Cherokee Indians

What do Bob Barker and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have in common? Barker, along with PETA, are protesting the treatment of bears by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Barker and PETA claim that the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians are treating bears on their reservation inhumanely and are requesting the actions be stopped immediately. Reportedly, bears are being held in three zoos on the reservation in cages and concrete pits.

Barker and PETA have spoken with the chief of the tribe, Michell Hicks, and have threatened that if the inhumane treatment of the bears doesn’t stop then tourists will stop visiting the popular Cherokee area in North Carolina. The reservation has a Harrah’s casino and beautiful mountain vistas that attract visitors from all over the country.

“Things are going to change on the Cherokee reservation, I promise,” Barker said. “This is going to be a blight on tourism,” he predicted. “Americans love animals, and all they have to know is that animals are being abused.”

Hicks, the tribe’s chief, let Barker say what he had to say during a press conference held in Asheville but then addressed the media himself. When Hicks addressed the media he pretty much told Barker to mind his own business and worry about what was going on in California. He also told Barker that the Cherokee will take care of what they know how to do in their jurisdiction. Hicks also claimed that he will try to help the zoos expand so that the bears have more freedom.

All across the country thousands of Cherokee Indians can be found but one of the most popular groups is the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. This group is a federally recognized band of Cherokee Indians in the United States. They are located on the Qualla Boundary and receive their money from federal grants and state funds as well as tourism and the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, which came about in the 1990’s.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is not affiliated in any way with the Cherokee Nation or the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians from Oklahoma. Some of the most famous members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians include the following people:

• Amanda Crowe: 1928-2004
• Charles George: 1932-1952
• Junaluska: 1775-1868
• William Holland Thomas: 1805-1893
• Nimrod Jarrett Smith: 1837-1893
• Yonaguska: 1759-1839

William Holland Thomas was the adopted caucasian son of Chief Yonaguska, who did not want the Cherokee Indians to participate in the march on the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma Territory.

Some of the related ethnic groups of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians include Iroquois (Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora), Nottoway, Meherrin, Coree, Wyandot and Mingo.

The religion practiced by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is Christianity (Southern Baptist), Traditional. The members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians speak English and Cherokee.

There are three main regions of Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and they are the ones located in North Carolina, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. There are approximately 13,000 members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.