
Owls and their symbolism in Native American culture are unique because, for some, they can be omens of death. According to Smokey Mountain News, the Cherokee people held birds in pretty high esteem, almost like they were magical. Much of their imagery focused on all types of birds, but owls held their own significance.
There are three different types of owls that are mentioned in Cherokee folklore and they all symbolize different things, but each had some significance to warfare. The screech owl was believed to be a messenger of things to come. This owl and its calls became extremely significant during times of conflict or war because they believed it would predict the outcome.
However, the most well-known owl in Cherokee culture was the great horned owl. "Tsligi" as it was known, was believed to be an evil omen and was even associated with witches and dark forces. They were viewed as having dark mysterious powers and may not actually be birds at all, but shapeshifters instead, according to Center of the West. As potential harbingers of spooky spirits and even death, the Cherokee and other tribes still have a healthy respect for the owl species.
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