Today, the cooperative includes around 300 members. Applicants go through a jury process and must show documentation of belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Once in, those artists are lifetime members.

Today, the cooperative includes around 300 members. Applicants go through a jury process and must show documentation of belonging to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Once in, those artists are lifetime members.
Art plays a crucial role in preserving the culture and heritage of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. For many of the artists, however, an inner conflict exists over the meaning of their art to a broader, nonnative audience.