Plants and the Cherokee is a cooperative effort by the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, the North CarolinaBotanical Garden, and Laurel Hill Press. Second in the “Take a Closer Look” series, this 26- minute video tells the story about the relationship between the Cherokee and the plants that are a part of their world. The rich culture of the Cherokee is presented through vivid imagery of the land and people, the sounds of nature, and the sounds of the Cherokee, including their native language, their stories, and their music. The special stories of seven plants representative of the more than 800 kinds of plants used for food, clothing, housing, or medicine are told, first taking a close look at the plant as it lives in the natural world, then exploring the way in which the Cherokee people used and appreciated these native plants.
Plants and the Cherokee is a valuable resource for Native American studies in elementary, middle and high school curricula. Teachers, environmental educators, naturalists, and anyone interested in the natural world and Native American culture will find this colorful and authentic video invaluable
