Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
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Domestic dependent nation
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 Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Location in the United States
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| U.S. Recognition | 1868 | ||
| Qualla Boundary | 1876 | ||
| Incorporation | March 11, 1889 | ||
| Capital | Cherokee | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Tribal Council | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | 16,000+ | ||
| Demonym(s) | Cherokee | ||
| Website | https://ebci.com/ | ||
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), also known as ᏣᎳᎩᏱ ᏕᏣᏓᏂᎸᎩ (Tsalagiyi Detsadanilvgi) in the Cherokee language, is a Native American tribe. They are officially recognized by the U.S. government. Their home is in western North Carolina in the United States.
The EBCI are descendants of about 800 to 1,000 Cherokee people. These ancestors stayed in their homeland in the eastern United States. Most other Cherokee people (around 15,000) were forced by the U.S. military to move west in the 1830s. This difficult journey is known as the Trail of Tears. Those who stayed were told they had to give up their Cherokee tribal citizenship. They were expected to become U.S. citizens.
The story of the Eastern Band is closely tied to the Qualla Boundary. This is a special land area that was once part of their original territory. When the EBCI officially reformed as a tribe, they had to buy back this land from the U.S. government. The EBCI also own other lands nearby. Some of these lands are as far as 100 miles from the Qualla Boundary. The Qualla Boundary is unique because the tribe actually owns the land directly. This is different from many reservations.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is one of three federally recognized Cherokee tribes. The other two are the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Both of these tribes are based in Oklahoma. The EBCI's main office is in Cherokee, North Carolina. This community is located within the Qualla Boundary, south of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Contents
Cherokee History in the East
The members of the Eastern Band are mainly descendants of about 800 Cherokee people. These individuals lived along the remote Oconaluftee River. They were not forced to go on the Trail of Tears to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Their leader, Yonaguska, worked with his adopted European American son, William Holland Thomas. Together, they found a way for their people to avoid being removed. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has kept many of their traditional tribal practices alive. Many important Cherokee historians are part of or work with the Eastern Band.
Another Cherokee leader named Tsali also resisted the removal. He stayed in the traditional Cherokee lands with a small group. They tried to stop the U.S. Army from forcing people to leave. Tsali was eventually captured. He gave his life so his small group could stay in their homeland. The condition was that they would give up their Cherokee tribal citizenship. They would then become U.S. citizens.
In the 20th century, the descendants of these groups reorganized. They gained official recognition as a tribe. They became known as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This name refers to the fact that most of the tribe moved west. They bought back land in what is now called the Qualla Boundary. This land was part of their traditional territory. It had been given to the U.S. government by the 1835 Treaty of New Echota before the removal.
Cherokee Culture and Arts
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is located in Cherokee, North Carolina. It has a large collection of artifacts and historical items. These items show the rich history and culture of the Cherokee people. They range from ancient times to the 16th and 17th centuries. The area also has many ancient earthwork mounds.
Near the museum is the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual. This place sells traditional crafts made by its members. It was started in 1946. The Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual is the oldest and most important Native American crafts cooperative in the country.
Language and Traditions Today
The Eastern Band works hard to keep their language alive. They started a language immersion program. This program aims for all high school seniors to speak the tribal language. This goal began in 2007. Today, about 900 people in the Qualla Boundary speak Cherokee. Most of these speakers are over 50 years old.
Many traditional Cherokee dances and ceremonies are still practiced by the Eastern Band. These practices are an important part of their culture.
The Qualla Boundary Land
The Eastern Cherokee Indian Nation Land is officially known as the Qualla Boundary. It is located in western North Carolina. This area is just south of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The main part of this land is in eastern Swain County and northern Jackson County. There are also smaller parts in other counties nearby. These include Cherokee and Graham counties. A small piece also extends into Haywood County. The total land area is about 82.5 square miles (213.9 square kilometers). In 2000, about 8,092 people lived there.
The Qualla Boundary is not a reservation. Instead, it is a land trust managed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. This land is a small part of the Cherokee Nation's original homeland. That homeland once stretched across several states. In the 19th century, the Cherokee people had to buy back their land. This happened after it was taken by the U.S. government through treaties. These treaties were often negotiated by only a small number of Cherokee people.
Today, the tribe gets most of its money from several sources. These include federal and state funds, tourism, and the Harrah's Cherokee casino. The casino was opened in the early 1990s. The money from gaming helps with economic development. It also supports tribal welfare and cultural projects. These projects include the language immersion program and historic preservation.
Fun Things to Do in the Area
The Qualla Boundary area offers many fun activities for visitors. You can find campgrounds, hiking trails, and river adventures. There's also mountain biking, fishing, and golfing. You can relax at spas or visit the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway is also nearby.
Other attractions include the outdoor historical drama Unto These Hills. You can also visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village. The Cherokee Botanical Garden and Nature Trail is a great place to explore. Don't forget the Museum of the Cherokee People. There are also zoos, restaurants, and many shops. These shops sell beautiful traditional art from places like Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual.
Gaming and the Casino
In 1988, the U.S. Congress passed a law called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This law allowed federally recognized tribes to open casinos on their land. Tribes can offer casino games that are allowed by their state's laws. North Carolina allowed the Cherokees to open a casino in 1994. This was before the state even had its own lottery.
The first big casino in North Carolina was Harrah's Cherokee. It opened on the Qualla Boundary on November 13, 1997. This casino was a result of almost ten years of talks. These talks involved tribal, state, and federal officials. Tribal leaders wanted to offer more than just bingo. They wanted to attract more visitors and make more money.
Since North Carolina started a state lottery in 2005, Harrah's Cherokee casino has been able to offer more types of games. Thousands of people visit Harrah's every year. The casino's popularity keeps growing. This brings many economic benefits to the tribe. Each year, at least $5 million from casino profits goes to the Cherokee Preservation Fund. This fund pays for projects that help the economy in other ways. It also protects the environment and preserves Cherokee culture. Another part of the casino's profits helps improve tribal healthcare, education, and housing. Some money also goes to the state of North Carolina.
In 2011, a new agreement was made for gaming. This agreement allowed live table games at the casino. It also gave the tribe the only right to offer these games in western North Carolina. Because of this special right, the tribe agreed to share some of its money with the state. This money is used only for public education. In September 2015, the tribe opened their second casino. It is called Harrah's Cherokee Valley River and is in Murphy, North Carolina. In July 2019, a new law allowed betting on sports and horse racing on tribal lands.
Beyond the Qualla Boundary
Protecting Sacred Sites
Since the late 1900s, the tribe has bought back important sacred sites. These include Nikwasi Mound (bought in 2019) and Cowee (bought in 2007). Cowee includes 70 acres of land. They also bought Kituwah (bought in 1996). Each of these mounds is along the Little Tennessee River. They are believed to be over 1,000 years old. The EBCI also bought the Tallulah mound in Robbinsville, North Carolina in 1996. In 2020, a group bought 40 acres that include the Watauga Mound. This land will be protected for the EBCI.
The EBCI is working with local groups and universities. They are developing the "Nikwasi Trail." This trail will highlight a route along the Little Tennessee River. It is also called the Nikwasi-Cherokee Cultural and Heritage Corridor. This project helps people learn about these important historical sites.
Since 2011, the EBCI has been working with universities and foundations. This project is called the "Western North Carolina Mounds and Towns Project." They are gathering information about the mounds. They use tribal knowledge, technology, and archaeology. This helps the tribe keep a better record of the mounds. To protect these sites from damage, the tribe keeps the exact locations of most mounds a secret.
New Business Ventures
The EBCI has created new companies to help grow their economy. They want to have more ways to make money besides gaming.
- Kituwah LLC: This company was started in 2019. Its goal is to start or buy businesses outside of gaming. Kituwah focuses on property development, entertainment, and professional services. In 2019, Kituwah bought 200 acres of land in Sevierville, Tennessee. Their first tenant there was a Buc-ee's store. They also plan to build a Courtyard by Marriott hotel and a sports betting bar. Kituwah also manages Cherokee Cinemas. In 2020, they bought Cardinal Homes Inc., a company that builds modular homes.
- EBCI Holdings, LLC: This company was formed in 2020. It aims to expand the tribe's businesses in commercial gaming and hospitality. Both Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River are now part of EBCI Holdings. In 2021, they bought their first casino outside North Carolina. It was Caesars Southern Indiana, bought for $250 million.
In December 2021, EBCI Holdings announced a fund to invest in new gambling technology companies. In August 2022, they announced a big project with Caesars Entertainment. They are developing Caesars Virginia in Danville, Virginia. This project is expected to open in late 2024. In November 2022, EBCI Holdings also bought a part of a horse race track in Cannonsburg, Kentucky. The track, Sandy's Racing & Gaming, officially opened in October 2023. The horse race track part will open in 2025.
Notable Members
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has had many important members. Here are a few:
- Goingback Chiltoskey (1907–2000), a skilled woodcarver and teacher.
- Amanda Crowe (1928–2004), a talented sculptor and teacher.
- Joyce Dugan (born 1952), an educator and the first woman elected as Principal Chief.
- Charles George (1932–1952), a brave soldier who received the Medal of Honor.
- Shan Goshorn (1957–2018), a visual artist known for her basketry.
- Myrtle Driver Johnson (1944–), a respected Beloved Woman and translator.
- Will West Long (1869–1947), a Cherokee mask maker, translator, and cultural historian.
- Nimrod Jarrett Smith (1837–1893), a former Principal Chief.
- Richard Sneed (born 1967), a former Principal Chief.
- Lottie Queen Stamper (1907–1987), a famous basket maker and teacher.
- Amanda Swimmer (1921–2018), a potter who was given the title of Beloved Woman.
- William Holland Thomas (1805–1893), a former Principal Chief.
- Maggie Axe Wachacha (1892–1993), a tribal council clerk and Beloved Woman.
- Jeremiah Wolfe (1924–2018), a Cherokee stone carver, storyteller, and Beloved Man.
Images for kids
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A stickball dance on the Qualla Boundary in 1897.
