Are their any cherokees indian in n.c. or va.?

Question:

Are their any cherokees indian in n.c. or va.?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Great question. The present-day Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation was exempted from the forced removal termed "Trail of Tears."

During the 1835 Treaty of New Echota negotiations, Indian Agent William Holland Thomas was in Washington and he successfully lobbied for the right of a number of Cherokees to remain in North Carolina. These Indians are the present-day Eastern Band and they were also called Oconaluftee, Lufty and Qualla Indians. His lobbying in Washington had secured the preservation of the Eastern Cherokees from the forced march west or Trail of Tears in 1838, which the Lufty refer to as Nunahi-Duna-Dlo-Hilu-I or Trail Where They Cried. Consequently, during the forced removal, William provided safe haven for over 1000 Cherokees and, furthermore, it is noteworthy that Thomas's intervention is currently reflected with over 10,000 Cherokees residing in Western North Carolina. It is widely believed that without his intervention there would not be an Eastern Band.