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The 'Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' are a federally recognized Native American band in the United States of America. The history of the Eastern Band is very much synonymous with that of the Qualla Boundary, although the Band owns lands extending up to 100 miles beyond the Boundary. The Eastern Cherokee are the descendants of primarily those persons listed on the Baker Rolls of Cherokee Indians. The Qualla Boundary, current homeland of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Most of its money from tourism and the Harrah's Casino, instituted in the early 1990s.
Some helpful links include Museum of the Cherokee Indian, which 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. Cherokee Heritage Center, displays historical artifacts related to the march of the Cherokee on the Trail on Tears and the development of Oklahoma Cherokee Culture.
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 imersion program requiring all graduating seniors to speak the language begining 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 Band members are primarily descended from Cherokee who did not participate in the march on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma Territory. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians still practice many of the original ceremonies of the Cherokee and many prominent Cherokee historians are affiliated with or members of the Eastern Band.
Tsali (pronounced //). 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.

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Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation

References

External links

Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation

The 'Eastern Cherokee Indian Reservation' 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

★ Eastern Cherokee Reservation, North Carolina United States Census Bureau

External links

★ The Cherokee Nation

★ Official Website of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

★ United Keetoowah Band