History of the Cherokee

In this episode, we explore the history of the Cherokee people, from their ancient Iroquoian roots and the rise of Mississippian mound-building cultures to the dramatic changes brought by European contact and colonial expansion. The story follows how the Cherokee adapted their political and social systems, defended their homelands, and faced the devastating 19th-century removal policies that led to the Trail of Tears, forcing many into Indian Territory while others remained in their ancestral North Carolina mountains. We also look at how Cherokee identity has endured through language, Sequoyah’s written syllabary, oral traditions, and the continued presence of today’s three federally recognized Cherokee tribes, while honoring the leaders, diplomats, cultural figures, and resisters who helped shape Cherokee history and survival.