Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Who is Judaculla?

  • Cherokee Language Program Instructor Tom Belt transcribed and translated this passage.
  • Kagi iyusdi gese tsutlakala? Ina igata gese tsutlakala anadiho anitsalagi. nav ahani ehei anadisgoi. sogwo iyuwagati aninohalidohi dugehvsei. gadusi nusda diyulatadesei, ihiya uweya widutsei. dalehvsgv uwoyeni udowelane nuyohi. sigwu agotvti udowelvi. hiwata tsutlakala uwoyeni udowelvi.
  • According to Cherokee legend, Judaculla was a slant-eyed giant who lived high up in the Balsam Mountains. He guarded his hunting grounds from Judaculla’s Judgment Seat, today known as Devil’s Courthouse, a site reached from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Once, a party of disrespectful hunters came through his land, Judaculla chased them down the mountain. With a mighty leap, the angry giant landed near Caney Fork on a large boulder. Putting his hand down to steady himself, he left his mark on the rock’s surface. The impression of his hand can still be seen at the lower right corner of the rock. Judaculla’s marks have also been seen on other boulders throughout Cherokee lands, including near the Mother-town of Kituwah, a sacred and prominent Cherokee religious center. Use this drawing to locate Judaculla’s handprint and other glyphs.