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Native American Legends: Unetlanvhi (Ouga)
Name: Unetlanvhi
Tribal affiliation: Cherokees
Alternate spellings: Unelanvhi, Unetlvnvhi, Unelanahi
Pronunciation: oo-nay-hla-nuh-hee or oo-net-la-nuh-hee
Also known as: Ouga, Ugv, Ugu, Galvladi'ehi
Type: High god,
Creator
Related figures in other tribes: Maheu (Cheyenne),
Gitchie Manitou (Ojibway),
Ahone (Powhatan)
Unetlanvhi, which literally means "Creator," is the Cherokee name for God. Sometimes Cherokee people today
also refer to the Creator as the "Great Spirit,"
a phrase which was borrowed from other tribes of Oklahoma. Unetlanvhi is considered to be a divine spirit with no
human form or attributes and is not normally personified in Cherokee myths.
Sometimes another name such as Galvladi'ehi ("Heavenly One") or Ouga ("Ruler") is used instead.
Unetlanvhi Stories
Origin of the Strawberry Story of the Strawberries:
Cherokee legends in which Unetlanvhi intervenes to help reunite a quarreling couple.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
The First Fire:
Anthology of stories from the Kickapoo, Cherokee, Kiowa, and Tigua tribes.
Southeastern Native American Legends:
Book comparing the traditional stories of the Cherokee and other Southeast tribes.
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Additional Resources
Cherokee legend
Cherokee language
Cherokee writing
Cherokee Indian names
Kentucky Indians
Southeastern Native American tribes
Iroquois languages
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