EASTERN BAND OF CHEROKEE INDIANS
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is a sovereign nation with over 15,000 enrolled members. The remarkable legacy of the Cherokee nation is one that reflects a people who remain strong, even in the face of great conflict. Cherokees have always held true to their robust values and deeply rooted principles.
Revolving around a deep reverence for the natural world and our connection with it, ancient Cherokee values teach us to continually respect our earth and one another. The Cherokee society is historically matrilineal, meaning clanship is passed through the mother. Among the Cherokees, women were considered the head of household, with the home and children belonging to her should she separate from her husband.
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Attractions
A culture, a people, and a place that's actually a sovereign nation, Cherokee is located right in the heart of Western North Carolina. It's also base camp for hiking in the Great Smokies, arts and crafts shopping, native elk herd viewing, hours of fishing fun, and home to a history that spans millennia.
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History
Heralded as “a model for museums” by Van Romans, Disney Imagineering, and voted Top Ten Best Native American Experiences by USA TODAY, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian invites you to immerse yourself in the history and culture of the Cherokee people.
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Did You Know?
Cherokee is a sovereign nation, meaning it has its own laws, elections, government, institutions, and the like. Though it certainly has relationships with the federal and state government that are vitally important, students and the general population may be interested to know that the Cherokees are self-governed and autonomous.
