Feminine Roots Pin Designed by Skye Tafoya

This enamel pin features the 2024 "Feminine Roots" artwork by Skye Tafoya (EBCI member)

ᎠᏂᎵᏍ     ᏄᎾᎵᏍᏔᏂᏙᏄ   ᏃᎴ  ᏗᎦᎴᎤᎲ    ᏂᎦᏛᏁᏙᎸ

Women      what we have done    and     (how) we started (began)

THE SEEDS OF CONCEPT:

As Cherokees, we understand that the FEMININE roots us in our cultural values, life ways, and identity. We also know that FEMININE is so much more than the popular culture images we see in mainstream media. For Cherokees, it is power. It is balance. It is cultivation and prosperity.

TAKING ROOT:

The Cherokee are a matrilineal society and have always held women in high regard. Women are the life-givers, nurturers, sustainers, and connectors of our people. In addition to roles as mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, cousins, and friends, Cherokee women historically served as clan mothers, war women, beloved women, councilors, decision-makers, and property owners.