This paper will argue that Grave Houses, sometimes referred to as Spirit Houses, found in various... more This paper will argue that Grave Houses, sometimes referred to as Spirit Houses, found in various parts of the United States are the result of Indigenous cultural practices. These practices are part of their burial customs and beliefs that existed prior to European contact. The use of Grave Houses traveled with Indigenous people from their homelands to their modern communities in which they live today. There are numerous tribes who share the practice of using Grave Houses; however, this paper will narrow its focus to the history of use by the Cherokee. In doing so, it will give an overview of the region in which the Cherokee lived in the Southeastern United States, their disbursement during the migration of the Old Settlers and forced removal, and their current reservation in Oklahoma. Along with an overview of the settlements and movements of the Cherokee people, a focus will be placed on discussing their burial practices and spiritual belief system as compared to European descendants living in the same regions. In this way, it will establish that Grave Houses found across the Southeastern region are not a European or Appalachian developed practice, but a significant Indigenous one.
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Papers by Mary A Barker