Tsu-La Kingfisher,My 6th Great Grandfather

He was born about 1725 in Cherokee Nation East, now Tennessee. Tsu-La  is pronounced as jew-law and means fox in Cherokee. He was a full-blood Cherokee of the Deer Clan.

The Deer Clan members were the keeper of the deer, deer hunters and trackers, tanners and seamers as well as keeper of the deer medicines. They rest in the northwest on the Chickamaugan Stomp Ground. They are known as fast runners and foot messengers, delivering messages from village to village or person to person. They also maintain all sports and sports equipment. It is their responsibility to teach the knowledge of relaxation and unconditional love. They also teach of the deer and its habitat, including its willingness of self sacrifice to provide the two legged ones with food and clothing. Their color is brown, their wood is oak and their flag is purple with yellow stars.

Clan Division 
There are 7 clans of the Cherokee Indian. It is important to know this because they are not allowed to marry inside their clan. The women are the head of household in the Cherokee so membership is attained through the mother. The members within a clan are considered brothers and sisters. 

Clan Control
Each clan is controlled by elected women and by elders of both men and women. The women were given this responsibility because they were the ones who stayed home with their babies and assured the continuity of the family and clan. Because of this responsibility of the women for the family and the town, all property belonged to the women and the children belonged to her clan as only a mother is known for sure. It was women who inherited field rights as handed down from mother to daughter. It was the responsibility of each clan to judge and execute any punishment of any social wrong done by a clan member but the clan did not and could not make the laws or social customs. All laws and customs were made either by the Anidawehi, the people or evolved out of ancient acceptance. All religious laws were handled by the Anidawehi and Cherokee's believed religion was part of every day living.

 In 1751 at the age of 26 Tsu-La married Nancy Nanye'hi Fivekiller, my 6th great grandmother, who was later in life to be a Beloved Woman of the Cherokee. 

Tsu-La was killed while fighting in the Taliwa Battle in Ball Ground, Georgia in 1755 led by the great war chief Oconostota. The Cherokees were determined to drive the Muskogeans (Creeks) out of North Georgia. His wife Nanye'hi the Ghi-ga-u was at his side chewing bullets to cause more deadly effects on the Creeks. Kingfisher was mortally wounded. His wife continued the battle and the Cherokees were eventually victorious. Thus ended the conflict with the Creeks that had started in 1715. As a result of her bravery, Nanye'hi was given the title Ghi-ga-u ("The Beloved One") and, as a result, had veto power over the Cherokee Chiefs.