Cherokee Tribal Council visits Trail of Tears site

This is the first time leaders from the two bands of Cherokee people have visited the historic trail in North Carolina.

On Monday, October 6, 2008 the tribal councils of both the Eastern Band of Cherokee (EBCI) and the Cherokee Nation, located in Oklahoma visited the Tatham Gap Road near Robbinsville. It was the first time leaders of the two bands of Cherokee people have visited the historic trail in North Carolina.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee and the Cherokee Nation are holding a joint council meeting this week in Cherokee and the visit was a, prelude to that meeting. Russell Townsend, tribal historic preservation officer for the EBCI, organized the tour and served as the tour guide for the group.

"The Tatham Gap Road has not been officially designated as part of the National Historic Trail of Tears but remains a very important route for Cherokee moving out of this region", Townsend told the group. Legislation for expanding the National Trail of Tears recently passed the House of Representatives.

The official Joint Council session takes place on Thursday, October 9, 2008 in the Council Fire Ballroom at Harrah's Cherokee Casino Hotel.