CHEROKEE NATION, ONE MORE DAY

In 30 hours I have the privilage of visiting and living in the Cherokee Nation of North Carolina. I have been waiting for this for a very long time. Ever since I was little, I have ached to see what a reservation was really like. To prepare me for the trip, I have been doing research on tribal government and the issue of 'sovereignty' in the Cherokee Nation. But before I begin, here is my itinerary:

Saturday, March 5, 2011

8:30 a.m. Travel to Cherokee, NC

8:30 p.m. Arrival in Cherokee

Campfire time (weather permitting) w/s’mores

Sunday, March 6, 2010

9:00 a.m. Wake-up call

10:00 a.m. Breakfast

11:00 a.m. Optional worship services:

Cherokee United Methodist Church

11-12:15 pm, some traditional Cherokee songs and casual worship

2:30 p.m. Hike at nearby waterfall

8:30 p.m. Optional daily devotion/debriefing time

Monday, March 7, 2011

9:00 a.m. Wake-up call

9:30 a.m. Breakfast at CUMC

10:00 a.m. Groups leave for worksite

Work details are still coming in and will be projects in the Cherokee community.

There will be various projects there, ranging from carpentry/construction to lawn

care and lighter labor.

We will eat lunch on site from food we will bring.

4:30 p.m. Van leaves for CUMC

5:00 p.m. Dinner, CUMC

6:30 p.m. Native American Presentation—Speaker TBD.

9:00 p.m. Optional daily devotion/debriefing time

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

8:00 a.m. Breakfast at CUMC

9:00 a.m. Depart for worksite

5:00 p.m. Dinner at CUMC

6:30 p.m. Cherokee Presentation

9:00 p.m. Optional daily devotion/debriefing time

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

8:00 a.m. Breakfast at CUMC

9:00 a.m. Work Site

Afternoon: Sweat Lodge at Home of General Grant

The Sweat Lodge is a Native American

spiritual tradition, engaged in for both spiritual and physical benefits. Sweats are

used for spiritual renewal and the purification of body, mind, soul and spirit.

“Sweats are a combination of silence, singing, praying, and sharing from the heart,”

and in this way “sweats are considered to be the heart of the community.”

8:00 p.m. Optional daily devotion/debriefing time

Thursday, March 10, 2011

7:00 a.m. Wake up call

8:00 a.m. Breakfast at CUMC

9:00 a.m. Meeting with Principal Chief Hicks (This is still to be confirmed.

If Chief Hicks is unavailable, we will try to meet with someone else in the Tribal

Government)

10:00 a.m. Visit Museum of the Cherokee Indian

Afternoon Sight-seeing

5:00 p.m. Vans depart for CUMC

5:30 p.m. Dinner at CUMC

Native American tacos, meat and vegetarian, prepared by members of

CUMC.

7:00 p.m. Optional reflection and devotional time

9:00 p.m. Final campfire time

Friday, March 11, 2011

8:00 a.m. Wake up call/Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Load vans

8:30 p.m. Arrival in D.C. (approx)

The Cherokee nation in North Carolina is one of three federally acknowledged sovereign Cherokee nations. The nation has the ability to choose who who the citizins are. According to the website , someone who can prove their native heritage from the 1900s document called the Dawes document which states who has native blood or not. The nation can decide what is in their curriculum in the schools. The elementary schools teach Cherokee and English and have their own forms of testing. The US government may acknowledge the nation, but the nation is considered a dependent nation because it is not considered a fully sovereign nation like Mexico. The Bureau of Native Affairs acts as a buffer for tribes and the government so there is a disconnect between the government and native councils. But Barak Obama has made the following statements to native tribes:

Native Americans make up 4% of America's population. Native affairs is a complex issue. What is it that sovereign nations want? Do they want some form of integration in society while being recognized as a sovereign nation? Or do they want nothing with the system? I am excited to see what the reservation is like and maybe I can understand the native issues better. Every day I will write in a notebook and then come back home on the 11th and post all my notes. Wish me luck? I cannot wait!