North Carolina Indian Reservations

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There is one one land trust area in the state of North Carolina. As a trust, the land is technically not a “reservation” per se, in that tribal members can buy and own the land, provided they are enrolled members of the Tribe of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee of North Carolina.

 

North Carolina Indian Reservations

 


Trust Lands: Qualla boundary and other lands
Tribes: Eastern band of Cherokee
Acres: 48,000, 15,211
Established by: Deeds to Indians under decision of the United States circuit court for the western district of North Carolina, entered at November term, 1874, and acts of Congress approved Aug, 14, 1876 (XIX, 139), and Aug, 23, 1894 (XXVIII, 441); deeds to Indians dated Oct. 9, 1876, and Aug. 14, 1880: now held in fee by Indians who are incorporated. Act of Mar. 3, 1903 (XXXII, 1000). (See Opinions of Asst. Atty. Gen., Mar. 14, 1894, and Feb. 3, 1904. 35,000 acres of the 98,211 acres sold. Deeds dated Oct. 4, 1906; approved Dec. 12, 1906.)

The Qualla Boundary (or The Qualla) is territory held as a land trust for the Federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who reside in western North Carolina. It is part of their historic territory in this area. The indigenous Cherokee, an Iroquoian-language people, have occupied the area for much longer than Europeans. They were here for centuries before European encounter, having migrated from the Great Lakes area.