Near Birchwood in Meigs County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
"Given by the Great Spirit above"
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, January 2, 2011
1. "Given by the Great Spirit above" Marker
Inscription.
"Given by the Great Spirit above". . During the 18th century, Cherokees worked hard to defend their homeland from invasion by Anglo-Americans. The nature of Cherokee politics - dispersed and locally defined - often hampered unified resistance to the invaders. In 1809, the Cherokee created a National Council to unify resistance to American's increasingly aggressive attempts to take Cherokee lands. Although only men sat on the council, Cherokee women retained the traditional right to address political issues. In 1818, a group of Cherokee women encouraged the National Council to refuse to cede land to the Americans., We have called a meeting among ourselves to consult on the different points now before the council, relating to our national affairs. We have heard with painful feelings that the bounds of the land we now possess are to be drawn into very narrow limits. The land was given by the Great Spirit above as our common right, to raise our children upon and to make support for our rising generations. We therefore humbly petition our beloved children, the head men and warriors, to hold out to the last in support of our common rights, as the Cherokee nation have been the first settlers of this land; we therefore claim the right of the soil. Petition, June 30, 1818
"The land was given by the Great Spirit above as our common right, to raise our children upon and to make support for our rising generations."
During the 18th century, Cherokees worked hard to defend their homeland from invasion by Anglo-Americans. The nature of Cherokee politics - dispersed and locally defined - often hampered unified resistance to the invaders. In 1809, the Cherokee created a National Council to unify resistance to American's increasingly aggressive attempts to take Cherokee lands. Although only men sat on the council, Cherokee women retained the traditional right to address political issues. In 1818, a group of Cherokee women encouraged the National Council to refuse to cede land to the Americans.
We have called a meeting among ourselves to consult on the different points now before the council, relating to our national affairs. We have heard with painful feelings that the bounds of the land we now possess are to be drawn into very narrow limits. The land was given by the Great Spirit above as our common right, to raise our children upon & to make support for our rising generations. We therefore humbly petition our beloved children, the head men and warriors, to hold out to the last in support of our common rights, as the Cherokee nation have been the first settlers of this land; we therefore claim the right of the soil. Petition, June 30, 1818
"The land was given by the Great Spirit above as our common right, to raise our children upon
Location. 35° 24.423′ N, 85° 0.383′ W. Marker is near Birchwood, Tennessee, in Meigs County. Marker can be reached from Blythe Ferry Road, 2 miles north of Hiwassee Highway (Tennessee Highway 60), on the right when traveling north. Marker is located at the Cherokee Removal Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Birchwood TN 37308, United States of America. Touch for directions.
This map illustrates the land cessions made to the English and American governments between 1721 and 1838.
Photographed By Lee Hattabaugh, January 2, 2011
3. "Given by the Great Spirit above" Marker
In the middle of this view.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 642 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 6, 2011, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
