November is National Native American Heritage Month

As the crisp air of November settles in, we find ourselves at the crossroads of autumn and winter, eagerly anticipating the warmth of the holiday season. November is a month of gathering and gratitude—a time when many of us start to plan for festivities, reconnecting with loved ones, and taking part in traditions that bring comfort and joy. But it’s also a month of important reflection, especially as we recognize Native American Heritage Month celebrating and honoring the cultures, histories, and contributions of Native American and Indigenous communities.  Here in the 9 Lakes Region,  the Overhill Cherokee settlements played a significant role in the history of East Tennessee.

Legacy of the Cherokee

In September 2024, the National Park Service took a step forward in by renaming Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to Kuwohi. A sacred place for the Cherokee, used for prayer, reflection, and gathering mulberries for medicine.  This year marks 34 years since the United States first designated November as a month to honor Indigenous history. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush established National American Indian Heritage Month. Since then, annual proclamations—titled “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”—have continued each year, supported by organizations like the Library of Congress, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Park Service.

Understanding American History in this region involves recognizing the legacy of Native leaders like Dragging Canoe, Nancy Ward, Sequoyah, Tsali, and John Ross. These leaders witnessed the incursion of their lands by British, French, and Spanish colonial forces. Rising tensions over land between Indigenous peoples and colonizers eventually culminated in the Trail of Tears, one of the most tragic chapters in American history.

When you visit, lean more about the Cherokee’s history by visiting of these museums or historic sites:

• Sequoyah Birthplace Museum- Vonore

• Tanasi Memorial Park– Vonore

• Charles Hall Museum– Tellico Plains

• Cumberland Gap National Historic Park– Cumberland Gap

• Fort Loudon State Park– Vonore