. He shone a tiny bright yellow light in her
eyes, and ran away when she screamed. Dogs also barked at him.
Footprints were again found, in hard ground, but none in the soft ground
where he had stood, and in the cornfield the footprints ended abruptly.
Interestingly, the Cherokee or Tsalagi of the western
Carolinas had legends of a race of little people called the
_Tsundige'wi_ "or _Yunwi Tsundi'_ , hardly tall enough to reach up to a
man's knee. Fortean and UFO researcher Albert Rosales kindly just sent
me an interesting little article of his on Cherokee "Little People"
traditions, which, as I said, seem to suggest that people have been
seeing diminutive humanoids in the area for quite a long time. Tonnlie
Barefoot and Shirley Ann McCrimmon seem to have specifically encountered
the _dunwi tsunsdi _of the _yunwi tsunsdi' _, the "Little people of the
Little People," "fairy-like" beings no taller than the knee of the
Little People.
Peace,
T. Peter
The Little People of the Cherokee [sent by Albert Rosales]
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The legends and myths of the Cherokee are loaded with
references to the "Little People" who live in the woods, waters and
caves of the land of the _tsalagi_. Reports of them having been seen
continues to this day. They are all (in varying degree) magical
creatures not to be mocked or hunted. If something is found in the woods
(a knife, arrowheads, feathers, etc) it is a good idea to say, "Little
People, I wish to take this thing. I need it." because it may belong to
them. If you don't acknowledge them, they may follow you and do you a
mischief like hiding things from you or causing you to turn over glasses
of water. Mostly they are friendly and helpful but can get mean if you
disrespect them. Since almost everything has its group of Little People,
it's best to respect everything.
The _yunwi tsunsdi' _= small people that look just like
Cherokees except they are only about three feet tall--they live in the
caves and woods--are usually friendly and helpful but can get mean if
they are searched for or mocked--they have magic.
There are several Clans and they have special interests:
The Rock Cave Clan's message is "How one treats others is how he will be
treated". They are the revengers, so they are often thought to be mean.
Not so, if you are kind and helpful, they are kind and helpful. The Tree
Clan is concerned with the animals. They will make things happen to you
and take things away from you to remind you that the animals deserve
respect.
The Laurel Clan tend to the plants. They will help
gardens to grow and even plant "warrior plants" around the fields of
people who ignore the needs of plants. They encourage us to be happy,
share with others and not take our "perceived" needs too
seriously.
aaaaaaaThe Dogwood Clan are the dreamers of the "little people." They
spend their time dreaming up good things for everyone and everything. If
the petals of the dogwood trees fall soon and all at once, they are
crying for the people but if they stay on the trees a long time and fall
slowly, they are pleased with the people.
There was a special group of the _yunwi tsunsdi' _called "The
Little People Who Wore White". They traveled all over the world and
brought stories and news to the Cherokee. When Europeans first came to
the Cherokee, they found stories of small hairy people who lived in
trees (monkeys), horses with necks longer that their bodies (giraffe)
and some horses that were striped black and white (zebra). The Cherokee
knew the world was round, about the pyramids, other seas, other peoples
and often shared ideas with them. All these things were possible because
of the "Little People Who Wore White."
The _nunne hi_ = "the immortals," "eternal ones," "the
people who live everywhere, anywhere and forever." They are invisible
but have appeared as warriors to save the Cherokee from defeat in war.
They live underground and often appear as birds (mostly owls), animals,
fish, trees, reptiles and even insects. So be careful what you mistreat.
The _atsil-dihye gi_ = "the fire carrier" (called "will-o-the-wisp by
foreign people). Considered dangerous and unfriendly. _anisgaya
tsunsdi'_ = "little men" sons of the first man (kanati).---beneficent
wondermakers of great power. They are also called "Thunder Boys". Their
favorite tree is the honey locust which lightning never strikes. Fairies
= just like fairies everywhere but never accept food from them or you
will never be able to eat human food again or return to your family.
Two well known fairies are "tsagasi" and "tsawasi" who are often named
in the old hunting prayers, though mischievous enough themselves, they
often aid hunters who acknowledge them. There are several other of these
fairies with special names, all good-natured but more or less tricky.
The _dunwi tsunsdi_ of the _yunwi tsunsdi' _= the little people of the
Little People. They are fairy like, no taller than the knee of the
Little People. They often glow. They are powerful guides of the Little
People and the medicine men of the Cherokee. The _yunwi amayine hi _=
(my favorites) "Water dwellers" who live in the water and who, when they
are acknowledged, help the fisherman. They also protect the People from
illness when we "go to water" (purifying ceremony).
So you can see the Cherokee culture had it's fair share of magical
beings all concerned with the care and protection of nature and
demanding respect for everything, plants, animals, the earth and it's
peoples. Last "lesson" and you can rest your eyes.
The word "Cherokee" isn't even Cherokee. It's from a Creek Indian word
meaning "they speak a different language." We have adopted (and
adapted) the word as _tsalagi_ (pronounced jah-lah-ghee) and it is in
common, everyday use. In counsel and among ourselves we use our real
name "aniyunwiya" loosely translated as "The People", "The Real People"
or "The Principal People". _Aniyunwiya_ literally translated is "The
Human Beings". At one time the term "Native Americans" was politically
correct but it was pointed out that anyone born in North or South
America was technically a "native American". Now the correct term is
"American Indian". It's like the term "Black" which was, at one time, an
insult. Then it was decided (by the NAACP) that that was the term they
wanted. Same thing with "Indian" which also, at one time, was an
insulting term until it was decided (by AIM (American Indian Movement)
that that was the term they wanted. I really don't care what the general
public considers is "politically correct"; I'm _aniyunwiya_ or _tsalagi_
or Cherokee.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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