Chef Singleton

Although I may not look it, I am part Cherokee on my mother’s side. The Cherokee tribe was one of the largest of the “Five Civilized Tribes” that settled in southeast part of the United States. They were also one of the most culturally and socially advanced of the Native American tribes. They thrived for many years prior to the arrival of European settlers. Due to the lack of recorded history, it is uncertain where exactly the Cherokee people originated, but they are believed to be descendents of the Iroquois tribe who settled in the Great Lakes region. Not only did the language of the Cherokee society derive from the Iroquois, but also their defining matriarchal social structure. Within the tribe, there were seven clans. Clan identity was passed one on the mother’s side and property was handed down from one’s mother. When it came time for marriage, one could marry into one of five clans: marrying into one’s mother or father’s clan was forbidden. Once married, a couple would live near the bride’s clan. The government of the Cherokee was very decentralized. The society was governed at the town level. Each town had a Town House, a Red Chief, and a White Chief. After the arrival of the Europeans, around the 1800s, the Cherokee tribe continued to thrive by embracing some of the settlers’ cultural elements. They began to adopt their style of dress, farming and building methods. The Cherokee were one of the first major non-European ethnic group to become U.S. citizens. They lived fairly peacefully among the Americans, until around 1830 when gold was discovered in Georgia. The Indian Removal Act, passed by congress under the presidency of Andrew Jackson, called for the forced relocation of numerous Indians from their homes, otherwise known as the “Trail of Tears.” They were moved to the “Indian Territory” that was part of what is now known as Oklahoma. After this, the Cherokee began to rebuild their society, creating a new constitution, a Cherokee Newspaper, and creating schools that were even considered superior to those of white settlements. Currently, the largest population of Cherokees remain in Oklahoma where there are three federally recognized Cherokee communities.

Now, this wouldn’t be Chef Singleton if I didn’t discuss food in some way or another. The Cherokee Tribe obtained food both by hunting and farming. The men hunted in the regions now known as the Smoky and Blue Ridge Mountains. They hunted mostly for small animals like deer, but also buffalo. The gardens, tended by the women, contained a large variety of vegetables such as corn, squash, pumpkins, and beans. So, I thought that I would give you the recipe for a relatively simple and traditional Cherokee dish: Bean Bread. I have yet to try this recipe, so I cannot vouch for its taste. Try it at your own risk.

Ingredients:
* 1 cup of cornmeal
* 1/2 cup flour
* 2 tsp baking powder
* 1 tbsp sugar
* 2 cups milk
* 1/4 cup melted shortening
* 1 beaten egg
* 2 tbsp honey
* 4 cups drained brown beans

Recipe:
1. Mix all of these ingredients, except beans, thoroughly, and then fold in the beans
2. Pour into greased, heated pan
3. Bake at 450 until brown (usually 30 minutes or so)