Cherokee

For other uses, see Cherokee (disambiguation).

The Cherokee (Cherokee: ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, romanized: Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi) are Native Americans who at the time of European contact in the 16th century lived in the area that is now called the eastern and southeastern United States before most were forcefully moved to the Ozark hills. They were one of the tribes referred to as the Five Civilized Tribes.

Cherokee Nation ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ
Capital	Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Official languages	Cherokee language
Demonym(s)	Cherokee
Government	Tribe Indian reservation
History
•	c. 1500
Succeeded by British Empire United States
Today part of	United States

Cherokee people did not live in tepees. They lived in houses made from wood. In the 19th century, a man named Sequoyah introduced a form of writing the Cherokee language. For this, he was awarded a medal.

This house belonged to Chief John Ross, in Park Hill, Oklahoma.

The Cherokee tribe had two chiefs, a red and white chief. When the tribe was at war, the red chief would lead, and when there was peace within the tribe, the white chief would lead. Chief John Ross was the leader of the Cherokee tribe from 1818 until 1867. He lived in Georgia before being forced to move to the place now called Oklahoma.

There are three Cherokee tribes recognized by the U.S. government:

1. Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.
2. United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.
3. Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.

Cherokee Media

• 

  Portrait of Major Ridge in 1834, from History of the Indian Tribes of North America.

• 

  Cherokee National Council building, New Echota

• 

  Tah-Chee (Dutch), A Cherokee Chief, 1837

• 

  Chief John Ross, c. 1840

• 

  Cherokee beadwork sampler, made at Dwight Mission, Indian Territory, 19th century, collection of the Oklahoma History Center

• 

  Cól-lee, a Band Chief, painted by George Catlin, 1834

• 

  Cherokee confederates reunion in New Orleans, 1902.

• A Cherokee speaker speaking English and Cherokee