Duyukdv: Foundational Principle for the Cherokee Worldview and Environmental Ethic

A culture’s worldview is intimately tied to shared linguistic concepts. Much has been written about Cherokee culture and history, but it is generally interpreted using Western concepts and terminology. The concept of duyukdv, often glossed as ‘harmony’ or ‘balance’, can be observed as an unnamed foundational principle running through many historical accounts of Cherokee culture, including the ethnomedical system and environmental ethic. However, much like the Chinese concept of the Tao, it is elusive. In this talk, I will explore the Cherokee concept of duyukdv as it is implied in historical accounts of Cherokee culture and values.