EBCI

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is a federally recognized Native American tribe of Cherokee people based in western North Carolina, United States. The tribe governs the Qualla Boundary, a land area that forms the center of the tribe's government, economy, and culture and extends into portions of Jackson, Haywood, and surrounding counties.

The EBCI traces its origins to Cherokee people who remained in the mountains of what is now North Carolina during the forced relocations of the 1830s. In 1868, the United States government formally recognized the Eastern Band as a distinct political entity. The Qualla Boundary serves as the tribe's government and cultural heart and lies near the Great Smoky Mountains.

The EBCI operates under a written constitution and bylaws with an elected executive leadership and a Tribal Council. The executive branch is led by a Principal Chief and a Vice Chief, while the council enacts laws and oversees budgets and programs. The tribal government provides essential services and enforces tribal laws within its jurisdiction.

The tribe's economy centers on gaming and tourism. Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel are major employers and revenue sources. In addition, the tribe supports arts, crafts, language and cultural programs, including the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual and cultural sites such as the Oconaluftee Indian Village and Mountain Farm Museum.

As of recent counts, about 16,000 people are enrolled in the EBCI, with most members residing in or near North Carolina. The EBCI maintains its own schools, cultural programs, and language revitalization efforts, and remains one of three federally recognized Cherokee governments in the United States, alongside the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma.