April 16 – The joint meeting of the Tribal Councils of the Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Red Clay, Tenn., from April 16-18, commemorates the Red Clay Reunion of 1984 when the Eastern Band and the Cherokee Nation met together for the first time since the National Council met at Red Clay in 1837. Congressman Zach Wamp issued the following statement welcoming them to East Tennessee:

“It is great to have the Cherokee at home here in East Tennessee this weekend for the extraordinary meeting of the two councils, the Eastern Band of the Cherokee and the Cherokee Nation. Last night at the Cherokee Memorial Park in Blythe Ferry, we met both Chiefs. Many friends from Oklahoma, north Georgia, northern Alabama and western North Carolina came together to celebrate that special place and begin this three day convocation of these great peoples.”

“I am a Cherokee descendent myself and take great pride in living in Wauhatchie on Black Creek where the Cherokee lived when they were here before the removal. Their character is so strong because of the adversity they have endured, and one of the seminal injustices in American history is the Trail of Tears. It was incomplete and inaccurate in 1987, and we made it much, much better with the new Trail of Tears legislation. I am very pleased to have finished the legislation making it correct, which was just recently signed into law by President Obama. The Moccasin Bend National Archeological District is a major piece of the Native American culture and history of our region. There is a renewed interest of all peoples, especially those of Cherokee descent or connection in this region to our culture and our tradition, and to highlight the lessons learned from history.”

“At Red Clay, I will plant a tulip poplar tree with the two Chiefs: Chief Chad Smith of the Cherokee Nation and Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band of Cherokee. And then the two tribes come together officially here tomorrow. So I want to welcome them with open arms as one of the family myself. It is great to have the Cherokee at home here in East Tennessee this weekend.”