Press release from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians:
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) held a ceremony to celebrate the signing of a deed that transfers the sacred and historic land known as Kituwah Mound into trust. The area surrounding the Kituwah Mound, often referred to as the “mother town of the Cherokee,” was lost in a land cession treaty with the United States in 1823, and the tribe repurchased the property in 1996.
Commenting on the effort to secure protection for the land, EBCI Chief Richard Sneed said, “We have persevered for centuries through hardship and fought to perpetuate our lives, language, and culture. Taking this land into trust will ensure this most sacred site will be preserved and honored in perpetuity. This land will never again be taken from our people.”
Just off Highway 19 between Bryson City and Cherokee, North Carolina, Kituwah Mound remains a treasured site in Cherokee culture. Archaeologists believe that the Cherokees have occupied the Kituwah for 10,000 years. Studies have revealed at least 15 burials on the land. “I invite all Cherokees to come and take in the beauty, solitude, and sacredness of this place. It is yours, it is mine, it is ours, forever,” Chief Sneed commented.
A video of the signing ceremony and full remarks by Chief Sneed can be found here: https://fb.watch/8LUF3C7lqx/
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