Facts about the Qualla Boundry and its people, the Cherokee

Facts about the Qualla Boundary and its people, the Cherokee

• The proper name of the Cherokee Indian Reservation is the Qualla Boundary. It contains nearly 57,000 acres. Additional tribal lands are found at the Snowbird Community near Robbinsville and in Cherokee County, NC.

• Visitors often ask “Where are the tipis?” (Yes, that's the proper spelling!) Tipis were developed by western plains Indians for portability. They followed migrating and roaming herds of game. The Cherokee and other tribes in the east lived in permanent structures. Small game, fish and crops were readily available.

• Today's tribal government doesn't resemble the Cherokee government of centuries ago. Once a matriarchal society with traditional stickball games settling disputes, a democratic form of government now exists. The principal chief and vice chief are elected for four year terms with tribal council members being elected every two years.

• The Qualla Boundary is federal government public trust land held as such only for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Tribal and federal laws apply with jurisdiction by Cherokee Police or federal agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

• Current tribal enrollment is slightly less than 13,000. About 9,000 tribal members reside on the Qualla Boundary. Tribal members are permitted to own land and houses but can sell only to other members of the tribe. All land and business transactions are recorded by the local agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

• Centuries ago the Cherokee territory included parts of what eventually became the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia. The Cherokee, along with members of other southeastern tribes, were relocated to Oklahoma in 1838-39 during the infamous “Trail of Tears.”

• The Cherokee were the first Native Americans to have their own written language. Invented by Sequoyah, the syllabary contains 86 characters. The Cherokee also had their own newspaper in the mid-1800s called The Phoenix.

• The Cherokee language, almost extinct a decade ago, is now being taught in all grades of the Cherokee school system.

• The Qualla Boundary (Cherokee Indian Reservation) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are the only federally recognized tribe and reservation land between western New York and southern Florida.

• Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual is the oldest Native American cooperative in the United States with more than 350 local craftspeople as members.

• “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama is one of the oldest outdoor dramas in the United States. Its first performance was July 1, 1950 and it still runs nightly during the summer in the beautiful mountainside theater.

• One of the top three Indian museums in the United States is the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. In 1998 it underwent a major renovation to make it a highly informative and interactive experience.

• All employees of the Oconaluftee Indian Village are enrolled members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

• Native Americans became citizens of the United States in 1924.

For more information about Cherokee, visit www.cherokee-nc.com on the web or phone 800-438-1601.