OF THE OKLAHOMA CHEROKEES. By
Jack F. and Anna G. Kilpatrick.
Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma
Press (1005 Asp Avenue, 73019-
0445), 1995. Paperbound. 201 Pp.
ISBN Number 0-8061-2722-8. $11.95.
Originally collected in 1961 by Jack F.
and Anna G. Kilpatrick in eastern
Oklahoma, the stories in “Friends of
Thunder” lead the reader through an
excellent cross section of Cherokee
folklife. They include the expected
“when the animals could talk stories”
(that tell of how things came to be or
provide moral instruction) as well as
less conventional stories such as
stories about Sequoia and other
Cherokee heroes, stories
about witchcraft and stories about the
“good ole days”. The Kilpatrick's tape
recorded these stories from seventeen
Cherokee elders, the average age of
whom was seventy. Most were
recorded in the Cherokee language
then later transcribed to English. Other
than interpretive notes the authors add
no embellishment to the actual story.
They are presented exactly as they
were told.
The kinship of the authors with the
Cherokee people unquestionably
eased their way in obtaining the trust
of each of the storytellers. The affinity
of the authors to Cherokee culture has
resulted in an as-accurate-as-possible
English rendition of each story. Anna
Kilpatrick, a full-blood Cherokee native
speaker, was undoubtedly
instrumental in the translation of each
story. The text is further augmented by
the talents of Jack Kilpatrick, a mixed-
blood Cherokee composer and
musicologist, who diligently recorded
the music and lyrics accompanying
several of the stories. His efforts are
particularly appreciated since
accompanying music is rare in most
works on Cherokee folklore.
These authors sharply contrasts with
most authors who have published
Cherokee folklore. This work is a
welcome comparison to that of other
authors who are most often male,
predominantly white, and not well-
versed in the Cherokee language. It
both enables the reader to trace a
continuity in Cherokee folklore over
the past 200 years as well as to
observe modifications, additions and
embellishments in the folklore over
time. “Friends of Thunder” offers an
extensive table of contents and
bibliography but is lacking in an index.
The authors provide extensive
footnotes as well as biographical
information on each of the storytellers.
This book is book is a must-have
for any serious student of Cherokee
folklore.
Anita Cheek Moon, Member
Reviewers’ Consortium
