It's not known how long the Cherokee Tribe lived in today's western North Carolina, but tribal lore tells of mastodon hunts and giant bison, which have been extinct for over 10,000 years. By the time Europeans arrived in the 16th century, the Cherokee lived in villages surrounding a large council house and a perpetual sacred fire. During the 1800s, the Cherokee wrote a constitution, adopted a form of government, developed a written language and published their own newspaper. Despite their adaptation of European culture, greed for the Cherokee's land and gold forced a large segment of their population westward, where nearly 4000 died along the Trail of Tears. Those Cherokee who were able to hide in the Carolina Hills returned to their land. Today, more than 13,000 Eastern Cherokee live in their own sovereign nation in North Carolina.
   With the nation's most popular National Park just to the north and the addition of Harrah's Cherokee Casino, thousands of visitors pour into the town of Cherokee each week during the summer. Located near the heart of Cherokee, the kid-friendly Oconaluftee Islands Park attracts more sightseers than anglers. During the summer, the park is a haven for picnics, swimming and tubing. Summer evenings are also a time for storytelling and Indian lore told around a bonfire. With a little luck you may be chosen for a Cherokee Friendship Dance.

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