Cherokee heritage groups facts for kids

Cherokee heritage groups are organizations mainly found in the United States. These groups are made up of people who cannot join any of the three official Cherokee tribes. The three federally recognized tribes are the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. The Cherokee Nation welcomes anyone who can prove they have a Cherokee ancestor. Many heritage groups include people who say they have Cherokee family, but they don't have official documents to prove it. In 2010, over 800,000 Americans said they had Cherokee ancestry. This was more than any other Native American group in the Census.

Some heritage groups work to keep the Cherokee language and culture alive. These often include groups officially connected to the recognized tribes. However, other groups are new and have no real link to historical Cherokee culture. Their members might not know much about true Cherokee ways. While some groups try hard to be culturally correct, others might use ideas from movies or new age beliefs. They might also do dances or ceremonies that are not part of traditional Cherokee culture.

A heritage group might study family history and the Cherokee language. They also provide social events for members. Many groups that claim to be tribes, but don't require Cherokee heritage, focus on "Indian hobbyism." This means they might role-play or celebrate events like pow wows. These events are not always part of traditional Cherokee culture. Some groups have even formed to try and get money unfairly. The Cherokee Nation encourages people to join proper cultural groups. They say that other groups often misrepresent true Native American culture. Their members usually know little about the culture they claim to represent.

Why Do These Groups Form?

Some heritage groups started because people's ancestors were not accepted onto the Dawes Rolls. The Dawes Rolls were lists of tribal members created by the U.S. government. Non-Native people sometimes tried to get on these lists to claim land. Other groups might have members with a very small amount of distant Cherokee heritage. Their ancestors may have adopted non-Native ways a long time ago. Because of this, their families no longer have any Cherokee culture, language, or ceremonies. Sometimes, families have vague stories about Cherokee ancestors. These stories might have been told to explain differences in looks or to hide African-American ancestors.

In the area now known as Oklahoma, several tribes formed the Four Mothers Society. These included the Choctaw, Muscogee Creek, Cherokee, and Natchez peoples. They created this society to fight against the government's efforts to force them to change their ways. They also resisted attempts to break up their tribal lands.

Connecting with Cherokee Heritage

People who cannot join an official tribe sometimes join heritage groups. They do this to feel connected to the Cherokee people. This connection might be based on documented distant family ties. It could also come from family stories or even myths about Native American history.

Some Cherokee people avoided being listed on the Dawes Rolls. These individuals often married into non-Native families. Over time, their children and grandchildren became culturally non-Native. They usually remain so today.

Some heritage groups form around a specific goal. This could be to protect a sacred site like "Save Kituwah." It could also be to preserve the language or traditional arts like basket weaving. Both the Eastern and Western Cherokee tribes have master teachers in these arts. Many people follow their teachings. Social media has helped connect people interested in family history and heritage. Some groups of people who claim Cherokee heritage meet online.

Official Tribal Recognition

Heritage groups sometimes try to become recognized as official Cherokee tribes. Mike Miller, a spokesman for the Cherokee Nation, says that groups wanting to study true Cherokee language and culture are good. However, he notes a problem when unrecognized groups call themselves a "nation," "band," or "tribe." This implies they are a government, which they are not.

Many heritage groups are controversial. This is because they try to gain money by claiming to be Cherokee. The two federally recognized Cherokee Tribes dispute these claims. They state that only they have the legal right to present themselves as Cherokee Indian Tribes.

Heritage groups might base their membership on cultural or family history rules. Some might even accept members based only on a belief that they have Cherokee ancestry. But official tribal recognition is much more complex. It follows strict rules based on history, law, and anthropology. Some of these groups seek recognition from their state. In some cases, states do recognize them. However, the Supreme Court has made it clear that states cannot interfere in tribal matters. In 1832, the Court said that all dealings with Native Americans must be handled only by the U.S. government. Real tribes are like governments, similar to states or nations.

In the year 2000, over 700,000 people said they were Cherokee in the census. But only about 250,000 people were officially enrolled in one of the three federally recognized Cherokee Tribes at that time.

Cherokee Satellite Communities

• Cherokee Southwest Township (Albuquerque, New Mexico) (This group has been connected to the CNO since 1999.)