25th Ann. of Joint Council to be Held at Red Clay (03/04/09)
(03/04/09)

Media Advisory

March 4, 2009

For More Information—Melissa Woody, 800-472-6588

Cherokee Heritage Project to Uncover Untold Stories

A reunion and Joint Council of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee is set to take place in Bradley County, Tenn., April 16-18. This event commemorates the 25^th Anniversary of the 1984 Joint Council and lighting of the eternal flame of the Cherokee Nation that burns at Red Clay. Bradley County, which encompasses the cities of Cleveland and Charleston, Tenn., is home to Red Clay State Park, the last Eastern capital of the Cherokee Nation before their tragic removal on the Trail of Tears.

The timing of this event coincides with the PBS broadcast of “We Shall Remain,” a five-film documentary series on the Native American Experience. Episode 3 titled “Trail of Tears” contains scenes shot at Red Clay. Residents and groups in Cleveland are planning screenings and other activities leading up to the broadcast of these five films to air five consecutive Mondays beginning April 13.

Red Clay is an interpreted state historic area with artifacts and exhibits. But in the small town of Charleston, Tenn., the story is just now unfolding. The Hiwassee River and the settlements on its banks were witness to important and ultimately heartbreaking historical events. Settled around the river, Charleston and Calhoun were often referred to as the twin cities. From Cherokee heritage, Civil War skirmishes and social and cultural developments, these two Southern river towns in Tennessee may be small, but their place in history is significant and largely untold . . . until now.

Almost 200 years ago, the land around the Hiwassee River was a much different place than today. It was a thriving Cherokee community with missions, farmlands, stores and families. The south side of the Hiwassee was once the location of the federal Cherokee Indian Agency providing protection for the Cherokee. In prior years (1785-1820) and in previous locations, the Agency was responsible for issuing passports for visitors to enter into the Cherokee Nation. The idea of a passport emphasizes that this was a separate nation from the United States of America. This was the Cherokee Nation and the area known today as Charleston was a gateway to that nation which consisted of eight districts and approximately 20,000 Cherokee people.

Later, in the autumn of 1838, it was the scene of one of the greatest American tragedies carried out in history, the forced removal of the Cherokee from their Eastern homeland now known as the Trail of Tears. Charleston was the site of Fort Cass, one of three main emigration depots set up by the federal government where Native Americans were assembled and held to await the mass removal to the west. Fort Cass was a collection of encampments, including Rattlesnake Springs, covering land that is present-day Charleston and stretches toward Cleveland. Thousands of Cherokee and members of other tribes gathered at these encampments before beginning a journey that would cost them so much.

This tragic story was not one that was passed down through the ages. A sad, yet important piece of American history was almost lost until the residents of these two cities decided this was a story that needs to be told and a people who need to be remembered.

What’s Happening Now?

Interpretation is in development and history is being uncovered with each passing day. The Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University began developing a heritage plan for Bradley County in February.

The Cleveland/Bradley Convention & Visitors Bureau is developing a brochure of Cherokee sites for Charleston and Cleveland in Bradley County, as well as Calhoun in McMinn County. Additionally, the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association is about to print a Cherokee Trail highlighting sites in the 10-county region.

Activities already on the calendar leading up to and surrounding the Joint Council at Red Clay and broadcast of the “We Shall Remain” series include

• March 7-8—Cherokee Homecoming at Red Clay State Historic Park. The public is invited to bring clippings, letters and any memorabilia to Red Clay to be copied for Red Clay’s files. For more information, call 423-478-0339.

• March 15—Screening of 30-minute Preview of the PBS documentary “We Shall Remain” hosted by the Charleston-Calhoun Hiwassee Historical Society at Charleston School Auditorium at 3 p.m. The public is invited to this screening and discussion led by Barbara Duncan, educational director for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian in Cherokee, N.C.

• April 7—Screening of “Trail of Tears.” The public is invited to a pre-broadcast screening of the 90-minute Episode 3 in the series of five films that make “We Shall Remain” accompanied by discussion with Russell Townsend, tribal historic preservation officer for the Eastern Band of the Cherokees. Scenes from “Trail of Tears” were filmed at Red Clay State Historic Park. The screening is free and will be held at the Museum Center at 5ive Points at 7 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served.

• April 15—Cultural Fair 2009 at Cleveland State Community College, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. This event will feature storytelling and other activity including a Cherokee dancer and Cherokee weaponry demonstration. The event will be held on the CSCC campus on Adkisson Drive.

• April 17—Cleveland Bradley County Public Library Book Club Review. The group will focus on the Robert J. Conley book, Mountain Windsong: A Novel of the Trail of Tears. The club will meet at noon at the Library’s History Branch.

• April 19— Special guest Jack Baker, Tribal Council member of the Cherokee Nation and president of the National Trail of Tears Association, will speak at Rattlesnake Springs. Baker will be visiting from Oklahoma and is hosted by the Charleston-Calhoun-Hiwassee Historical Society. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at 2 p.m. Rattlesnake Springs is located on the privately-owned Moore farm on Dry Valley Road. Carpooling is recommended.

• April 23—Special Lecture “The Trail of Tears and Beyond” presented by Dr. Dudley Gardner, historian and archaeologist at Western Wyoming College. Lee University and Cleveland State Community College are hosting this event which will be held at 7 p.m. in the Johnson Lecture Hall in Lee University’s Humanities Building on Parker Street. The lecture is free and open to the public.