Article XVI - Clans
The traditional 7 clans of the Cherokee are matrilineal only and therefore not everyone will know their clan. It is not required for membership into the Constitutional Cherokee, but it is encouraged that due diligence be employed to determine whether any historical reference is made to a female ancestors clan, and that descendants through each generation of mother and daughter be traced and that records of these discoveries be maintained at each level of government and that copies of these records be submitted to the other levels of government for safekeeping and for the sharing of information.
Anyone without a clan may NOT claim a clan affiliation without the approval of the Gatiyo on a national level. This submission must be approved at all lower levels of government before being submitted to the national level for approval.
If the individual has a father who knows his clan but no mother, if the clan mother offers, the grandchild may be adopted by his or her mother's clan. If this is done for one child, then if the clan mother approves, the same clan shall be designated for all of that individuals children. The clan mother may refuse to adopt one or any of the siblings, but then no other clan may ever adopt that person.
If the individual has neither mother nor father who has a direct matrilineal link, then that person may be adoped by one of the two clans who may adopt members. Only two clans are approved for accepting members in this manner. Adoption into a clan may only be undertaken by those who are fully enrolled documented members. Adoption into a clan must follow the tradition of the clan and be approved not only by all of the clan mothers and the principal clan mother at the community level, but must also be approved by the state and national Councils. At no time shall the same clan membership be granted to a married couple or a couple who has children together. If a couple is married or have children together and neither knows their clan, they may only be adopted into different clans. If this is not possible, then only the mother may be adopted. Thorough research is required to be completed before anyone may submit an application to be considered to join a clan. Each local clan must first approve the applicant, and the clan mother must be in full support of this decision before the next level of government may consider it. Considerations of who else is in the matrilineal line must be made because at no time may persons of the same clan marry or have children together.
NO adoptions into any clan that occurred PRIOR to membership in the Constitutional Cherokee will be recognized unless those adoptions occurred at least 45 years or more before the next and 1st National Assembly of the Constitutional Cherokee.
We do not encourage communities to adopt their people into clans. It is much preferred that members research their clan affiliation instead.
Those persons who have a documented connection to a Cherokee Ancestor but it is through the men in their family, may do their due diligence and present a request to be recognized through the clan that was last known to their family. This is to be done by and through the oldest living descendant of that line. Care must be taken in considering this request and factors as to whom this family has married into must also be taken into consideration. After careful study, the clan mother that this person seeks to unite with if the clan approves, will make this recommendations to the local community who will consider it for one year. If they agree to it, they will present this recommendation to the state where it will be voted upon and any objections to it will be heard. If approved here the state will recommend this to the national council of principal chiefs and if they approve, it will go before the next national assembly to be ratified. All clan requests will be read at the assembly, then if there are no objections raised, voted on in the National assembly after which, the local community and clan mothers will meet to conduct the adoption ceremony at the next local community meeting. Forever afterwards, the women descendants of that line will be known by that clan affiliation. When no clan can be determined, and when an ancestor is definitely Cherokee for that person, and no conflict would arise from doing so clan less members may be recommended for adoption into the Long Anigilohi aka Hair Clan. (an example of a conflict for instance, make sure when adopting that husband and wife would not then be from same clan).
Anigilohi is sometimes referred to as the Stranger Clan because prisoners of war, orphans from other tribes when discovered, those who joined with Dragging Canoe from other tribes and others with no Cherokee clan were often adopted into this clan.
The 7 recognized traditional clans of the Cherokee are known as:
Anigatogewi
Aniwaya
Aniwodi
Anigilohi
Anisahoni
Anitsiskwa
AniKawi aka Ani Equa awi
Each clan has its own responsibilities and they are identified by their own clan's design and colors.
Clan Ceremonies are considered private within their clan and not to be made public knowledge.
THE OFFICE OF PRINCIPAL CLAN MOTHER
The seven clan mothers within a community chapter select one from among their number to be the Principal clan mother. In addition to leadership of the clan mothers and clans, she is to also have a position on the clan council. There are no term limits on this position, but the clan mothers must acknowledge their selection of a principal clan mother annually.
THE SUPERVISION AND TRAINING OF THE ADAWEHI
The selection of candidates, the training of candidates, and the supervision of all adawehi is under the direct authority of the Clan mothers and the Principal Clan mother in accordance with their procedures. There is one adawehi per clan as well as a principal adawehi chosen for all the community by the clan mothers.
An adawehi who is deemed trained and ready to serve shall be recognized locally as a community Adawehi in accordance with the Auxiliary constitution of the Adawehi.
Community recognized Adawehi come under the supervision and authority of the state chapters in accordance with the Auxiliary constitution of the Adawehi.
State recognized Adawehi come under the supervision and authority of the National Council and the National Assembly in accordance with the Auxiliary constitution of the Adawehi.
