Editing Cherokee (section)

==Modern Cherokee tribes==

===Cherokee Nation===
[[File:Flag of the Cherokee Nation.svg|left|200px|thumb|Flag of the Cherokee Nation]]
{{Main|Cherokee Nation}}
[[File:Cherokee National Capitol.jpg|thumb|[[Cherokee National Capitol|Cherokee Nation Historic Courthouse]] in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.]]
[[File:Seminary Hall.jpg|thumb|The [[Cherokee Female Seminary]] was built in 1889 by the Cherokee in Indian Territory.]]
During 1898–1906 the federal government dissolved the former Cherokee Nation, to make way for the incorporation of [[Indian Territory]] into the new state of [[Oklahoma]]. From 1906 to 1975, the structure and function of the tribal government were defunct, except for the purposes of DOI management. In 1975 the tribe drafted a constitution, which they ratified on June 26, 1976,<ref>[http://thorpe.ou.edu/constitution/cherokee/index.html Constitution of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212104623/http://thorpe.ou.edu/constitution/cherokee/index.html |date=February 12, 2009 }} ''University of Oklahoma Law Center.'' (retrieved January 16, 2010)</ref> and the tribe received federal recognition.

In 1999, the CN changed or added several provisions to its constitution, among them the designation of the tribe to be "Cherokee Nation," dropping "of Oklahoma." According to a 2009 statement by BIA head [[Larry Echo Hawk]], the Cherokee Nation is not legally considered the "historical Cherokee tribe" but instead a "successor in interest." The attorney of the Cherokee Nation has stated that they intend to appeal this decision.<ref>{{cite web |last=Associated |first=The |url=http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/archive/50644002.html |title=Cherokee Nation likely to appeal BIA decision &#124; Indian Country Today &#124; Archive |publisher=Indian Country Today |date=July 13, 2009 |access-date=April 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007233624/http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/archive/50644002.html |archive-date=October 7, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

The modern Cherokee Nation, in recent times, has expanded economically, providing equality and prosperity for its citizens. Under the leadership of Principal Chief [[Bill John Baker]], the Nation has significant business, corporate, real estate, and agricultural interests. The CN controls Cherokee Nation Entertainment, Cherokee Nation Industries, and Cherokee Nation Businesses. CNI is a very large defense contractor that creates thousands of jobs in eastern Oklahoma for Cherokee citizens.

The CN has constructed health clinics throughout Oklahoma, contributed to community development programs, built roads and bridges, constructed learning facilities and universities for its citizens, instilled the practice of [[Gadugi]] and self-reliance, revitalized language immersion programs for its children and youth, and is a powerful and positive economic and political force in Eastern Oklahoma.

The CN hosts the [[Cherokee National Holiday]] on Labor Day weekend each year, and 80,000 to 90,000 Cherokee citizens travel to [[Tahlequah, Oklahoma]], for the festivities. It publishes the ''[[Cherokee Phoenix]],'' the tribal newspaper, in both English and Cherokee, using the Sequoyah syllabary. The Cherokee Nation council appropriates money for historic foundations concerned with the preservation of Cherokee culture.

The Cherokee Nation supports the Cherokee Nation Film festivals in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and participates in the [[Sundance Film Festival]] in [[Park City, Utah]].

===Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians===
{{Main|Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians}}
The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in North Carolina, led by Chief Richard Sneed,
hosts over a million visitors a year to cultural attractions of the {{convert|100|sqmi|km2|adj=on}} sovereign nation. The reservation, the "[[Qualla Boundary]]", has a population of over 8,000 Cherokee, primarily direct descendants of Indians who managed to avoid "[[The Trail of Tears]]".

Attractions include the Oconaluftee Indian Village, Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual. Founded in 1946, the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual is the country's oldest and foremost Native American crafts cooperative.<ref name=NCsmokymtns>[http://www.visitsmokies.org/index.php?option=com_jumi&fileid=4&ID=748 Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual, Inc.], ''Smoky Mountain Host of North Carolina'' (retrieved July 1, 2014)</ref> The outdoor drama ''[[Unto These Hills]]'', which debuted in 1950, recently broke record attendance sales. Together with Harrah's Cherokee Casino and Hotel, Cherokee Indian Hospital and Cherokee Boys Club, the tribe generated $78 million in the local economy in 2005.

===United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians===
[[File:UKBflag (bordered).png|left|200px|thumb|Flag of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians]]
{{Main|United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians}}
The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians formed their government under the [[Indian Reorganization Act]] of 1934 and gained federal recognition in 1946. Enrollment in the tribe is limited to people with a quarter or more of Cherokee blood. Many members of the UKB are descended from Old Settlers – Cherokees who moved to Arkansas and Indian Territory before the Trail of Tears.<ref>Leeds, George R. [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/U/UN006.html United Keetoowah Band.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720024314/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/U/UN006.html |date=July 20, 2010 }} ''Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.'' (retrieved October 5, 2009)</ref> Of the 12,000 people enrolled in the tribe, 11,000 live in Oklahoma. Their chief is Joe Bunch.

The UKB operate a tribal casino, bingo hall, smokeshop, fuel outlets, truck stop, and gallery that showcases art and crafts made by tribal members. The tribe issues their own tribal vehicle tags.<ref>Oklahoma Office of Indian Affairs. [http://www.ok.gov/oiac/Publications/index.html Oklahoma Indian Nations Pocket Pictorial Directory.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211145522/http://www.ok.gov/oiac/Publications/index.html |date=February 11, 2009 }} 2008:36</ref>

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===Relations among the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes===
The Cherokee Nation participates in numerous joint programs with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. It also participates in cultural exchange programs and joint Tribal Council meetings involving councilors from both Cherokee Tribes. These are held to address issues affecting all of the Cherokee people.

174 years after the [[Trail of Tears]], on July 12, 2012, the leaders of the three separate Cherokee tribes met in North Carolina.{{where|what city?|date=May 2020}}<ref>''[Indian Country News'', July 12, 2012]</ref>