In 1809 the State of Georgia made a deal with the United States.

 

The State of Georgia once encompassed the territory that is now the State of Alabama and Mississippi.  The Federal Government wanted the land for future States.  The State of Georgia agreed to relinquish the Territory in return for the Federal Government to rid ALL of Georgia of the Native Americans within its boundaries.  Time rocked on, and very little progress was made toward this goal.

 

However, in the late 1820’s Gold was found in Lumpkin County in the County seat of Auraria.  (Today Dahlonega is the County seat about ten miles away).

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The Gold Rush in Dahlonega was the first major Gold Rush in the United States (Before California) miners came from all over the United States and other parts of the world to mine gold, here.    The Cherokee land was taken from them by the State (backed by the United States Government) and sold off in a land lottery to the miners and settlers coming into the nation.  (sometimes for as little as .03 cents an acre).

 

In 1838, the Cherokee were rounded up into holding pens, like animals.  They were kept for months, watching the miners destroy their lands and homes.   There are many stories to tell about this period, which will all be covered in our Museum exhibits.   In 1838, the Cherokee were rounded up by Federal Soldiers and loaded on wagons, horses, but most traveled on foot, to travel the almost 1000 mile Trek to Oklahoma.  Of the approximately 16,000 Cherokee that traveled to Oklahoma more than 1/3 died along the way.  The extremely cold temperatures and disease took the weaker of the tribe.  The Children and Newborns, the Elderly, the sick were no match for this treatment and perished.  One of those that perished was Chief John Ross’ wife.  As the others, she was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere between Georgia and Oklahoma.

 

All the Cherokee did not leave Georgia.  Georgia made strict laws against the Cherokee, making impossible to live as Native Americans.  They could not assemble, could not have leaders, could not go to school, could not vote, could not own property, could not testify in Court. 

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Those that remained had to keep their heritage hidden from the Government until the 1960’s and 1970’s for fear of losing all rights.  The Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee consists today of descendants whose names were on land treaties made with the Federal Government, All the Cherokee Rolls, including the Guion Miller Roll, the Baker Roll, the Dawes Roll and the Henderson Roll.  In some instances, members can trace their heritage back as far as the 1600’s.   Judge John Martin is of the same lineage as our tribe.  He went to Oklahoma during the time of the removal and became the first Supreme Court Justice there, Principal Chief John Ross, was from Georgia and he became the Principal Chief of the Cherokee in Oklahoma for another 30 plus years.

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Our Tribe has worked for years to be able to present our heritage to the people.  So much history was hidden here or erased.  The State of Georgia tried not only to remove the bodies of the Cherokee but to erase their memory as well.  We are now recognized by the State of Georgia, United States Senators as well as our State Senators, Representatives and organizations such as the University of North Georgia and the Braves Organization.

 

We are proud of our heritage.  We have endured throughout time and we are still here!   We ask that you help us to preserve our heritage and that the memory of the Cherokee Nation in Georgia shall never die.