Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

ethnic group
group=Cherokee


poptime=300,000+
popplace=Enrolled members:
Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma (f):
280,000+
United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, Oklahoma (f):
10,000
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, North Carolina (f):
12,000+
(f) = federally recognized

rels=Christianity (Southern Baptist), Traditional Ah-ni-yv-wi-ya
langs=English, Cherokee
related=Tuscarora

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are a federally recognized Native American tribe in the United States of America. The history of the Eastern Band is synonymous with that of the Qualla Boundary, although the EBCI own, hold, or maintain additional lands in the vicinity, and as far away as 100 miles from the Qualla Boundary. The Eastern Cherokee are the descendants primarily of those persons listed on the Baker Rolls of Cherokee Indians. The Qualla Boundary, the current homeland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, gets most of its money from a combination of Federal/State funds, tourism, and the Harrah's Cherokee Casino, instituted in the early 1990s.

It should be noted that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are not affiliated with the Cherokee Nation or the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma, beyond cultural and historical ties.

History, language and religion

The Eastern Band members are primarily descended from Cherokee who did not participate in the march on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma Territory, primarily owing to the foresight of Chief Yonaguska, and the help of his adopted Caucasian son, William Holland Thomas. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians still practice many of the original ceremonies, and many prominent Cherokee historians are affiliated with, or members of the Eastern Band.

Tsali (pronounced /IPA|'ʦa.li/) opposed the removal, and remained in the Cherokee Homeland with a small group of Cherokee who formed a rebellious resistance against the United States to thwart the removal of the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears. Tsali was eventually captured, and was executed by the United States in exchange for the lives of the small band he protected — who remained in the Cherokee Homeland and became the modern Eastern Band.

The [http://www.cherokeemuseum.org Museum of the Cherokee Indian] hosts and exhibits an extensive collection of artifacts and items of historical and cultural interest, from the early Mississippian Period through modern times, related to the Cherokee Culture. The [http://www.cherokeeheritage.org Cherokee Heritage Center] displays historical artifacts related to the march of the Cherokee on the Trail of Tears and the development of Oklahoma Cherokee Culture.

Notable Eastern Cherokee Indians

* Nancy Ward
* Sequoyah
* Junaluska
* Drowning Bear
* Charles George

Contemporary language and religion

There are over two dozen Christian Churches of various denominations on the Qualla Boundary. Many of the traditional religious practices of the Eastern Band have become blended with new age views and customs according to Cherokee traditionalists, and have diverged as the result of cultural isolation of the various factions of Cherokee Society. However, many of the original dances and ceremonies are still practiced by the Eastern Band.

The Eastern Band has begun a language immersion program requiring all graduating seniors to speak the language beginning 2007. Of the total population on the Qualla Boundary, there are approximately 900 speakers, 72% of whom are over the age of 50¹.

The Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation (Qualla Boundary)

The Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation, officially known as the Qualla Boundary, is located in western North Carolina, just south of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main part of the reservation lies in eastern Swain County and northern Jackson County, but there are many smaller non-contiguous sections to the southwest in Cherokee County and Graham County. A very small part of the main reservation even extends eastward into Haywood County. The total land area of these parts is 213.934 km² (82.600 sq mi), with a 2000 census resident population of 8,092 persons.

References

¹Comprehensive Cherokee Language Survey, EBCI Dept. of Cultural Resources. Cherokee, NC. 2005
* [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-CHECK_SEARCH_RESULTS=N&-CONTEXT=dt&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_P001&-tree_id=4001&-transpose=N&-redoLog=true&-all_geo_types=N&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=25000US0990&-geo_id=NBSP&-search_results=25000US0990&-format=&-_lang=en&-show_geoid=Y Eastern Cherokee Reservation, North Carolina] United States Census Bureau

External links

* [http://www.nc-cherokee.com/ Official Website of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians]
* [http://www.cherokeemuseum.org Museum of the Cherokee Indian]
* [http://www.cherokeeheritage.org Cherokee Heritage Center]
* [http://www.unitedkeetoowahband.org/ United Keetoowah Band]
* [http://www.cherokee.org The Cherokee Nation]
* [http://www.easternband.com EasternBand.com] - Unofficial voice of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians
* [http://www.tolatsga.org/Cherokee1.html Cherokee History] (source unclear)