A bill that would place 76 acres of land containing several historic sites, such as the Tanasi Memorial (shown above), in eastern Tennessee in trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
One Feather Asst. Editor
For the fifth Congress in a row, a bill that would place 76 acres of land, containing several Cherokee historic sites in eastern Tennessee, in trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has been introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives.
H.R. 226 was introduced into the 119th Congress on Jan. 7, 2025 by Congressman Charles J. “Chuck” Fleischmann (R-Tenn.).
Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) Michell Hicks said in a statement to the One Feather, “The reintroduction of the Eastern Band Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act by Representative Charles Fleischmann represents a long-overdue opportunity to restore what has always been rightfully ours. These lands that include the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, the Chota and Tanasi memorials, and the Chota Peninsula in Tennessee are part of our ancestral homelands, where our ancestors lived, worked, and cared for the land for generations. They hold immense cultural, historical, and spiritual significance to the EBCI. For too long, these sacred lands have been outside of our stewardship, and this legislation will allow us to honor our responsibility to protect and preserve them for future generations.”
The Chota site is shown in this photo.
Previous versions of the bill included H.R. 548 (118th Congress) which passed the House by a unanimous voice vote, H.R. 2088 (117th Congress) which passed the House by a vote of 407-16, H.R. 453 (116th Congress) which passed the House by a unanimous voice vote, and H.R. 146 (115th Congress) which passed the House by a vote of 383-2. All of these bills died in the Senate.
According to language in the bill, the 76 acres includes approximately 46 acres at the site of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, around 18.2 acres which includes the Chota Memorial and the Tanasi Memorial, and another 11.2 acres known as “support parcel”. Also included in the bill are permanent easements for the Chota Peninsula, which includes 8.5 acres, and the Chota-Tanasi Trail which has 11.4 acres.
Charlie Rhodarmer, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum director, noted the importance of the area, “Tanasi was the first Cherokee capital in what is now this area of east Tennessee. It was set up by Moytoy of Tellico in the late 1720s/1730s. Moytoy was the first ‘emperor’ (spokesman) of the Cherokee. By 1753, Chota had become the mother town of the Overhill. During the eighteenth century, Chota was the political and cultural capital of the Cherokee Nation. It was known as a peace town.”
He added, “Chota was the longest existing Cherokee capital in the east before the Removal. Chota is center stage for Lt. Timberlake’s visit. Timberlake wrote his memoirs of his visit to the Cherokee Overhill, which gives us an incredible insight into Cherokee life in the mid-eighteenth century. By 1788, the Cherokee had moved their capital south to Georgia.”
The One Feather was unable to reach Congressman Fleischmann for comment on this current legislation, but he has said previously, “The Cherokee People have a long, rich history on these lands, and it is the place where Cherokees have honored the birth and life of Sequoyah, one of the most influential and important Native Americans in history. I am humbled and thankful to play a part in ensuring the story of the Eastern Band is preserved and taught to future generations.”
