Sarah Ridge’s Wild Potato Clan
In my roadside garden I grow crimson peonies, bright rhododendrons, alliums, and a sunflower known as "sunchokes" and "Jerusalem artichokes" -- or what the Cherokee call "wild potato." They have a clan named for that plant, the Wild Potato Clan. My main character in my novels A Woman of Marked Character, Sarah Ridge, is a member of that clan.
Jerusalem artichokes are root vegetables from the sunflower family that have a sweet, nutty flavor similar to artichoke hearts. They can be eaten raw or cooked in dishes like roasted vegetables, soups, and salads. Rich in inulin, a prebiotic fiber, they are a good source of iron, potassium, and vitamin B1, benefiting gut health and energy levels.
That's a current definition, but I guess the Cherokees knew from their early beginnings that the plant was healthy for them. In their Southeastern homeland, they gathered wild potatoes from swamps and streams to make flour and bread.
The Cherokee Wild Potato Clan, or Ani Gatogewi, historically served as "keepers of the land". The women were gatherers, and cultivated wild potatoes as a staple food.
The Cherokee have seven original clans: Bird, Blue, Deer, Long Hair, Paint, Wild Potato, and Wolf. These matrilineal clans have distinct roles within Cherokee society. Clan membership is inherited through the mother, and individuals cannot marry someone from their own clan
Sarah Ridge's clan, the Wild Potato Clan, is known as a nurturing clan. It is also known as the Bear Clan, Racoon Clan, or Blind Savannah Clan at different times. These families were responsible for providing food and teaching others about farming.
More on clans
"The Cherokee tribe was historically a matrilineal society; meaning children belong to the mother's clan, and hereditary leadership and property were passed through the maternal line. Traditionally, women were considered the head of household among the Cherokee, with the home and children belonging to her should she separate from a husband, and maternal uncles were considered more important than fathers. Property was inherited and bequeathed through the clan and held in common by it. In addition, Cherokee society tended to be matrilocal, meaning that once married, a couple moved in with or near the bride's family." [Wikipedia]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_clans
Sarah Ridge's father Major Ridge is mentioned here, as well a quote from her cousin Elias Boudinot.
My roadside garden in September
With a bee
A root
Cultivated Wild Potatoes; photo credit The Spruce