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Flag of the Cherokee $ation Flag of the %nited &eetoowah !and Flag of the 'astern !and Cherokee Total population ()*,***+ ,egions with significant populations Federally 'nrolled members: Cherokee $ation -f.: )/*,***+ %nited &eetoowah !and of Cherokee 0ndians, 1klahoma -f.: 2*,*** 'astern !and of Cherokee 0ndians, $orth Carolina -f.: 2*,***+ -f. 3 federally recogni4ed 5anguage-s. 'nglish, Cherokee ,eligion-s. Christianity -6outhern !aptist and "ethodist., Traditional 7h8ni8yv8wi8ya, other small Christian groups ,elated ethnic groups 7merican 0ndians, Five Civili4ed Tribes, Tuscarora, other 0ro9uoians For other uses, see Cherokee -disambiguation.

The Cherokee - ah8ni8yv8wi8ya :%nicode: ; in the Cherokee language. are a native people from $orth 7merica, who at the time of 'uropean contact in the si<teenth century, inhabited what is now the 'astern and 6outheastern %nited 6tates "ost were forcibly moved westward to the 14ark =lateau in the 2>(*s They are one of the tribes referred to as the Five Civili4ed Tribes 7ccording to the )*** % 6 Census, they are the largest of the ?@( federally recogni4ed $ative 7merican tribes in the %nited 6tates A2B The Cherokee refer to themselves as Tsa8la8gi -pronounced Cchaw8la8geeC. or 78ni8yv8wi8ya -pronounced Cah knee yuh wee yawC, literal translation: C=rinciple =eopleC. 0n 2@?D, the =owhatan were referring to this people as the ,ickahockan The word CCherokeeC may have originally been derived from the Choctaw trade languageAcitation neededB word CCha8la8keeC which means Cthose who live in the mountainsC E or -also Choctaw. CChi8luk8ik8biC meaning Cthose who live in the cavesC

Acitation neededB The Cherokee were called C7lligewiC by the Felawares Acitation neededB 0ro9uois called them 1yataGgeHronoIH, Cinhabitants of the cave countryC -Jewitt. The characteristics of the Cherokee people were described in the writings of William !artram in his Kourney through the Cherokee lands in 2//@L CThe Cherokee#are tall, erect and moderately robustL their limbs well shaped, so as generally to form a perfect human figureL their features regular, and countenance open, dignified, and placid, yet the forehead and brow are so formed as to strike you instantly with heroism and braveryL the eye, though rather small, yet active and full of fire, the iris always black, and the nose commonly inclining to the a9uiline Their countenance and actions e<hibit an air of magnanimity, superiority, and independence Their comple<ion is a reddish brown or copper colourL their hair, long, lank, coarse, and black as a raven, and reflecting the like lustre at different e<posures to the light The women of the Cherokees are tall, slender, erect and of a delicate frameL their features formed with perfect symmetryL the countenance cheerful and friendlyL and they move with a becoming grace and dignityC -, C =ritchard, ,esearches into the =hysical Jistory of "ankind -Molume M, 2>D/., p D*(8D. The Cherokee $ation and %nited &eetoowah !and of Cherokee 0ndians have head9uarters in Tahle9uah, 1klahoma The 'astern !and of Cherokee 0ndians is located at Cherokee, $orth Carolina 7ll three are federally recogni4ed Contents AhideB 2 Jistory 2 2 =rehistoric and protohistoric periods 2 ) 2/th Century 2 ( 2>th century 2 D Jistorians 2 ? 2Nth century 2 ? 2 Trail of Tears 2 ? ) ,idge opposition 2 ? ( 6eparation 2 @ )*th century 2 @ 2 The 2NN/ Cherokee Constitutional Crisis 2 / The %nited &eetoowah !and ) Customs and Ceremonies ) 2 "arriage ( 5anguage and writing system ( 2 5anguage drift D Treaties, Oovernment and Tribal ,ecognition ? "odern Cherokee $ation ? 2 'nvironment ? ) Cherokee Freedmen ? ( ,elationship with the 'astern !and ? D "arriage 5aw controversy @ Famous Cherokees / 6ee also > $otes N ,eferences 2* '<ternal links 2* 2 1rgani4ations

AeditB Jistory AeditB =rehistoric and protohistoric periods 0n describing the history of 0ndians living in the interior of the 7merican southeast, scholars use the term prehistory for the time before the mid8si<teenth century, when several 6panish e<peditions Kourneyed through the southeast 7fter these e<peditions the 'uropean historic record is silent until

about 2/** The term protohistory is used for this period The time after about 2/** is called the historic era 6ince historic documentation is generally lacking, Cherokee prehistory and protohistory has been studied via oral tradition, linguistic analysis, and archeology %nlike most other 0ndians in the 7merican southeast at the start of the historic era, the Cherokee spoke an 0ro9uoian language 6ince the Oreat 5akes region was the core of 0ro9uoian languages, it is theori4ed that the Cherokee migrated south from the Oreat 5akes region 5inguistic analysis shows a relatively large difference between Cherokee and the northern 0ro9uoian languages, suggesting a split in the distant past A)B Olottochronology studies suggest the split occurred between about 2,?** and 2,>** ! C A(B The ancient settlement of &eetoowah or giduwa -Cherokee:., on the Tuckasegee ,iver near present8 day !ryson City, $orth Carolina, is fre9uently cited as the original Cherokee City A)B Furing the early historic era, 'uropeans wrote of several Cherokee town groups, usually using the terms 5ower, "iddle, and 1verhill towns The 5ower towns were situated on the headwater streams of the 6avannah ,iver, mainly in present8day western 6outh Carolina and northeastern Oeorgia &eowee was one of the chief towns The "iddle towns were located in present western $orth Carolina, on the headwater streams of the Tennessee ,iver, such as the 5ittle Tennessee ,iver, Jiwassee ,iver, and French !road ,iver 7mong several chief towns was $ikwasi The 1verhill towns were located across the higher mountains in present eastern Tennessee and northwestern Oeorgia =rincipal towns included Chota and Oreat Tellico These terms were created and used by 'uropeans to describe their changing geopolitical relationship with the Cherokee A)B AeditB 2/th Century 7ccording to James "ooney, the 'nglish first had contact with the Cherokee in 2@?D 1ne of the earliest 'uropean87merican accounts comes from the e<pedition of James $eedham and Oabriel 7rthur, sent in 2@/( by fur8trader 7braham Wood of Mirginia to the 1verhill Cherokee country Wood hoped to forge a direct trading connection with the Cherokee in order to bypass the 1ccaneechi 0ndians who were serving as middlemen on the Trading =ath The two Mirginians did make contact with the Cherokee, although $eedham was killed on the return Kourney and 7rthur was almost killed !y the late seventeenth century, traders from both Mirginia and 6outh Carolina were making regular Kourneys to Cherokee lands, but few wrote about their e<periences "uch of the early trading contact period has only been pieced together by colonial laws and lawsuits involving traders The trade was mainly deerskins, raw material for the booming 'uropean leather industry, in e<change for 'uropean technology Ctrade goodsC such as iron and steel tools -kettles, knives, etc., firearms, gunpowder, and ammunition 0n 2/*? these traders complained that their business had been lost and replaced by 0ndian slave trade instigated by Oovernor "oore of 6outh Carolina "oore had commissioned people to Cset upon, assault, kill, destroy, and take captive as many 0ndians as possibleC These captives would be sold and the profits split with the Oovernor ADB 7lthough selling alcohol to 0ndians was made illegal by colonial governments at an early date, rum, and later whiskey, were a common item of trade A?B AeditB 2>th century Tah8Chee -Futch., 7 Cherokee Chief, 2>(/, 6mithsonian 7merican 7rt "useum1f the southeastern 0ndian confederacies of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries -Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, etc., the Cherokee were one of the most populous and powerful, and were relatively isolated by their hilly and mountainous homeland 7 relatively small8scale trading system was established with Mirginia in the late seventeenth century 7 much stronger and important trade relationship with the colony of 6outh Carolina, based in Charles Town, began in the 2@N*s and overshadowed the Mirginia relationship by the 2/**s A@B 7lthough there was some trading contact, the Cherokee remained relatively unaffected by the presence of 'uropean colonies in 7merica until the Tuscarora War and its aftermath 0n 2/22 the Tuscarora

began attacking colonists in $orth Carolina after diplomatic attempts to address various grievances failed The governor of $orth Carolina asked 6outh Carolina for military aid !efore the war was over several years later, 6outh Carolina had mustered and sent two armies against the Tuscarora The ranks of both armies were made up mostly of 0ndians, with Pamasee troops especially The first army, under the command of John !arnwell, campaigned in $orth Carolina in 2/2) !y the end of the year a fragile peace had been established, and the army dispersed $o Cherokee were involved in the first army Jostilities between the Tuscarora and $orth Carolina broke out soon after, and in late 2/2) to early 2/2( a second army from 6outh Carolina fought the Tuscarora This army consisted of about 2** !ritish and over /** 0ndian soldiers 7s with the first army, the second depended heavily on the Pamasee and Catawba This time, however, hundreds of Cherokee Koined the army The armyHs campaign ended after a maKor Tuscarora defeat at JancockHs Fort 7ll told, over 2,*** Tuscarora and allied 0ndians were killed or captured Those captured were mainly sold into the 0ndian slave trade 7lthough the second army from 6outh Carolina disbanded soon after the battle, the Tuscarora War continued for several years 6ome previously neutral Tuscarora turned hostile, and the 0ro9uois confederacy entered the dispute 0n the end a large number of Tuscarora moved north to live among the 0ro9uois The Tuscarora War altered the geopolitical conte<t of colonial 7merica in several ways, including a general 0ro9uois interest in the south For the many southeastern 0ndians involved, it was the first time so many had collaborated in a military campaign and seen how different the various 'nglish colonies were 7s a result the war helped to bind the 0ndians of the entire region together, enhancing 0ndian networks of communication and trade The Cherokee became much more closely integrated with the regionHs various 0ndians and 'uropeans The Tuscarora War marked the beginning of an 'nglish8 Cherokee relationship that, despite breaking down on occasion, remained strong for much of the 2>th century The Tuscarora War also marks the rise of Cherokee military power, demonstrated in the 2/2D attack and destruction of the Puchi town of Chestowee -in todayHs southeastern Tennessee. The 'nglish traders 7le<ander 5ong and 'lea4er Wiggan instigated the attack through various deceptions and promises, although there was a pre8e<isting conflict between the Cherokee and Puchi The tradersH plot was based in the Cherokee town of 'uphase -Oreat Jiwassee., and mainly involved Cherokee from that town 0n "ay 2/2D the Cherokee destroyed the Puchi town of Chestowee 0nhabitants not killed or captured fled to the Creek or the 6avannah ,iver Puchi 5ong and Wiggan had told the Cherokee that the 6outh Carolina government wished for and approved this attack, which was not true The governor of 6outh Carolina, having heard of the plot, sent a messenger to tell the Cherokee not to continue and attack the 6avannah ,iver Puchi The Cherokee attack on the Puchi ended with Chestowee, but it was enough to catch the attention of every 0ndian tribe attack Chestowee The messenger arrived too late to save Chestowee but played a role in the and 'uropean colony in the region Thus around 2/2?, after the Tuscarora War and the attack on Chestowee, the Cherokee emerged as a maKor power A@B 0n 2/2?, Kust as the Tuscarora War was winding down, the Pamasee War broke out $umerous 0ndian tribes launched attacks on 6outh Carolina The Cherokee participated in some of the attacks, but were divided on what course to take 7fter 6outh CarolinaHs militia succeeded in driving off the Pamasee and Catawba the CherokeeHs position became strategically pivotal !oth 6outh Carolina and the 5ower Creek tried to gain Cherokee support 6ome Cherokee favored an alliance with 6outh Carolina and war on the Creek, while others favored the opposite The impasse was resolved in January 2/2@, when a delegation of Creek leaders was murdered at the Cherokee town of Tugaloo 6ubse9uently, the Cherokee launched attacks against the Creek, but in 2/2/ peace treaties between 6outh Carolina and the Creek were finali4ed, undermining the CherokeeHs commitment to war Jostility and sporadic raids between the Cherokee and Creek continued for decades A/B 0n 2/(*, at $ikwasi, Chief "oytoy 00 of Tellico was chosen as C'mperorC by the 'lector Chiefs of the principal Cherokee towns Je unified the Cherokee $ation from a society of interrelated city8states in the early 2>th century with the aid of an unofficial 'nglish envoy, 6ir 7le<ander Cuming "oytoy agreed to recogni4e &ing Oeorge 00 of Oreat !ritain as the Cherokee protector 6even prominent Cherokee, including 7ttacullaculla, traveled with 6ir 7le<ander Cuming back to 'ngland The Cherokee delegation stayed in 5ondon for four months The visit culminated in a formal treaty of alliance between the !ritish and Cherokee, the 2/(* Treaty of Whitehall While the Kourney to 5ondon and the treaty were important factors in future !ritish8Cherokee relations, the title of Cherokee 'mperor did not carry much clout among the Cherokee and eventually passed out of "oytoyHs direct avuncular lineage The unification of the Cherokee nation was essentially ceremonial, with political

authority remaining town8based for decades afterward 0n addition, 6ir 7le<ander CumingHs aspirations to play an important role in Cherokee affairs failed A>B 0n 2/(? the Cherokee were estimated to have si<ty8four towns and villages and @*** fighting men 0n 2/(> 8 (N smallpo<, introduced to the country onboard slave ships, broke out among the Cherokee and killed nearly half their population within a year Jundreds of others committed suicide due to the disfigurement

Cherokee land claim around 2@**!eginning at about the time of the 7merican ,evolutionary War in the late 2>th century, divisions over continued accommodation of encroachments by white settlers, despite repeated violations of previous treaties, caused some Cherokee to begin to leave the Cherokee $ation "any of these dissidents became known as the Chickamauga 5ed by Chief Fragging Canoe, the Chickamauga made alliances with the 6hawnee and engaged in raids against colonial settlements 6ome of these early dissidents eventually moved across the "ississippi ,iver to areas that would later become the states of 7rkansas and "issouri Their settlements were established on the 6t Francis and the White ,ivers by 2>** AeditB Jistorians "uch of what is known about pre 2Nth century Cherokee history, culture, and society comes from the papers of 7merican writer John Joward =ayne The =ayne papers describe the memory Cherokee elders had of a traditional societal structure in which a CwhiteC organi4ation of elders represented the seven clans This group, which was hereditary and described as priestly, was responsible for religious activities such as healing, purification, and prayer 7 second group of younger men, the CredC organi4ation, was responsible for warfare Jowever, warfare was considered a polluting activity which re9uired the purification of the priestly class before participants could reintegrate in normal village life This hierarchy had faded by the time of the Cherokee removal in 2>(> The reasons for the change have been debated and may include: a revolt by the Cherokee against the abuses of the priestly class, the massive smallpo< epidemic of the late 2/(*s, and the incorporation of Christian ideas, which transformed Cherokee religion by the end of the eighteenth century ANB 7n early )*th Century photo of a traditional Cherokee stickball player 'thnographer James "ooney, who studied the Cherokee in the late 2>>*s, traced the decline of the former hierarchy to the revolt A2*B !y the time of "ooney, the structure of Cherokee religious practitioners was more informal and based more on individual knowledge and ability than upon heredity 0n addition, separation of the 'astern Cherokee, who had not participated in the removal and remained in the mountains of western $orth Carolina, further complicated the traditional hierarchies ANB 7nother maKor source of early cultural history comes from the materials written in Cherokee by the didanvwisgi -Cherokee:., or Cherokee medicine men, after the creation of the Cherokee syllabary by 6e9uoya in the 2>)*s These materials were initially only used by the didanvwisgi -Cherokee:. and were considered e<tremely powerful ANB 5ater, these were widely adopted by the Cherokee people AeditB 2Nth century 0n 2>2?Qafter the War of 2>2) in which Cherokees fought on behalf of both the !ritish and 7merican armiesQ the % 6 Oovernment established a Cherokee ,eservation in 7rkansas The reservation boundaries e<tended from north of the 7rkansas ,iver to the southern bank of the White ,iver Cherokee bands who lived in 7rkansas were: The !owl, 6e9uoyah, 6pring Frog and The Futch 7nother band of Cherokee lived in southeast "issouri, western &entucky and Tennessee in frontier settlements and in 'uropean maKority communities around the "ississippi ,iver Chief John ,oss, c 2>D*John ,oss was an important figure in the history of the Cherokee tribe Jis father emigrated from 6cotland prior to the ,evolutionary WarL his mother was a 9uarter8blood

Cherokee woman whose father was also from 6cotland John ,oss began his public career in 2>*N The Cherokee $ation was founded in 2>)*, with elected public officials John ,oss became the chief of the tribe in 2>)> and remained the chief until his death in 2>@@ AeditB Trail of Tears Cherokees were displaced from their ancestral lands in northern Oeorgia and the Carolinas in a period of rapidly e<panding white population 6ome of the rapid e<pansion was due to a gold rush around Fahlonega, Oeorgia in the 2>(*s Marious official reasons for the removal were given 1ne official argument was that the Cherokee were not efficiently using their land and the land should be given to white farmers 1thers suggest that =resident 7ndrew JacksonHs reasons for this removal policy were humanitarian Jackson said that the policy was an effort to prevent the Cherokee from facing the fate of Cthe "ohegan, the $arragansett, and the FelawareC A22B Jowever there is ample evidence that the Cherokee were adapting modern farming techni9ues, and a modern analysis shows that the area was in general in a state of economic surplus A2)B Fespite a 6upreme Court ruling in their favor, many in the Cherokee $ation were forcibly relocated West, a migration known as the Trail of Tears or in Cherokee $unna Faul Tsunny -Cherokee:The Trail Where They Cried. This took place during the 0ndian ,emoval 7ct of 2>(*, although as of 2>>(, the Cherokee were the last large southern 0ndian tribe to be removed 'ven so, the harsh treatment the Cherokee received at the hands of white settlers caused some to enroll to emigrate west A2(B 6amuel Carter, author of Cherokee 6unset, writes: CThen# there came the reign of terror From the Kagged8walled stockades the troops fanned out across the $ation, invading every hamlet, every cabin, rooting out the inhabitants at bayonet point The Cherokees hardly had time to reali4e what was happening as they were prodded like so many sheep toward the concentration camps, threatened with knives and pistols, beaten with rifle butts if they resisted CA2DB AeditB ,idge opposition 7mong the Cherokee, John ,oss led the battle to halt their removal ,ossHs position was in opposition to a group known as the C,idge =artyC or the CTreaty =artyC This was in reference to the Treaty of $ew 'chota, which e<changed Cherokee land for land in the west and its principle signers John ,idge and his father "aKor ,idge Cherokee $ation Courthouse in Tahle9uah, 1klahoma, mid82Nth century1n June )), 2>(N, the prominent signers of the Treaty of $ew 'chota were e<ecuted, including "aKor ,idge, John ,idge and 'lias !oudinot by Cherokee e<tremists 0n the early 2>@*s, John ,idgeHs son, novelist John ,ollin ,idge, led a group of delegates to Washington, F C as early as the 2>@*s in a failed attempt to gain federal recognition for a Cherokee faction that was opposed to the leadership of Chief John ,oss A2?B AeditB 6eparation 0n 2>D>, a group of Cherokee set out on an e<pedition to California, looking for new settlement lands The e<pedition followed the 7rkansas ,iver upstream to ,ocky "ountains in present8day Colorado, then followed the base of mountains northward into present8day Wyoming, before turning westward The route become known as the Cherokee Trail or the ,ocky "ountain Trail, starting from Fort 6mith, 7rkansas that also e<tended northward to "ontana all the way to the Canadian border near Cut !ank, "ontana The group, which undertook gold prospecting in California, returned along the same route the following year, noticing placer gold deposits in tributaries of the 6outh =latte The discovery went unnoticed for a decade but eventually became one of the primary sources of the =ikeHs =eak Oold ,ush of 2>?N and other gold rushes across the western % 6 in the 2>@*s

"ap of the present8day Cherokee $ation Tribal 6tatistical 7rea$ot all of the eastern Cherokees were removed on the Trail of Tears William Jolland Thomas, a white store owner and state legislator from Jackson County, $orth Carolina, helped over @** Cherokee from Rualla Town -the site of modern8day Cherokee, $orth Carolina. obtain $orth Carolina citi4enship 7s citi4ens, they were e<empt from forced removal to the west 0n addition, over D** other Cherokee hid from Federal troops in the remote 6nowbird "ountains of neighboring Oraham County, $orth Carolina, under the leadership of Tsali -.A2@B -the subKect of the outdoor drama %nto These Jills held in Cherokee, $orth Carolina. Together, these groups were the basis for what is now known as the 'astern !and of Cherokees 1ut of gratitude to Thomas, these Western $orth Carolina Cherokees served in the 7merican Civil War as part of ThomasHs 5egion ThomasHs 5egion consisted of infantry, cavalry, and artillery The legion mustered appro<imately ),*** men of both Cherokee and white origin, fighting primarily in Mirginia, where their battle record was outstanding A2/B ThomasHs 5egion was the last Confederate unit in the eastern theater of the war to surrender after capturing Waynesville, $orth Carolina on "ay N, 2>@? They agreed to cease hostilities on the condition of being allowed to retain their arms for hunting This, together with 6tand Watie The chief of the 6outhern Cherokee $ation Hs surrender of western forces on July )(, 2>@?, gave the Cherokees the distinction of being the very last Confederates to capitulate in both theaters of the Civil War 0n 1klahoma, the Fawes 7ct of 2>>/ broke up the tribal land base %nder the Curtis 7ct of 2>N>, Cherokee courts and governmental systems were abolished by the % 6 Federal Oovernment AeditB )*th century These and other acts were designed to end tribal sovereignty and to pave the way for 1klahoma 6tatehood in 2N*/ The Federal government appointed chiefs to the Cherokee $ation, often Kust long enough to sign a treaty 0n reaction to this, the Cherokee $ation recogni4ed that it needed leadership and a general convention was convened in 2N(> to elect a Chief They choose J ! "ilam as principal chief, and, as a goodwill gesture, =resident Franklin Felano ,oosevelt confirmed the election in 2ND2 W W &eeler was appointed chief in 2NDN !ecause the federal government had adopted a self8 determination policy, the Cherokee $ation was able to rebuild its government and W W &eeler was elected chief by the people, via a Congressional 7ct signed by =resident ,ichard $i<on &eeler, who was also the =resident of =hillips =etroleum, was succeeded by ,oss 6wimmer and then Wilma "ankiller AeditB The 2NN/ Cherokee Constitutional Crisis The Cherokee $ation was seriously destablised in "ay 2NN/ in what was variously described as either a nationalist CuprisingC or an Canti8constitutional coupC instigated by Joe !yrd, their =rincipal Chief 'lected in 2NN? !yrdHs style of government had left him locked in a battle of strength with the Kudicial branch of the Cherokee tribe The crisis came to a dramatic head when on "arch )), 2NN/ Joe !yrd, =rincipal Chief, stated in a press conference that he would decide which orders of the Cherokee $ationGs 6upreme Court were lawful and which were not 7 simmering crisis continued over the creation by the =rincipal Chief of his own private, armed paramilitary force The crisis came to a head on June )*, 2NN/ when his private army illegally sei4e custody of the Cherokee $ation Courthouse from its legal caretakers and occupants, the Cherokee $ation "arshals, the Judicial 7ppeals Tribunal and its court clerks, and to physically oust the lawful occupants at gunpoint 0mmediately there were demands for the courthouse to be returned to the Kudicial branch of the Cherokee $ation but these re9uests were ignored by the =rincipal Chief A2>B The Federal 7uthorities of the %nited 6tates initially refused to intervene because this would constitute a breach of tribal sovereignty Jowever, the 6tate of 1klahoma recognised that the activities of Joe !yrd were breaches in 6tate 5aw and by 7ugust had sent in state troopers and specialist anti8terrorist teams Joe !yrd was forced to attend a meeting in Washington FC with the !ureau of 0ndian 7ffairs where he was compelled to re8open the courts Je served the remainder of his elected term under supervision and remains a free man Joe !yrd lost the election in 2NNN to Chad 6mith who is currently the chief of the $ation

AeditB The %nited &eetoowah !and The %nited &eetoowah !and took a different track than the Cherokee $ation and received federal recognition after the 0ndian ,eorgani4ation 7ct of 2N(D "embers of the %nited &eetoowah !and are descended from the 1ld 6ettlers, Cherokees who moved west before the ,emoval The tribe re9uires a 9uarter blood 9uantum for enrollment and %&! members must have at least one ancestor listed on the Final Fawes ,oll of the Cherokee AeditB Customs and Ceremonies AeditB "arriage 0n 0ndian Territory, for a white man to marry a Cherokee woman, he was re9uired to petition the court with approval of ten of her blood relatives 1nce married, the man became a member of the tribe, yet could not hold any tribal office Pet he still remained under the laws of the %nited 6tates "any chose to live together and call themselves married This was known as Ccommon lawC marriage AeditB 5anguage and writing system "ain article: Cherokee language 6e9uoyahThe Cherokee speak an 0ro9uoian language which is polysynthetic and is written in a syllabary invented by 6e9uoyah -. For years, many people wrote transliterated Cherokee on the 0nternet or used poorly intercompatible fonts to type out the syllabary Jowever, since the fairly recent addition of the Cherokee syllables to %nicode, the Cherokee language is e<periencing a renaissance in its use on the 0nternet 7s of January )**/, however, the Cherokee $ation of 1klahoma still officially uses a non8unicode font for online documents, including online editions of the Cherokee =hoeni< Acitation neededB Cherokee 6yllabary This article contains only non80=7 pronunciation information which should be e<panded with the 0nternational =honetic 7lphabet For assistance, see Wikipedia:"anual of 6tyle -pronunciation. The Cherokee language does not contain any CrC based sounds, and as such, the word CCherokeeC when spoken in the language is e<pressed as Tsa8la8gi -pronounced Jah8la8gee, or Je8la8gee. by native speakers, since these sounds most closely resemble the 'nglish language 7 6outhern Cherokee group did speak a local dialect with a trill consonant CrC sound, after early contact with 'uropeans of both French and 6panish ancestry in Oeorgia and 7labama during the early 2>th century -This CrC sound spoken in the dialect of the 'lati, or 5ower, Cherokee area E Oeorgia and 7labama E became e<tinct in the 2Nth century around the time of the Trail of Tears, e<amples are Tsaragi or Tse85a8gee. The ancient 7ni8kutani -. dialect and 1klahoma dialects do not contain any HrH8based sounds !ecause of the polysynthetic nature of the Cherokee 5anguage, new and descriptive words in Cherokee are easily constructed to reflect or e<press modern concepts 6ome good e<amples are di8ti8yo8hi8hi -Cherokee:. which means Che argues repeatedly and on purpose with a purposeC This is the Cherokee word for attorney 7nother e<ample is di8da8ni8yi8s8gi -Cherokee:. which means the final catcher or Che catches them finally and conclusivelyC This is the Cherokee word for policeman "any words, however, have been borrowed from the 'nglish 5anguage, such as gasoline which in Cherokee is ga8so8li8ne -Cherokee:. "any other words were borrowed from the languages of tribes who settled in 1klahoma in the early twentieth century 1ne of the more humorous e<amples relates to an own on 1klahoma named C$owataC The word CnowataC is a Felaware 0ndian word for CwelcomeC -more precisely the Felaware word is Cnu8wi8taC which can mean CwelcomeC or CfriendC in the Felaware 5anguage. The white settlers of the area used the name CnowataC for the township, and local CherokeeHs, being unaware the word had its origins in the Felaware 5anguage, called the town a8 ma8di8ka8ni8gv8na8gv8na -Cherokee:. which means Cthe water is all gone from hereC, i e Cno waterC

1ther e<amples of borrowed words are ka8wi -Cherokee:. for coffee and wa8tsi -Cherokee:. for watch -which led to u8ta8na wa8tsi -Cherokee: . or Cbig watchC for clock. AeditB 5anguage drift There are two main dialects in Cherokee spoken by modern speakers The Oiduwa dialect -'astern !and. and the 1tali Fialect -also called the 1verhill dialect. spoken in 1klahoma The 1tali dialect has drifted significantly from 6e9uoyahHs 6yllabary in the past 2?* years, and many contracted and borrowed words have been adopted into the language These noun and verb roots in Cherokee, however, can still be mapped to 6e9uoyahHs 6yllabary 0n modern times, there are more than >? syllables in use by modern Cherokee speakers "odern Cherokee speakers who speak 1tali employ 2)) distinct syllables in 1klahoma AeditB Treaties, Oovernment and Tribal ,ecognition Treaties Treaty of Jopeville, 2/>?: Changed the boundaries between the % 6 and Cherokee lands &nown as the CTalking 5eaves TreatyC since the Cherokee claimed that when the treaties no longer suited the 7mericans, they would blow away like talking leaves Treaty of Jolston, 2/N2:'stablished boundaries between the %nited 6tates and the Cherokee $ation Ouaranteed by the %nited 6tates that the lands of the Cherokee $ation have not been ceded to the %nited 6tates Treaty with the Cherokee, 2/N>: The boundaries promised in the previous treaty had not been marked and white settlers had come in !ecause of this, the Cherokee were told they would need to cede new lands as an CacknowlegementC of the protection of the %nited 6tates The % 6 would guarantee the Cherokee could keep the remainder of their land CforeverC Treaties of Tellico, 2>*D 8 2>*@: ,oads had been built on the Cherokee land, and the % 6 added that itHs citi4ens should have Cfree and unmolested use and enKoyment of themC, plus build a new road to deliver mail Oive the 6tate of Tennessee some land for to convene an assembly The % 6 wanted the Cherokee to become farmers They began to send farming tools and spinning wheels as part of the treaties in place of some of the monies that were to be paid Treaties of Washington: 2>2N 8 2>(? ,esolution of ,attlesnake 6prings, 2>(>: C,esolved, by the Committee and Council of the Cherokee $ation in Oeneral Council assembled, that the whole Cherokee territory, as described in the first article of the treaty of 2>2N between the %nited 6tates and the Cherokee $ation, and, also, in the constitution of the Cherokee $ation, still remains the rightful and undoubted property of the said Cherokee $ationL and that all damages and losses, direct or indirect, resulting from the enforcement of the alleged stipulations of the pretended treaty of $ew 'chota, are in Kustice and e9uity, chargeable to the account of the %nited 6tates The inherent sovereignty of the Cherokee $ation, together with the constitution, laws, and usages, of the same, are, and, by the authority aforesaid, hereby declared to be in full force and virtue, and shall continue so to be in perpetuity, subKect to such modifications as the general welfare may render e<pedient The Cherokee people do not intend that it shall be so construed as yielding or giving sanction or approval to the pretended treaty of 2>(?L nor as compromising, in any manner, their Kust claim against the %nited 6tates hereafter, for a full and satisfactory indemnification for their country and for all individual losses and inKuries C Oovernment 2>)) 7 Cherokee supreme court was established 2>)( $ational committee given power to review acts of national council 2>)/ Cherokee Constitution

2>(N Cherokee Constitution -after relocation. 2>@> First declaration of a formal government of the 'astern !and of Cherokee 0ndians 2>>> Charter of 0ncorporation issued by the 6tate of $orth Carolina to the 'astern !and 2N/? Constitution of the Cherokee $ation of 1klahoma The "oytoy ruled the Cherokee people through the si<teenth and eighteenth centuries culminating with the destruction of Chota8Tanasi by the 7merican revolutionary forces fighting 1conostota in 2/>* Jowever 1conostotaHs successor, Janging "aw, married a granddaughter of "oytoy 0 -and sister of 7ttacullaculla. Furing this time, inheritance was largely matrilineal &inship and clan membership was of primary importance until around 2>)* 7fter being ravaged by smallpo<, and pressed by increasingly violent land8hungry settlers, the Cherokee adopted a whitemanHs form of government in an effort to retain their lands They established a governmental system modeled on that of the %nited 6tates, with an elected principal chief, senate, and house of representatives 1n 7pril 2*, 2>2* the seven Cherokee clans met and began the abolition of blood vengeance by giving the sacred duty to the new Cherokee $ational government Clans formally relin9uished Kudicial responsibilities by the 2>)*s when the Cherokee 6upreme Court was established 0n 2>)?, the $ational Council e<tended citi4enship to the children of Cherokee men married to white women These ideas were largely incorporated into the 2>)/ Cherokee constitution A2NB The constitution stated that C$o person who is of negro or mulatlo AsicB parentage, either by the father or mother side, shall be eligible to hold any office of profit, honor or trust under this Oovernment,C with an e<ception for, Cnegroes and descendants of white and 0ndian men by negro women who may have been set free CA)*B This feeling may have been more widely held among the elite than the general population A)2B Today the Cherokee $ation of 1klahoma has Kudicial, e<ecutive and legislative branches with e<ecutive power vested in the =rincipal Chief, legislative power in the Tribal Council, and Kudicial power in the Cherokee $ation Judicial 7ppeals Tribunal The =rincipal and Feputy =rincipal Chief, and the council are elected to four8year terms by the registered tribal voters The council is the legislative branch of government and represent the nine districts of the Cherokee $ation in the 2D county Kurisdictional area The Kudicial branch of tribal government includes the Fistrict Court and Judicial 7ppeals Tribunal, which is comparable to the % 6 6upreme Court The tribunal consists of three members who are appointed by the =rincipal Chief and confirmed by the council 0t is the highest court of the Cherokee $ation and oversees internal legal disputes and the Fistrict Court The Fistrict Judge and an 7ssociate Fistrict Judge preside over the tribeGs Fistrict Court and hear all cases brought before it under Kurisdiction of the Cherokee $ation Judicial Code The Congress of the %nited 6tates, The Federal Courts, and 6tate Courts have repeatedly upheld the sovereignty of $ative Tribes, defining their relationship in political rather than racial terms, and have stated it is a compelling interest of the %nited 6tates A))BThis principle of self8government and tribal sovereignty is controversial 7ccording to the !oston College 6ociologist and Cherokee Citi4en, 'va "arie Oarroutte, there are upwards of () separate definitions of C0ndianC used in federal legislation as of a 2N/> congressional survey A)(B The 2NND Federal 5egislation 70,F7 -7merican 0ndian ,eligious Freedom 7ct. defines an 0ndian as one who belongs to an 0ndian Tribe, which is a group that Cis recogni4ed as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the %nited 6tates to 0ndians because of their status as 0ndians C ,ace and blood 9uantum are not factors in C$1 tribal eligibility To be considered a citi4en in the Cherokee $ation of 1klahoma , you need one 0ndian ancestor listed on the Fawes ,ollsA)DB The tribe currently has members who share 7frican87merican, 5atino, 7sian, white and other ancestry The 'astern !and Cherokee and %nited &eetoowah tribes do re9uire one 9uarter Cherokee blood 9uantum Tribal ,ecognition

"ain article: Cherokee Jeritage Oroups "any groups have sought recognition by the federal government as Cherokee tribes, but today there are only three groups recogni4ed by the government Cherokee $ation spokesman "ike "iller has discussed that some groups, which he calls Cherokee Jeritage Oroups, are encouraged A)?B 1thers, however, are controversial for their attempts to gain economically through their claims to be Cherokee, a claim which is disputed by the three federally recogni4ed groups, who assert themselves as the only groups having the legal right to present themselves as Cherokee 0ndian Tribes A)@B AeditB "odern Cherokee $ation Cherokee $ation Jistoric Courthouse in Tahle9uah, 1klahoma The Cherokee Female 6eminary was built in 2>>N by the 1klahoma Cherokees The modern Cherokee nation, in recent times, has e<perienced an almost unprecedented e<pansion in economic growth, e9uality, and prosperity for its citi4ens The Cherokee $ation of 1klahoma -C$1., under the leadership of =rincipal Chief Chad 6mith, has significant business, corporate, real estate, and agricultural interests, including numerous highly profitable casino operations The C$1 controls Cherokee $ation 'nterprises, Cherokee $ation 0ndustries, and Cherokee $ation !usinesses C$0 is a very large defense contractor that creates thousands of Kobs in eastern 1klahoma for Cherokee citi4ens The C$1 has constructed health clinics throughout 1klahoma, contributed to community development programs, built roads and bridges, constructed learning facilities and universities for its citi4ens, instilled the practice of Oadugi and self8reliance in its citi4ens, revitali4ed language immersion programs for its children and youth, and is a powerful and positive economic and political force in 'astern 1klahoma The C$1 hosts the Cherokee $ational Joliday on 5abor Fay weekend each year, and >*,*** to N*,*** Cherokee Citi4ens travel to Tahle9uah, 1klahoma, for the festivities 0t also publishes the Cherokee =hoeni<, a tribal newspaper which has operated continuously since 2>)>, publishing editions in both 'nglish and the 6e9uoyah 6yllabary The Cherokee $ation council appropriates money for historic foundations concerned with the preservation of Cherokee Culture, including the Cherokee Jeritage Center which hosts a reproduction of an ancient Cherokee Millage, 7dams ,ural Millage -a turn8of8the8century village., $ofire Farms and the Cherokee Family ,esearch Center -genealogy., which is open to the public A)/B The Cherokee Jeritage Center is home to the Cherokee $ational "useum, which has numerous e<hibitions also open to the public The CJC is the repository for the Cherokee $ation as its $ational 7rchives The CJC operates under the Cherokee $ational Jistorical 6ociety, 0nc , and is governed by a !oard of Trustees with an e<ecutive committee The Cherokee $ation of 1klahoma also supports the Cherokee $ation Film Festivals in Tahle9uah, 1klahoma and participates in the 6undance Film Festival in =ark City, %tah The 'astern !and of the Cherokee 0ndians in $orth Carolina led by Chief "ichell Jicks hosts over a million visitors a year to cultural attractions of the 2**8s9uare8mile sovereign nation This reservation, the CRualla !oundaryC has a population of over >*** Cherokee consisting primarily of direct descendants of those 0ndians who managed to avoid SThe Trail of TearsT 7ttractions include the 1conaluftee 0ndian Millage, "useum of the Cherokee 0ndian, and the countryGs oldest and foremost $ative 7merican crafts cooperative The outdoor drama C%nto These JillsC which debuted in 2N?* recently broke record attendance sales Together with JarrahGs Cherokee Casino and Jotel, Cherokee 0ndian Jospital and Cherokee !oys Club the tribe put over U/> million dollars into the local economy in )**? AeditB 'nvironment Today the Cherokee $ation is one of 7mericaHs biggest proponents of ecological protection 6ince 2NN), the $ation has served as the lead for the 0nter8Tribal 'nvironmental Council A)>B The mission of 0T'C is to protect the health of 7merican 0ndians, their natural resources and their environment as it relates to air, land and water To accomplish this mission, 0T'C provides technical support, training and environmental services in a variety of environmental disciplines Currently, there over forty 0T'C member tribes in 1klahoma, $ew "e<ico, and Te<as

AeditB Cherokee Freedmen "ain article: Cherokee Freedmen Controversy The seal of the Cherokee $ation The Cherokee Freedmen, descendants of 7frican 7merican slaves owned by citi4ens of the Cherokee $ation during the 7ntebellum =eriod, were first guaranteed Cherokee citi4enship via treaty in 2>@@, in the wake of the 7merican Civil War Their citi4enship was revoked in the 2N>*s 1n "arch /, )**@, the Cherokee $ation Judicial 7ppeal Tribunal announced that the Cherokee Freedmen were eligible once more for Cherokee citi4enship This ruling proved controversialL while the Cherokee Freedman had historically been recorded as Cciti4ensC of the Cherokee $ation at least since 2>@@ and the later Fawes Commission 5and ,olls, the ruling Cdid not limit membership to people possessing Cherokee bloodC A)NB This ruling was consistent with the 2N/? Constitution of the Cherokee $ation, in its acceptance of the Cherokee Freedmen on the basis of historical citi4enship, rather than evidenced blood relation The =rincipal Chief of the Cherokee $ation, Chad 6mith, later announced that because of issues raised by the Cherokee people, the issue of Freedmen citi4enship was being considered for a vote proposing amendments to the Cherokee $ation Constitution These amendments were intended to restrict tribal membership e<clusively to Cherokees by blood descent, thus e<cluding the Freedmen from tribal membership A(*B The Constitution had always restricted governmental positions to persons of Cherokee blood 0n "arch )**/, the tribe voted on the constitutional amendment A(2B /@ @V of voters affirmed the proposed amendment, revoking the tribal citi4enship of the descendants of black slaves who had formerly been considered Cherokee citi4ens A()B The vote to oust the Freedmen provoked a firestorm of controversy, particularly from various political circles, including the Congressional !lack Caucus There were calls for the revocation of all federal funding for the Cherokee $ation A((B The Cherokee Freedmen were reinstated as citi4ens of the Cherokee $ation by the Cherokee $ation Tribal Courts on "ay 2?, )**/, while appeals are pending in the Cherokee $ation Courts and Federal Court A(DB 1n "ay )), )**/, the Cherokee $ation received notice from the %nited 6tates !ureau of 0ndian 7ffairs that the !07 and Federal Oovernment had denied the amendments to the 2N/? Cherokee $ation Constitution because it re9uired !07 approval, which had not been obtained The !07 also noted that the Cherokee $ation had e<cluded the Cherokee Freedmen from the amendment vote The Cherokee $ation 6upreme Court ruled that the Cherokee $ation could take away the approval authority it had granted the federal government =rincipal Chief 6mith has also argued against the re9uirement of !07 approval for constitutional amendments A(?BA(@B Congresswoman Fiane Watson responded by introducing a bill which would sever ties between the %nited 6tates and the Cherokee $ation until the Freedmen issue is resolved A(/BA(>B 7s of 7ugust N, )**/, the !07 has given the Cherokee $ation consent to modify their Constitution without approval from the Fepartment of the 0nterior A(NB AeditB ,elationship with the 'astern !and The Cherokee $ation participates in numerous Koint programs with the 'astern !and of Cherokee 0ndians 0t also participates in cultural e<change programs and Koint Tribal Council meetings involving councillors from both Cherokee Tribes which address issues affecting all of the Cherokee =eople %nlike the adversarial relationship between the administrations of the %nited &eetoowah !and of Cherokee 0ndians and the Cherokee $ation, the 'astern !and of Cherokee 0ndians interactions with the Cherokee $ation present a unified spirit of Oadugi with the leaders and citi4ens of the 'astern !and The %nited &eetoowah !and tribal council unanimously passed a resolution to approach the Cherokee $ation for a Koint council meeting between the two $ations, as a means of Coffering the olive branchC, in the words of the %&! Council While a date was set for the meeting between members of the Cherokee $ation council and %&! representation Chief 6mith vetoed the meeting

AeditB "arriage 5aw controversy 1n June 2D, )**D, the Cherokee $ation Tribal Council voted to officially define marriage as a union between man and woman, thereby outlawing same8se< marriage This decision came in response to an application by a lesbian couple submitted on "ay 2( The decision kept Cherokee law in line with 1klahoma state law, which outlawed gay marriage as the result of a popular referendum on a constitutional amendment in )**D AeditB Famous Cherokees There have been many famous Cherokees in 7merican history, including 6e9uoyah, who invented the Cherokee writing system 0t was thought for many years that he was the only person to single8handedly invent a writing system, however it has been recently speculated that there was an ancient clan of Cherokee priests who had an older, mostly secret rudimentary written language from which 6e9uoyah may have gotten inspiration "any historians speculate that 6e9uoyah never learned to speak, read or write the 'nglish language for various reasons Jimi Jendri<, lead singer, guitarist, revolutionist and frontman of Jimi Jendri< '<perience, was of Cherokee heritage through his maternal grandmother, $ora ,ose "oore AD*B "usician Tori 7mos also shares Cherokee ancestry AD2B 'lias !oudinot, statesman, orator, and editor, wrote C=oor 6arahC, the first $ative87merican novel 6tand Watie, !uckHs younger brother, was a famous frontiersman and the last commander of Confederate forces to surrender in the 7merican Civil War $ed Christie was a Cherokee patriot who became the subKect of many books and maga4ine articles, including a fictional novel by =ulit4er =ri4e8winning author 5arry "c"urtry -Weke and $ed. and $ed ChristieHs War, a Western novel by author ,obert J Conley Will ,ogers was of Cherokee heritage AD)B !usinessman and owner of the Tennessee Titans football team !ud 7dams is an enrolled member of the tribe Tom Threepersons, an early )*th century cowboy, lawman, soldier, and ,odeo winner of the 2N2) Calgary 6tampede, was an 1klahoma born Cherokee Je was the subKect of the biography, Tom Threepersons, the 5egend of an 0ndian Cowboy, by author Jugh 7 Fempsey % 6 Congressman 5arry "cFonald from Oeorgia was of Cherokee heritage, through his motherHs side of the family Jis fatherHs family hailed from 6cotland 1ther famous people of Cherokee ancestry include the actors Johnny Fepp, 5iv Tyler, 6hannon 'li4abeth, !urt ,eynolds, James Oarner, Chuck $orris, James 'arl Jones, 5ou Fiamond =hilips, Favid Carradine, Charisma Carpenter, Wes 6tudi, 6tephanie &ramer and Christopher Judge L the dancers "ark !allas and 've Torres L the musicians 6teven Tyler -7erosmith., John =hillips -The "amas and the =apas., 'artha &itt, "iley Cyrus L the actress and singer Cher L the singer, musician and actor 'lvis =resley L the actress and model Junter TyloL the singers ,ita Coolidge and Tiffany L the country music singers !illy ,ay Cyrus, 5oretta 5ynn and Crystal OayleL the bo<er Jack Fempsey L the painter ,obert ,auschenberg L the activists ,osa =arks and John 5eak 6pringston, and the writers "itch Cullin and 7le< Jaley AeditB 6ee also 7nglo8Cherokee War 7ni8kutani !lack 0ndians Cherokee black drink Cherokee Clans Cherokee Female 6eminary Cherokee Jeritage Oroups Cherokee language Cherokee "oons Ceremonies Cherokee mythology

Cherokee $ation Warriors 6ociety Cherokee $ational Joliday Cherokee 6cout ,eservation Cherokee society Chickamauga Wars Fragging Canoe 'li4abethton, Tennessee Oadugi &eetoowah &eetoowah $ighthawk 6ociety $ative 7merican Tribe $ative 7mericans in the %nited 6tates 1riginal &eetoowah 6ociety 6tomp Fance 6ycamore 6hoals Trail of Tears %nto These Jills