For many tribes, the fish symbolizes good luck and prosperity. It can also symbolize fertility and the cycle of life and death. In the Cherokee story, this symbol of a fish makes sense in the context of the story. The woman was struck with a fish and was able to multiply. This instance represents prosperity and fertility which correlates with why the Cherokee tribe symbolizes the fish in that way.

Is Coyote is just a name or a different meaning for something. In this work, Coyote is not referred to as, "the" Coyote but instead just Coyote like it is a name. It is interesting because of the context of the story.

Why was the Bald Eagle the chief of animals? The Bald Eagle is now our countries most treasured bird. It is significant and interesting that in the Salinan Indian creation story the Bald Eagle is the chief of animals and now it is our countries bird. The Bald Eagle was chosen as our national bird in 1782 because of its symbolism of strength and freedom. It sounds like the Salinan peoples associated the Bald Eagle with the same feelings of strength and freedom that we do now.

The first contact with the Cherokee people and Europeans happened in 1540. The Cherokee people were led by one man, a chief. During the 1830's, the tribe was forcibly moved and migrated on a long journey (The Trail of Tears). Many people during this migration did not make it and died on their journey. The forcible migration was a result of the Indian Removal Act which was authorized by the president to allow lands by the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands.

Ethnology- the study of the characteristics of various peoples and the differences and relationships between them.

The Salinan tribe were first in contact with Europeans in the year 1602. They were located in California by the Santa Maria river snd mountains. The Salinan tribe also relied on the river and streams for food like salmon and mussels. They also foraged for berries and nuts.

During the Columbian Exchange in the 1490's, many new ideas and ideology were brought about by both the Native Americans and the Europeans. From both sides, some new information was integrated into old ways of thinking but some information was also disregarded because both peoples believed they were right and set in their ways. Not only new ideas were spread during the Columbian Exchange but resources as well as deadly diseases were spread.

The Cherokee tribe also thought the world was flat just like people long ago. The Cherokee people thought the earth was floating in the ocean being held up but it is interesting how they say that the sun goes down and then returns on its upper side to the starting place to start again. The Cherokee tribe had no idea that the moon and sun were two different things. Aristotle proved the earths roundness long before the Cherokee tribe but they did not have knowledge of this and believed in something else entirely.

It is very important to regard the close connection that both the Cherokee and Salinan tribe had with animals. They believed that animals were symbols and represented an idea and purpose in their own lives. Animals were represented as symbols and signs for many different things and they regarded them as such. Since these tribes had such close and personal relationships with animals and the idea of them, the animals were treated with so much more respect.

When this happens, will the world ever come again? The Cherokee tribe thought that the earth was suspended floating in the water and then at one point, it would simply sink. From this ideology, I am curious as to if the Cherokee tribe believed/believes that there would be a new world after them or if there was a different world before them?

This is the realm above the water where the animals lived before the earth was created in the Cherokee creating story.