THE MULTI-FACETTED CHEROKEE NATION
But perhaps most remarkable are the Cherokees, based in Tahlequah, about an hour’s drive south-east of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Not only do they vie with the Navajos as America’s largest native nation, numbering 460,000 members there, in part of its native homeland, Cherokee, North Carolina, and elsewhere, but their nation encompasses such sites as the Cherokee Capitol, a jail, a heritage centre and a historic native village (the former two now closed for reinterpretation). It’s also home to Northeastern State University, which, evolving from an earlier female college, is fronted by a statue of legendary Sequoyah, the first indigenous 'merican to develop a written language for his people.
The Cherokees are also known for North CarolinaAs history-focused outdoor drama Unto These Hills as well as for the numerous popular musical groups emerging from its younger members and for its political activism. The current Principal Cherokee Chief, Chuck Hoskin Jr, continues to remind the US Congress that, under the terms of the 1835 Treaty of New Echota, the US government promised the Cherokees a seat in Congress … and Kimberly Teehee, a former Native American advisor to President Obama, has been selected by the Cherokees to take up the role.
NOT ONLY DO THEY VIE WITH THE NAVAJOS AS AMERICA’S LARGEST NATIVE NATION, NUMBERING 460,000 MEMBERS THERE, IN PART OF ITS NATIVE HOMELAND, CHEROKEE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND ELSEWHERE, BUT THEIR NATION ENCOMPASSES SUCH SITES AS THE CHEROKEE CAPITOL, A JAIL, A HERITAGE CENTRE AND A HISTORIC NATIVE VILLAGE (THE FORMER TWO NOW CLOSED FOR REINTERPRETATION).