-
Courtney Miller
a book bubble about
Gihli The Chief Named Dog: Book 3 of the Cherokee Chronicles
Literature & Fiction
Author Insight
Yunwi Tsunsdi-Cherokee Leprechuan
When the Irish came to America, they brought stories of their “little people”, the Leprechauns. A mischievous dwarf full of tricks and magic. But “little people” were already a legend among Native Americans. The Navaho and Ute told stories of the “Pitukupf”, a mischievous spirit-dwarf that lived in a badger hole. The Cherokee called their legendary little people “Yunwi Tsunsdi”. They were magical and mischievous, as well. James Mooney wrote: “There is another race of spirits, the Yunwi Tsunsdi, or “Little People”, who live in rock caves on the mountain side. They are little fellows, hardly reaching up to a man’s knee, but well shaped and handsome, with long hair falling almost to the ground. They... spend half their time drumming and dancing. They are helpful and kind-hearted, and often when people have been lost in the mountains, especially children, [they] have found them and taken care of them and brought them back to their homes. Little People do not like to be disturbed at home, and they throw a spell over the stranger so that he is bewildered and loses his way. In the book, The Little People appear to help Ali on two occasions. Are they real or imaginary?
Book Excerpt
Gihli The Chief Named Dog: Book 3 of the Cherokee Chronicles
The tired old woman climbed the steep hill where she had come many times as a child to play with her strange little friends. She stopped to catch her breath and to listen for the happy drums and singing that she had not heard for so many years. Sadly, only the wind in the trees and her own hard breathing disturbed the silence this night.
It was forbidden for adults to seek the village of the Yunwi Tsunsdi. As a small child, the Little People had been great playmates. They looked like adults but were tiny like she was back then. They were well shaped and handsome with long hair reaching to the ground.
She loved visiting them because they seemed to spend most of their time happily drumming, singing, and dancing. She was told that they were wonder workers and especially helpful to children.
But they were not so enamored with adults. In fact, they shunned them and if annoyed by an adult, might cast a spell, making them disoriented or even crazy! But Kalona was willing to risk the consequences if they could save her granddaughter.
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Apple Books
Kobo
Click Follow to receive emails when this author adds content on Bublish
Comment on this Bubble
Your comment and a link to this bubble will also appear in your Facebook feed.