The Bison Dance 🦬 A Cherokee social dance demonstrated at Oconaluftee Indian Village Did you know that there were bison in the southeastern United States? The last one in this area was killed around Asheville, NC during the fur trade. The Bison Dance is a favorite amongst our staff members. You’ll notice them jostling each other and having a good time. Native people are not as stoic as Hollywood likes to portray us. Historically, social dances were meant to be a fun way to socialize, and even t

This clip of the Cherokee Ant Dance was recorded during the final dance demonstration of the season at Oconaluftee Indian Village living history museum. In this traditional Cherokee social dance, the dancers depict ants working together in community, like our Cherokee people. All of the dancers in this video are either artisans or tour guides at Oconaluftee Indian Village, and all but one are enrolled members of a federally recognized Indigenous tribe Oconaluftee Indian Village is an open air li

The Bear Dance at Oconaluftee Indian Village The bear dance demonstrates the bear going through all four seasons, including slowing down to collect nuts and berries in the fall and winter. This clip was recorded during the final dance show of the 2024 season, as our staff members were celebrating the completion of a successful season. You’ll see them playing around and having fun, as is customary during Cherokee social dances. We’re grateful for a successful 2024 season and look forward to welco

A ceremonial Cherokee dance with both spiritual and social meaning, celebrating important events and themes like harvest, redemption and forgiveness — the Cherokee Word of the Week is “stomp dance.” | Visit Cherokee Nation