Cherokee Tree of Life

Gerald Dawavendewa (Hopi & Cherokee) A cedar tree wrapped in a flower-laden vine offers life to the animals and people. Surrounding the tree are water symbols, giving moisture to the land. For the Cherokee people, the cedar tree is sacred. The cedar is an evergreen tree, never losing its foliage, a reward from an ancient challenge from the spirits to the animals and plants on who could stay awake the longest. Like an evergreen tree, cedar also has a beautiful aroma with a rich-colored wood that resists deterioration and insects. Its wood is part of incense in ceremonies and blessings. The cedar is known as a “medicine tree” to the Cherokee. Printed on heavy-gloss card stock measuring 5 by 7 inches  when folded, our smudge-, fade-, and water-resistant ink ensures its lasting quality. Includes an explanation of the artwork, details about the indigenous culture that inspired it, and a biography of the artist.