🏹 100 Trivia Questions: Cherokee History & Government

Early History & Leaders

1. Who was the first Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation elected in 1794? → Little Turkey

2. Which Cherokee leader served as Principal Chief from 1828 to 1866 and guided the Nation through the Trail of Tears? → John Ross

3. Who was the famous Cherokee statesman accused of murder and became a folk hero in the late 1800s? → Ned Christie

4. Which Cherokee leader was known as a great orator and namesake of Goingsnake District? → Goingsnake

5. Who was the last Principal Chief before the U.S. dissolved the Cherokee government in the early 1900s? → Joel B. Mayes

6. Who became the first appointed modern Principal Chief in 1941? → J. B. Milam

7. Which Principal Chief was also president of Phillips Petroleum? → W. W. Keeler

8. Who was the first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation? → Wilma Mankiller

9. Which Cherokee Chief served the longest term in the 19th century? → John Ross

10. Which Chief guided the Cherokee Nation during the Civil War era? → John Ross

Government & Chiefs (Modern Era)

11. Who was the first elected Principal Chief after the appointment era ended in 1971? → W. W. Keeler

12. Who succeeded Keeler in 1975 and served until 1985? → Ross O. Swimmer

13. Who became Principal Chief after Ross Swimmer left for a U.S. Interior post? → Wilma Mankiller

14. Which Chief faced constitutional crises and disputes in the 1990s? → Joe Byrd

15. Who was Principal Chief from 1999 to 2011 and focused on language revitalization? → Chad “Corntassel” Smith

16. Who served as Acting Principal Chief in 2011 during an election dispute? → Joe Crittenden

17. Which Chief expanded healthcare and housing from 2011 to 2019? → Bill John Baker

18. Who is the current Principal Chief (2019–present)? → Chuck Hoskin Jr.

19. What year was the Cherokee Nation’s modern constitution ratified? → 1975

20. How many Tribal Council districts are there in the Cherokee Nation? → 15 plus 2 At-Large

Clans & Society

21. How many Cherokee clans are there? → Seven

22. Which clan served as law keepers and protectors? → Wolf Clan

23. Which clan were hunters and swift runners? → Deer Clan

24. Which clan acted as messengers and spiritual voices? → Bird Clan

25. Which clan was known as peacemakers and diplomats? → Long Hair Clan

26. Which clan specialized in medicine and healing? → Blue Clan

27. Which clan prepared for war and led ceremonies? → Paint Clan

28. Which clan provided food from the earth like potatoes? → Wild Potato Clan

29. Were clans matrilineal or patrilineal? → Matrilineal (through the mother)

30. Could Cherokee people marry within their own clan? → No

Ceremonies & Religion

31. What was the most important annual Cherokee ceremony of renewal and thanksgiving? → Green Corn Ceremony

32. What dance is performed around a sacred fire with shell shakers? → Stomp Dance

33. What does the Sacred Fire represent? → Life, unity, and prayers rising

34. Who were chosen to lead in times of peace? → Peace Chiefs

35. Who were chosen to lead in times of war? → War Chiefs

36. What symbol was kept burning at ceremonial grounds? → Sacred Fire

37. Which ceremony involved forgiveness of wrongs and renewal of the people? → Green Corn Ceremony

38. What do women wear on their legs during the Stomp Dance? → Shell shakers

39. Which council house was historically the largest in Cherokee territory? → New Echota Council House

40. Where was the Cherokee capital located before Removal? → New Echota, Georgia

Removal & Trail of Tears

41. What year did the Cherokee sign the Treaty of New Echota? → 1835

42. Which group of Cherokees signed the Treaty of New Echota without national consent? → Treaty Party

43. What was the forced removal of the Cherokee people called? → Trail of Tears

44. Approximately how many Cherokee people died during the Trail of Tears? → About 4,000

45. Who was Principal Chief during the Trail of Tears? → John Ross

46. What U.S. president signed the Indian Removal Act? → Andrew Jackson

47. In what decade did the Trail of Tears occur? → 1830s

48. Which Cherokee leaders were assassinated after the Trail of Tears for signing the treaty? → Major Ridge, John Ridge, Elias Boudinot

49. What year did the Cherokee arrive in Indian Territory after removal? → 1839

50. What Oklahoma town became the new Cherokee capital? → Tahlequah

Games & Recreation

51. What traditional Cherokee game is called the “little brother of war”? → Stickball

52. What ancient game involved rolling a stone disc and throwing spears? → Chunkey (or Chunky)

53. What is the Cherokee version of marbles called? → Gadayosdi

54. Was stickball only recreation or also ceremonial? → Both, it had ceremonial purposes

55. What did stickball games often settle between towns? → Disputes or conflicts

56. What material were traditional marbles made from? → Stone

57. What did the game Chunkey symbolize? → Skill, strategy, and competition

58. Was stickball considered more physical than modern lacrosse? → Yes

59. How many sticks are used in stickball? → Two

60. What was the objective of Chunkey? → To throw spears closest to a rolling stone disc

Food & Cuisine

61. What traditional Cherokee bread is made from cornmeal? → Cornbread

62. What dish is made from hickory nuts pounded into paste and boiled into soup? → Kanuchi

63. What post-removal staple is made from flour, salt, and lard? → Frybread

64. What springtime food is gathered and cooked with eggs? → Wild Onions & Eggs

65. What food is made from dried corn treated with lye? → Hominy

66. Which Cherokee clan was associated with food gathering? → Wild Potato Clan

67. Which food is often eaten at Cherokee National Holiday? → Frybread

68. Which dish connects directly to Cherokee hunting seasons? → Venison stew

69. What nut is most important in kanuchi? → Hickory nut

70. What is a common Cherokee drink made from corn? → Kanaheni (corn drink)

Education & Culture

71. What was the first Cherokee newspaper called? → The Cherokee Phoenix

72. Who created the Cherokee syllabary? → Sequoyah

73. In what year was the Cherokee syllabary invented? → 1821

74. Where was the Cherokee Female Seminary established? → Park Hill, Oklahoma

75. What university grew out of the Cherokee Female Seminary? → Northeastern State University

76. Who was the first editor of the Cherokee Phoenix? → Elias Boudinot

77. What year did the Cherokee Phoenix first publish? → 1828

78. What is the Cherokee word for written language? → Syllabary

79. Who is known as the most famous Cherokee silversmith? → Black Fox’s descendants (multiple known silversmiths)

80. What is the Cherokee word for Cherokee people? → Aniyvwiya

Modern Culture & Leaders

81. What annual event is held in Tahlequah every Labor Day weekend? → Cherokee National Holiday

82. What competition crowns a cultural ambassador for the Nation? → Miss Cherokee Pageant

83. What gallery in Tahlequah showcases Cherokee artists? → Spider Gallery

84. Who is a modern Cherokee storyteller and National Treasure? → Robert Lewis

85. Who is a modern Cherokee artist and language advocate? → Roy Boney Jr.

86. Who was declared a National Treasure in 1991 for Cherokee marbles and crafts? → Hastings Shade

87. What TV program highlights Cherokee stories and culture today? → OsiyoTV

88. Who served as Principal Chief when the modern Cherokee Constitution was adopted? → Ross Swimmer

89. Who served as Deputy Chief before becoming Principal Chief in 1985? → Wilma Mankiller

90. Who was Principal Chief during the COVID-19 pandemic? → Chuck Hoskin Jr.

Geography & Places

91. What is the capital of the Cherokee Nation? → Tahlequah

92. What historic Cherokee capital was in Georgia? → New Echota

93. What Oklahoma museum tells the story of Cherokee imprisonment and law? → Cherokee National Prison Museum

94. What historic Cherokee home is preserved in Park Hill? → Hunter’s Home

95. Where is the Cherokee Heritage Center located? → Park Hill, Oklahoma

96. Where is the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum located? → Tahlequah

97. What is the name of the Cherokee Nation’s main hospital? → W.W. Hastings Hospital

98. Where is the John Ross Museum located? → Park Hill

99. What town in Oklahoma celebrates the Huckleberry Festival? → Jay

100. What town in Oklahoma is called the “Strawberry Capital of the World”? → Stilwell