Abstract
This ethnographic study was conducted to identify how: (1) the Cherokee male adolescent describes himself as being self-reliant according to the Cherokee definition of self-reliance, and (2) how the Cherokee male adolescent achieves self-reliance. Twelve Cherokee male adolescents were interviewed and observed. All of the participants were from the Western Band of Cherokees in Oklahoma and they each reported that Cherokee self-reliance is a way to keep the Cherokee from abusing drugs or alcohol.