Cherokee Tribe

What was the Cherokee Trail of Tears?

Trail of Tears was the Cherokee name for what the Americans called Indian Removal. During the 1800's, the US government created an "Indian Territory" in Oklahoma and sent all the eastern Native American tribes to live there. Some tribes willingly agreed to this plan. Other tribes didn't want to go, and the American army forced them. The Cherokee tribe was one of the largest eastern tribes, and they didn't want to leave their homeland. The Cherokees were peaceful allies of the Americans, so they asked the Supreme Court for help. The judges decided the Cherokee Indians could stay in their homes. But the President, Andrew Jackson, sent the army to march the Cherokees to Oklahoma anyway. They weren't prepared for the journey, and it was winter time. Thousands of Cherokee Indians died on the Trail of Tears. Many Native Americans from other tribes died too. It was a terrible time in history.
1000 Timeline of Cherokee History 1000 - Cherokee are well known in Tennessee River and the Great Smoky Mountain area, having traveled on foot from the Appalachian Mountains to the Iroquois territory. 1540 - Hernando de Soto travels the Cherokee territory. 1600s - Spanish, French,English explorers, and traders start to come into Cherokee Territory. 1730 - Cherokee leaders visit England. 1754 - Nanye hi becomes a Beloved Woman to her people after challenging the Cherokees in a battle against the Creeks. 1756- 1763 - Cherokees fight in the French and Indian war (against the British.) 1776 - Cherokees are again enemies against the British in the American Revolution. 1780- 1820 - Cherokees sign more treaties leaving their land to the United States. 1821 - The Cherokee syllabary is finished by Sequoyah. 1827 - Cherokees draft a constitution declaring themselves a nation. 1828 - The Cherokee Phoenix is published, Andrew Jackson becomes president of the United States, and John Ross becomes Principal Chief. 1830 - The Indian Removal Act is passed.

1835 - The Treaty of New Echota is signed declaring all of the Cherokee land east of the Mississippi River to the U.S. government. It was signed by Major Ridge and a small group of Cherokees.

1838 - The Trail of Tears started because Cherokees are forced off their land to Indian Territory.

1839 - A new capital is established by the Cherokee Nation in what is now known as Oklahoma.

1861 - At Park Hill a Treaty is signed between the Confederate government and the Cherokee Nation.

1866-1867 - They negotiate peace with the U.S. government. Tribal and land rights treaty is signed. John Ross dies.

1887 - General Allotment Act is passed.

1889 - Indian Territory taken over by white settlers or "boomers."

1890 - Western half of Indian Territory turned into Indian Territory.

1893 - White settlers take over Cherokee Outlet.

1898 - Curtis Act is passed.

1903 - W.C. Rogers becomes last elected chief. He was chief for 69 years.

1905 - Land allotment begins.

1907 - Indian and Oklahoma territories are combined by Oklahoma statehood. Tribal government dissolves.

1917 - W. C. Rogers dies. He was the last Cherokee chief.

1934 - Indian Reorganization act is established.

1948 - Chief J.B. Milam calls Cherokee convention.

1949 - President Harry Truman appoints W.W. Bill Keeler as chief.

1957 - First national holiday for Cherokees.

1961 - US Claims Commission awards Cherokees 15 million dollars for the Cherokee Outlet Land.

1963 - Cherokee National Historical Society founded.

1967 - Cherokee Foundation formed.

1970 - Cherokee Nation gets ownership of beds and banks.

1971 - W.W. Bill Keeler becomes elected principal chief. He was the first chief since statehood.

1975 - self-determination and Education Act is passed. Ross O. Swimmer elected principal chief. He served a term for three years. First Cherokee Tribal Council elected.

1976 - Cherokee voters accept new constitution.

1984 - Eastern band of Cherokees and Cherokee nation hold first joint council meeting. It was the first meeting held in 146 years.

1987 - Wilma Mankiller becomes the first woman elected chief, and makes history.

1988 - The Trail of Tears begin when the Cherokee Nation combines with the Eastern band of Cherokees.

1989 - The 150th anniversary for the Cherokees for arriving in the "Indian Territory" or a "New Beginning."

1990 - Chief Mankiller sign the self-governance agreement. This makes the Cherokee Nation one of the six tribes to cooperate in the self-determination project.

1991 - Wilma Mankiller becomes principal chief again to serve her second term.

1995 -Joe Byrd and Garland Eagle elected principal chief.



Copyright Message

Cherokee Legend

Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youths' rite of Passage?

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him an leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him . Maybe even some human might do him harm.

The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold.

It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.

He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.