Cherokee of Oklahoma
The Cherokee was the largest southeastern tribe at first European contact in 1540. They are one of the Five Civilized Tribes. Their basic economy was farming and hunting.
A famous Cherokee man, Sequoya, developed the first Native American alphabet, allowing them to have an extensive written history.
In the early 1830's President Andrew Jackson pressured for the removal of the Cherokee to Indian Territory. The Treaty of New Echota, signed in 1835, effectively gave their lands to the federal government. Some Cherokees left willingly, others hid in the mountains. Many resisted and were forcibly moved in the dead of winter. During this march, 1/4 of the Cherokees died from the cold and starvation. This disaster became known as the "Trail of Tears."
About the Flag:
The official Cherokee seal was adopted in 1839. The Cherokee writing translates as "Cherokee Nation." The wreath of oak leaves symbolizes the wood used in the central sacred fire of the people. The seven pointed central star and the seven yellow stars outside the seal represent the original clans. The eighth black star off to the side stands for the Cherokee people who lost their lives during the "Trail of Tears."
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