The Origin of ᎠᏂ Ani (Strawberries) and Recipe
As we enter Spring and look forward to enjoying the sweetest ᎠᏂ ani (strawberries) of the season, I’m reminded of one of my very favorite Cherokees stories. It offers an important lesson in forgiveness, holding our loved ones close and sacred, and not giving up on each other. This traditional story is also the reason why many Cherokee display strawberries in their home as a reminder of this important lesson.
Adapted from Dr. Christopher Teuton’s book, Cherokee Earth Dwellers, and Barbara R. Duncan’s book, Origin of the Milky Way and Other Living Stories of the Cherokee.
When the first ᎠᏍᎦᏯ asgaya (man) and the first ᎠᎨᏯ agehya (woman) were created, they lived happily as husband and wife. However, over time, they began to take each other for granted and started to argue. What began as minor disagreements soon escalated, deeply hurting each other’s feelings. The first agehya thought to herself, “I don’t like the way he speaks to me or treats me. He must not love me.”
So, the woman left the man and walked toward the rising sun in the east, searching for a new life. As soon as she departed, the man, now alone, began to realize all the wrongs he had committed against her. He saw how inconsiderate, stubborn, and thoughtless he had been and felt a deep sense of regret. He decided to follow her, hoping to apologize and ask for another chance. But the woman was too far ahead, and she continued walking, never looking back.
The ᏅᏙᎢᎦᎡᎯ nvdoigaehi (Sun), observing the man, could see his genuine remorse and decided to show him compassion.
“First Man, I see you are grieving,” the Sun said to the husband.
Asgaya paused, looked up, and replied softly, “Yes, I am.”
“Would you like to speak with the woman who was your wife?” asked the Sun.
“Yes,” he answered. “Very much.”
“Then I will help you,” the Sun said.
“Wado, nvdo iga ehi,” Asgaya said.
The Sun beamed its brightest rays onto the ᎡᎶᎯ Elohi (earth), creating a patch of ripe ᎧᏩᏯ kawaya (huckleberries) along the woman’s path. But the woman, deep in thought and focused on reaching the east and a new beginning, didn’t notice them. Further down the path, the Sun again illuminated a cluster of ᎧᏄᎦᏟ kanugatli (blackberries), making them ripe and juicy with its rays and morning dew. But the woman passed by them too, determined to find her new home. Despite the Sun’s efforts with different berries, she kept walking without looking back.
Realizing that only a special berry could capture her attention, the Sun decided to create something extraordinary. It produced a low green bush with large, heart-shaped red berries that would be impossible to ignore. As the woman walked, she finally noticed these beautiful berries and couldn’t resist stopping to taste them. She picked the first ani (strawberry) and found it to be the most delicious fruit she had ever tasted. With each berry she ate, she thought of her husband and wished he could share this delightful treat. The more she ate, the more the sweet taste made her realize how much she missed him despite his flaws.
For the first time during her journey, she turned around and looked back to the west. There, in the distance, was the man walking toward her, his head bowed in sorrow. Seeing the pain and remorse on his face, she selected the ripest and juiciest ani to bring as a gift for him and wrapped them in her dress. Then, she turned and walked back to meet him.
When they reunited on the path, the first asgaya expressed his deep feelings of regret and apologized for his behavior. In response, the first agehya gave him an ani, symbolizing their love and sealing her forgiveness as the Sun shone down upon them.
Strawberry Dumplings Recipe
ᎠᎵᏍᏓᏴᏗ alisdayvdi (let’s eat)!
Though not a traditional Cherokee dish, try out this Strawberry Dumplings recipe below, as a take on our traditional Grape Dumplings, and enjoy this story from the Cherokee Phoenix.
— Sabrina McKinney (who would 100% stop for kanugatli [blackberries], too)
