INDIAN AUTHOR RELATES `BALANCE' IN SOCIETY

Donning a traditional Cherokee shawl, Marilou Awiakta, Cherokee-Appalachian writer and storyteller, said the imbalance in society today is from an imbalance among genders.

Awiakta addressed over 200 people Wednesday at Southeast Missouri State University's Common Hour program.

The award-winning author's program had to be moved to the auditorium of the Dempster College of Business because of the larger-than-expected crowed.

Awiakta, whose family has lived in the southern Appalachian mountains for more than seven generations, said imbalances in Mother Earth are a result of imbalances between men and women. "Imbalances with gender are related to the imbalances in Mother Earth," she said. "Mother Earth is always taking and giving back."

She said in Cherokee society women have a place in all areas of life including government. The ancestors are descended through the females. She compared those of the female gender to Earth as a life force.

"Females are the carriers of the life force," she said. "They must be present in the home and in the government; women do not want to take a man's place."

She said all women have their own place in society. Awiakta used a quote from Wilma P. Mankiller, chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. "When asked if the chief would do men's dances, she said, ~~`No, we women have our own dances.'"

Using poems, stories and limericks, Awiakta said she tries to explain that today's society must return to balance and harmony. "We must stop destroying the very world that sustains us," she said.

Using the Cherokee story of the creation of women, SELU, Awiakta explained the Cherokee relationship between men and women.

According to the story the first Cherokee woman, SELU, was created out of the corn plant for her male companion, who was found to be bored by the creator. The story says that SELU and her companion went into balance.

"When genders go out of balance all of nature goes out of balance," said Awiakta.

She said balance is imperative for the preservation of any society. "For the preservation of the people, female and male minds must go together," she said. "The Cherokee Nation is the longest and most continuous democracy in the world based on gender balance."

Awiakta said her book, "SELU, Seeking the Corn-Mother's Wisdom," is all about balance of the gender and is not disrespectful to either. She said the book only tries to explain the balance that is necessary to understanding everything around us.

In her book she attempts to explain the meaning of "balance" that her ancestors understood. "I wanted people to take a different way of looking at things," she said.

Before the presentation, Awiakta toured the Cherokee historic displays at the Trail of Tears Park.

The Southeast presentation was sponsored by the university studies department's historic-preservation program and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.