Overview

Anetso, a centuries-old Cherokee ball game still played today, is a vigorous, sometimes violent activity that rewards speed, strength, and agility. At the same time, it is the focus of several linked ritual activities. Is it a sport? Is it a religious ritual? Could it possibly be both? Why has it lasted so long, surviving through centuries of upheaval and change? Based on his work in the field and in the archives, Michael J. Zogry argues that members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation continue to perform selected aspects of their cultural identity by engaging in anetso, itself the hub of an extended ceremonial complex, or cycle. A precursor to lacrosse, anetso appears in all manner of Cherokee cultural narratives and has figured prominently in the written accounts of non-Cherokee observers for almost three hundred years. The anetso ceremonial complex incorporates a variety of activities which, taken together, complicate standard scholarly distinctions such as game versus ritual, public display versus private performance, and tradition versus innovation. Zogry's examination provides a striking opportunity for rethinking the understanding of ritual and performance as well as their relationship to cultural identity. It also offers a sharp reappraisal of scholarly discourse on the Cherokee religious system, with particular focus on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation. Anetso, a centuries-old Cherokee ball game still played today, is a vigorous, sometimes violent activity that rewards speed, strength, and agility. At the same time, it is the focus of several linked ritual activities. Is it a sport? Is it a religious ritual? Could it possibly be both? Why has it lasted so long, surviving through centuries of upheaval and change?

Full Product Details

9780807833605

Table of Contents

Reviews

Provides a striking opportunity for rethinking the understanding of ritual and performance as well as their relationship to cultural identity. . . . Offers a sharp reappraisal of scholarly discourse on the Cherokee religious system. <br>- Edgefield Advertiser

A very important and significant book about a Cherokee activity that reinforces the fact that the meaning of anetso remains as elusive as the ball itself but still central to Cherokee cultural identity. - Register of the Kentucky Historical Society

A fascinating exploration of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' ball game, Anetso. <br>- The Journal of American History

A remarkable assessment of anetso. . . . An important and compelling work. . . . It will certainly remain the standard text on the topic for years to come. <br>- Indigenous Peoples Issues & Resources

Author Information

Michael J. Zogry is assistant professor of religious studies at the University of Kansas.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available