The Cherokee

The Cherokee are a Native American tribe originally from the southeastern United States, including present-day North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. They have a rich history of sophisticated governance, agriculture, and culture. In the 1830s, many Cherokee were forcibly moved west during the Trail of Tears, a tragic removal conducted by the U.S. government. Today, the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are federally recognized tribes with their own governments, languages, and cultural practices, working to preserve their heritage and improve the lives of their members.