The American Indian / U.S. communication network

      As early as the 1780’s formal communications between the Cherokee nation and the United States Government were utilized by both nations as a means to correspond with each other over such things as trade, annuity payments and Treaties. The link between the two entities that were of different languages was the all-important Interpreter. Written letters usually signed by the Chiefs with an x mark were sent to the leaders of the states and or directly to the War Department at Washington, D.C. The written letters are now amongst all the first class sources. Initially stored and recorded within the War department and later within the National Archives Records. In the early 1790’s William Blount, an original North Carolinian, during the revolutionary war amongst other things, became the Governor of the territory south of the Ohio River including the area described in the treaty of Hopewell (Between the U.S, and the Cherokee nation circa. 1785) as the domain of the Cherokee nation. Sub agents Leonard Shaw, Daniel Smith, and John McKee worked as communicators to William Blount via Interpreters James Cary and John Thompson - trusted white men living amongst the Cherokee people. Before The construction of the Cherokee Agency at the Highwassee river the offices for these communications were located at ft. Southwest Point, which was within the boundary’s of the Cherokee nation until 1798 (modern Kingston Tennessee) and even further southward in the Cherokee country, the Tellico Block house (built in 1804-05), located directly on the bank of the little Tennessee river adjacent to the over hills Cherokee towns. From these three locations The Cherokee Chiefs and United States Officials, created a very large body of “real history” that has never been utilized to their full potential for reasons due to accessibility, outdated research methods (no micro-film readers and copiers), censure ship of the 1930’s 40’s (when most of the Cherokee history books were published) and at times, lack of journalistic integrity.

     Ex 1 “The organ of communication.” From the Bottom photo up illustrates the chain of communication during the 1801-1835 period. Agent Meigs at bottom, Tennessee Governor Joseph McMinn, Secretary of war John C. Calhoun, and the seven presidents who shared the Office of Chief executor of the United States during the majority of the Cherokee nations last remaining years, in the original homeland.

     Ex. 2 Two maps illustrating the Cherokee nation before statehood and afterward. Note: the map on the right shows the location of the Cherokee agency.

     Ex. 3 The public statutes at large Vol. 7 This source contains all of the UN edited Indian treaties.

     Ex. 4 the North Carolina Colonial records.

     Ex 5 The National Archives records of the Cherokee Indian Agency.

     Ex. 6 another header page of the records of the Cherokee Indian agency. This one pertains to the Immigration process for the Arkansas Cherokee during the 1817-1820 period. Contrary to most modern accounts of this removal, this was officially sanctioned by both the United States government and the original and legitimate Cherokee national council. The Cherokee who immigrated at all times to the Arkansas were such and not the mythical and historically stereotypical, renegade band of Chickamauga dissidents.

     Ex. 7 a photo of the Foundation of the Tellico blockhouse and the Little Tennessee River. All over the hill, Cherokee towns were located down river. This river leads into the Mountains and thence to the Valley towns at the present location of the Eastern Cherokee reservation, next to Bryson City, North Carolina.