John Finger, "Termination and the Eastern Cherokees"
Although many Eastern Cherokees opposed termination because it meant an end to benefits guaranteed by treaties, local factors were more important. The tourism industry required a reservation, neighboring counties could not afford to provide required services to the Indians, unwillingness of most Cherokees to share tribal assets with white Indians and racial tensions all contributed. These factors also merged with the growing national opposition to termination.
-John Finger, "Termination and the Eastern Cherokees," American Indian Quarterly, (Spring, 1991), 153-170.
Marilou Awiakta, "Arrow of Warning and Hope: the Cherokees vs. Tellico Dam Controversy"
This is a brief summary of the Tellico Dam which flooded the site of the sacred town of Chota, graves, and many other historic sites of the Cherokee. Awiakta points out that this was not about the snail darter as many whites believed. Many Cherokees believed it was similar to Removal when whites expelled Cherokees from the East; in this case the heartland of the Cherokee and Cherokee history was obliterated.
-Marilou Awiakta, Selu: Seeking the Corn-Mother's Wisdom, (Fulcrum Publishing: Golden, CO, 1994), 42-65.
Current EBCI Charter (1986)
The Eastern Band Charter is the present governing document of the EBCI. Some interesting changes since the Welch Constitution include allowing females to hold office, Tribal officers need only be enrolled members (1/16 as opposed to ¼ required by the Welch Constitution) and the ability of the Council to appropriate any land occupied by tribal members for the benefit of the tribe.
-Courtesy of the Native American Rights Fund
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act established the right of Indians to establish gaming activity on their lands if not specifically forbidden by Federal or State law. This document provides a listing of the cases relating to the history, constitutionality, jurisdiction, etc. of the Act.
-Courtesy of the National Indian Gaming Commission