Story of the CHEROKEE of Tennessee. The Trail of Tears and the struggles to keep their home lands.

How these great people of the southeastern United States lived and the hardships they endured on the Trail Of Tears. I can only scratched the surface of the long history of these proud and great people of the mountains of east Tennessee. Their story lives on to this day and always will. Thanks for watching SUBSCRIBE:: LIKE AND SHARE:: HELP GROW YOUR CHANNEL THIS CHANNEL COVERS 9 DIFFERENT SUBJECTS !!! ( CHECK IT OUT) 1. Metal Detecting 2. Wildlife Videos 3. History & Mountain Culture 4.The Unexplained 5. Home projects 6. Hunting & Fishing 7. Nature Videos 8.Mining History 9. Video Shorts

[appalachiafungorum]

Shiyo. I am glad that you did not end w/ the removal being complete. The Cherokee are still here, in the mtns, in OK, and the language is still alive! Tanasi

[chuckbowen]

There is a story in our family history that tells of my 3rd great grandmother Elizabeth Biebel Kepplinger. She took her two youngest boys and went up into the mountains of Virginia and hid to avoid removal. One of those boys was my great great grandpa Henry Kepplinger. He grew up to be a farmer, soldier and riverboat man. I still use some of his hand tools for woodworking.

[nancyholcombe]

Hi Donnie! Down here in Georgia, many claim to be part Cherokee. While a DNA test will prove native blood I don't think we've come so far as to know which tribes. Yet. That being said, my best friend was shocked to learn that her grandmother, a down-home Georgia woman and school teacher was in fact half Cherokee! It didn't surprise me. I've always known I had Indian blood in me. When the Cherokee capital was moved from Chota in Tennessee to New Echota in Georgia, many Cherokee were already down here. The Scots who had made their way through the wilderness to find land of their own had settled largely in Cherokee lands where they were welcomed. While a lot of the tribal clans did stay in the mountains of Tennessee, many moved with the capital. The farmland was rocky here but good for growing many crops that the Cherokee grew long before the Brittish came in, as well as good game. They also fanned out on old land that they knew was theirs as my great-great grandparents did. My family settled in Maxeys not too far from Washington, Georgia. Then, the Removal of the Five Civilized Tribes came, mostly due to gold and good farmland. This is known today mostly as the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee name for the debacle created by the government. Even those settled in white communities as well as mixed ones were forced to leave their lands! It became illegal for Cherokee people (or any other tribe) to live in Georgia. The punishment for returning was death. That didn't stop many from returning, however. The Cherokee prized education and many were smarter than the government! My family sold their farm for $5 to their neighbor with the promise they would be back to claim it. They went to Oklahoma and signed the Dawes Role twice before returning to Maxeys where they bought the same farm back for $5! They were minus my great-great grandmother and two of the seven kids but they were back on land that was truly their own. They changed their last name and reported as 'caucasian' (white) on the census after that so they could remain in Georgia on Cherokee land without getting killed by the State. They sent family to Oklahoma to sign other roles and look in on friends several times after that but they always came 'home' To this day, many don't know these stories. I share mine in the hope that all will one day be united. We all fought in our own ways. It's time that the truth be told.

[DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

My grandfather was a Methodist circuit rider in North Georgia during this time. He wrote an autobiography at age 97. This chapter stated how many were excited for new lands. Until they realised what the government was doing. Nothing has changed. The government is just more corrupt

[lindalymon]

I have been back on the land my grandfather (Cherokee) passed on in the hills of Hampshire TN, 10min for Natchez Trace/ Trial of tears. He stated before he passed, "no matter what folks try to say, we were already here"❣️ There's a few pictures of him wearing a "six gun"; so it tells me he was fighting for something. I've since moved here after all elders have passed and take care of the land. Now my son is here to help and continue the legacy ❣️

[shelbywilmoth]

With my mamaw being full Cherokee and having 16 children. We are a big family and are very proud of our heritage I currently live in the NC mountains. Will die here too. Thank you for such a informative video. 🙏

[Teressa]

So sad Trail of Tears. I can't imagine what they endured.
Thank you for all the work you put into sharing for us.
Cherokee.

[pault]

I am not American. I’m a Kiwi from New Zealand. This History tale brought tears to my eyes. We are all part of history, good, bad, or indifferent. Let’s learn from it. Let’s not repeat those despicable acts condoned by state or church. If we don’t then the legacy we leave may as well be written on toilet paper.

[TomSarelas]

Once again I weep for the Cherokee people. Thank you for reminding us the obscenity they endured. God bless the Cherokee.

[appleicatpromax]

As a Cherokee from Oklahoma, I thank you sincerely for making this video. More people should learn about this history, and your way of storytelling conveys a lot of emotion, the music is also nice.

[nurseChii]

I own a farm located off the Natchez Trace in Columbia, TN. My grandfather is 2nd gen Cherokee. Our history is the most important thing in my life, and this video is wonderful and informative. Thank you.

[brucasjeytonalways]

I'm 1/16th Cherokee, my mom is 1/8th Cherokee, & my grandfather was 1/4th Cherokee he was born in greeneville Tennessee its depressing how Indians were treated and still treated to this day

[josephschmidt]

Peace to my Cherokee brothers and sistes!

[PDa]

My great grandfather was full blooded Cherokee. I’m blessed to have a picture of him and proud to be part of the Cherokee.

[christopherbradley]

I am eastern Cherokee my 4th great grandfather is Cheif Drowning Bear 🐻 he is the one who stayed back with 300 others and fought for the eastern Cherokee land. Thanks, grandpa

[joehackney]

A stain upon the soul of this country that should never be forgotten. Thanks for the great presentation.

[MrKnoxguy]

The Spanish looked purely upon the Native Americans as primates and savages and this vastly underestimated them. Where I’m located in West Tennessee, this region of the state was inhabited by the Chickasaw’s. Like the Cherokee, they were a very honorable tribe. Even during the early times, before whites settled this part of the state, when it was labeled the “Western District” and was still a vast wilderness, these native people were friendly towards foreign peoples. However, it was required that if you were to move freely through their lands, you had to gain permission from tribe elder or chiefs. This usually required a sit down and a peace offering (smoke the peace pipe etc..). If this procedure was ignored.. you had major problems. This one of many mistakes the Spanish regularly made. They had no respect for the native people.

[gregdaniels]

One of your best Donnie! The Cherokee are a proud people, and I’m thankful I have a trace of their blood in me. The Trail of Tears was one of the lowest points in our history. I believe some of the pictures of Cherokees dancing was from an outdoor drama they used to have in Cherokee North Carolina called “Unto These Hills”. I wonder if they still do that. Would love to see it.

[lavenabaxter]

Thank you so much for sharing this, I love the history. The trail of Tears & all they insured was useless and so many lives lost. Nobody has the right to take over land & wars were needless. I'm half Cherokee & half Black Foot and am proud of my heritage and love learning about it! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[ginathompson]

This made me so sad. They were made to walk 800 miles against their will by people who didn’t care what happened to them as long as they were ‘out of the way’. I don’t understand such cruelty.