The Bodark and the Cherokee: A Symbiotic Relationship

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to a special 1-hour ranger-led program discussing the relationship between the Bodark tree and the Cherokee. Participants will meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center and then caravan to a location on the Chickamauga Battlefield.

Cherokee had a spiritual connection to the land and its bounty, while keeping an eye toward the future. They also had a unique relationship with their natural environment. Their ability to build tools from what their environment provided them was truly amazing. One of the ways the Cherokee mastered this approach was the bow, which most often was made from the wood of the Bodark. We invite you to come and learn more about this amazing tree and its uses by the Cherokee.