""Destany “Sky” Pete, a member of the Shoshone and Paiute Tribes from the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Idaho and Nevada, discovered that her tribe’s current health issues were linked to a lack of traditional foods, including the forgotten recipe for toishabui, or chokecherry pudding.
Intrigued by the potential health benefits of chokecherry pudding, particularly its purported cancer-fighting properties, Sky decided to conduct a scientific experiment to verify these claims. She enlisted the help of biochemistry professor Dr. Ken Cornell at Boise State University, who specializes in cancer cell research.
Dr. Cornell tested four types of chokecherry specimens on uterine sarcoma cancer cells. Remarkably, only one sample – the traditional chokecherry pudding – successfully inhibited cancer cell growth. Within just 24 hours, the cancer cells began to die. Sky noted that the success of the pudding was due to the inclusion of the crushed chokecherry pits, which were a critical component of the recipe. The community celebrated this breakthrough, as it provided scientific evidence of another herb’s potential in treating cancer. Sky’s experiment earned the First Grand Prize at the 2017 Elko County Science Fair in Nevada, surpassing over 440 other projects. She plans to continue her research by testing other types of cancer cells for a longer period."
Intrigued by the potential health benefits of chokecherry pudding, particularly its purported cancer-fighting properties, Sky decided to conduct a scientific experiment to verify these claims. She enlisted the help of biochemistry professor Dr. Ken Cornell at Boise State University, who specializes in cancer cell research.
Dr. Cornell tested four types of chokecherry specimens on uterine sarcoma cancer cells. Remarkably, only one sample – the traditional chokecherry pudding – successfully inhibited cancer cell growth. Within just 24 hours, the cancer cells began to die. Sky noted that the success of the pudding was due to the inclusion of the crushed chokecherry pits, which were a critical component of the recipe. The community celebrated this breakthrough, as it provided scientific evidence of another herb’s potential in treating cancer. Sky’s experiment earned the First Grand Prize at the 2017 Elko County Science Fair in Nevada, surpassing over 440 other projects. She plans to continue her research by testing other types of cancer cells for a longer period."
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"In traditional Cherokee society, a woman could divorce her husband simply by placing his belongings outside their home.
This was possible because their society was matrilineal, meaning family lines, clan membership, and heritage were all traced through the mother, not the father.
Women owned the family property, including the house and the farmland. A man lived in his wife’s home, and if she decided the marriage was over, he had no claim to it.
This structure gave women a great deal of respect and authority within the community. They were not just homemakers; they were the pillars of the family and clan.
Cherokee women also held political power, participating in council meetings and influencing tribal decisions. The Council of Grandmothers, a group of respected elder women, often had the final say on important matters, including declarations of war.
Some women even earned the noscript of “War Woman” or “Beloved Woman” for their bravery in battle or exceptional wisdom. Nanyehi, known to settlers as Nancy Ward, was a famous War Woman who became a respected diplomat and leader.
These women were not seen as unusual. Their roles as leaders, warriors, and property owners were a normal and accepted part of Cherokee life for centuries.
This balance of power and responsibility between men and women created a strong and resilient society that differed greatly from the European cultures that would later arrive.
Sources: Tar Heel Junior Historian, New-York Historical Society, United Cherokee Nation"
This was possible because their society was matrilineal, meaning family lines, clan membership, and heritage were all traced through the mother, not the father.
Women owned the family property, including the house and the farmland. A man lived in his wife’s home, and if she decided the marriage was over, he had no claim to it.
This structure gave women a great deal of respect and authority within the community. They were not just homemakers; they were the pillars of the family and clan.
Cherokee women also held political power, participating in council meetings and influencing tribal decisions. The Council of Grandmothers, a group of respected elder women, often had the final say on important matters, including declarations of war.
Some women even earned the noscript of “War Woman” or “Beloved Woman” for their bravery in battle or exceptional wisdom. Nanyehi, known to settlers as Nancy Ward, was a famous War Woman who became a respected diplomat and leader.
These women were not seen as unusual. Their roles as leaders, warriors, and property owners were a normal and accepted part of Cherokee life for centuries.
This balance of power and responsibility between men and women created a strong and resilient society that differed greatly from the European cultures that would later arrive.
Sources: Tar Heel Junior Historian, New-York Historical Society, United Cherokee Nation"
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