Nyx in the House of Night

authenticity.
    Nine percent of the entire population of Oklahoma is of Native American descent, and a large part of that percentage is Cherokee; the Cherokee Nation is the largest Indian tribe in Oklahoma, with more than 290,000 citizens. The influence of the Cherokee culture can be seen in many ways in this part of Oklahoma, from street and park names like Tahlequah Road and Sequoyah State Park, to arts and crafts like basket-weaving, marble-making, and coloring fabric with dyes made from weeds and tree bark. Cherokee clothing styles, such as the Cherokee Ribbon Shirt and the Tear Dress, are still worn in the area.
    But it’s not by accident that the Cherokee have roots in Oklahoma. A tragic page in U. S. history chronicles how they were forced from their homes back East and relocated to the Midwest against their will. During the 1800s, the U.S. government designated Oklahoma as Indian Territory and rounded up all the eastern Native American tribes to relocate there, uprooting them from the only hunting grounds and lands they knew. Americans called it Indian Removal, but the Cherokee had a more fitting name—The Trail of Tears.
    While some tribes agreed to the relocation, others did not. Those that refused were forced to go anyway by U.S. troops. The Cherokee Nation was one of the largest of the eastern tribes who refused to make the move. They had been peaceful allies to the United States and asked for the Supreme Court to intervene on their behalf. The high court decided in favor of the Cherokee, ruling that they could stay in their homes, but President Andrew Jackson sent his army to force the Cherokee out despite the Supreme Court’s decision. Thousands of Cherokee and other Natives died in the treacherous journey across the country. It was winter and many were not prepared for such a grueling trip. It was a dark time in U.S. history.
    But the Cherokee Nation survived.
    Today, members of the Cherokee Nation live primarily in fourteen counties in northeastern Oklahoma. The Cherokee Nation holds significant businesses, corporations, real estate, and agricultural interests, and they have become an influential and positive force in Oklahoma. They are integrated into every aspect of daily life within the state, but they have sovereign status granted to them by treaty and law. The Cherokee have their own tax code and raise taxes to provide governmental services for their citizens, subsidized by their casino operations. They maintain health clinics throughout Oklahoma, contribute to community development programs, build roads and bridges, and construct schools and universities for their citizens. A Marshal Service employs law enforcement officers that live within the fourteen county jurisdictions. In short, the Cherokee in Oklahoma are doing everything in their power to sustain and revitalize their culture. The Cherokee language is being preserved, historic sites are being restored, and museums are being endowed. And the Cherokee’s ancient history, culture, and ceremonies are being honored.
    The Cherokee people are not simply a people defined by their past; they intend to be an integral part of the future, as well. As Cherokee spiritual leader Redbird Smith wrote, “The fires kept burning are merely emblematic of the greater Fire, the greater Light, the Great Spirit. I realize now as never before, it is not only for the Cherokees, but for all mankind.”
    With the ancient blood of a proud and enduring people running through her veins, it is no wonder that Zoey Redbird is such a courageous heroine.
    THE CHEROKEE MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY—THEN & NOW
    With other Native American tribes to choose from, why did the authors of the House of Night series pick the Cherokee as Zoey’s ancestors? One reason is that the Cherokee are a vital part of the Tulsa setting and culture, but perhaps another answer can be found in a closer examination of Cherokee society.
    Women have always played and continue to play an important role in the Cherokee Nation. Traditionally, the Cherokee were farming people, and unlike other, more nomadic tribes, they lived in settled villages, usually located near water. Women harvested crops and gathered berries, nuts, and fruit to eat. They also cared for the young and the elderly, and made clothing, instruments, weapons, and tools. Men traded, made war, handled diplomacy, and hunted (though women were known to occasionally hunt buffalo alongside them and even go into battle). Both genders took part in