Cherokee Medicine Man : The Life and Work of a Modern-Day Healer

A modern medicine man portrayed through the words of the people he has helped Robert J. Conley did not set out to chronicle the life of Cherokee medicine man John Little Bear. Instead, the medicine man came to him. Little Bear asked Conley to write down his story, to reveal to the world “what Indian medicine is really about.” For Little Bear, as for the Cherokee ancestors who brought their traditions over the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory, the medicine is about helping people. Visitors from neighboring states and Mexico come to him, each one seeking help for a different kind of problem. Each seeker's story is presented here exactly as it was told to Conley. Little Bear has cured problems involving health, relationships, and money by uncovering the source of the problem rather than simply treating the symptoms. Whereas mainstream medicine and counseling have failed his patients, Little Bear's healing practices have proven beneficial time and again. Contents......Page 6 Introduction......Page 10 1. A Brief History of the Cherokees and the Origins of Medicine......Page 15 2. Interview with Little Bear......Page 38 3. A Very Brief Life Story......Page 50 4. The Beginnings of This Book......Page 56 5. Sally's Story......Page 58 6. Alex......Page 60 7. Frank's Story......Page 61 8. George's Story......Page 65 9. Martha Jane......Page 67 10. Sonny's Story......Page 68 11. Henry's Story......Page 70 12. The Sweat......Page 71 13. Going to Water......Page 75 14. Dreams......Page 78 15. Maggie's Story......Page 80 16. Mark's Story......Page 82 17. Rainmaker's Story......Page 85 18. Coby's Story......Page 87 19. James's Story......Page 92 20. Laura's Story......Page 96 21. Indian Medicine and Christianity......Page 99 22. The Little People......Page 100 23. Corrine's Story......Page 102 24. Agnes's Story......Page 104 25. Emiliano's Story......Page 106 26. Jeff's Story......Page 107 27. Chris's Journey......Page 110 28. James Again......Page 112 29. Miscellaneous Tales and Anecdotes......Page 113 30. A Typical Saturday Afternoon......Page 125 31. The Stomp Dance......Page 129 32. Spirit War......Page 131 33. Yet Another One......Page 136 34. A Hunting Story......Page 139 35. Dealing with the Legal System......Page 140 36. A Night-Goer......Page 142 37. Three Topics......Page 143 38. Dillard......Page 146 39. It's Not All Medicine......Page 147 40. Shape-shifting......Page 149 41. The Baboon......Page 150 42. Jim and Steve......Page 151 Afterword......Page 154 C......Page 158 S......Page 159 U......Page 160 Y......Page 161 University of Oklahoma Press Contents 6 Introduction 10 1. A Brief History of the Cherokees and the Origins of Medicine 15 2. Interview with Little Bear 38 3. A Very Brief Life Story 50 4. The Beginnings of This Book 56 5. Sally's Story 58 6. Alex 60 7. Frank's Story 61 8. George's Story 65 9. Martha Jane 67 10. Sonny's Story 68 11. Henry's Story 70 12. The Sweat 71 13. Going to Water 75 14. Dreams 78 15. Maggie's Story 80 16. Mark's Story 82 17. Rainmaker's Story 85 18. Coby's Story 87 19. James's Story 92 20. Laura's Story 96 21. Indian Medicine and Christianity 99 22. The Little People 100 23. Corrine's Story 102 24. Agnes's Story 104 25. Emiliano's Story 106 26. Jeff's Story 107 27. Chris's Journey 110 28. James Again 112 29. Miscellaneous Tales and Anecdotes 113 30. A Typical Saturday Afternoon 125 31. The Stomp Dance 129 32. Spirit War 131 33. Yet Another One 136 34. A Hunting Story 139 35. Dealing with the Legal System 140 36. A Night-Goer 142 37. Three Topics 143 38. Dillard 146 39. It's Not All Medicine 147 40. Shape-shifting 149 41. The Baboon 150 42. Jim and Steve 151 Afterword 154 Glossary 158 A 158 C 158 E 159 G 159 H 159 J 159 K 159 M 159 N 159 S 159 T 160 U 160 W 161 Y 161 ISBN-13:,9780806136653 The Author Introduces John Little Bear, A Cherokee Medicine Man, And Stories From Those Who Came To Him For Help, And Examines The History, Culture, And Myths Of The Cherokee People. A Brief History Of The Cherokees And The Origins Of Medicine -- Interview With Little Bear -- A Very Brief Life Story -- The Beginnings Of This Book -- Sally's Story -- Alex -- Frank's Story -- George's Story -- Martha Jane -- Sonny's Story -- Henry's Story -- The Sweat -- Going To Water -- Dreams -- Maggie's Story -- Mark's Story -- Rainmaker's Story -- Coby's Story -- James's Story -- Laura's Story -- Indian Medicine And Christianity -- The Little People -- Corrine's Story -- Emiliano's Story -- Jeff's Story -- Chris's Journey -- James Again -- Miscellaneous Tales And Anecdotes -- A Typical Saturday Afternoon -- The Stomp Dance -- Spirit War -- Yet Another One -- A Hunting Story -- Dealing With The Legal System -- A Night-goer -- Three Topics -- Dillard -- It's Not All Medicine -- Shape-shifting -- The Baboon -- Jim And Steve. Robert J. Conley. Them are different stories and theories about where the Cherokees came from originally, but when they were first encountered by Europeans, they were living in approximately 250 autonomous towns scattered over parts of what are now the states of North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Alabama, and Georgia.