The Southern Cherokee Nation of Kentucky

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Preserving the history of our sacred culture.

Welcome to the official site of
the Southern Cherokee Nation
of Kentucky


the sacred great hill
"The Great Hill shall belong to the Cherokee throughout time"

We are citizens of the Great Hill located in Henderson, Kentucky. Since our conception as The Treaty Party in 1835, we've been a nation of mixed bloods. We're however no less Cherokee than our Tahlequah brothers in the West or our Qualla brothers in the East. We further proclaim our rightful freedom, celebrate our independence and maintain our sovereignty guaranteed by a viable treaty ratified in 1866.


Brief history ... In 1862, Stand Watie was elected principal chief of the Southern Cherokee Nation. After his death in 1871, our Nation fell into peril. Without the protection of Stand Watie, the "mixed-blood" Southern Cherokee were brutally terrorized by the Pin Cherokee (an opposing faction of "full-blood" Cherokee) that blamed us for the loss of Cherokee land in Georgia. Although protection from the government was requested, they stood by while our people were systematically burned out and murdered. The Union Army wanted to help, but they just did not have the troops to protect us. The Pin Cherokee eventually forced most the of mixed bloods out of Oklahoma. While some remained in hiding, most others fled to the neighboring state of Arkansas. In an attempt to save the Southern Cherokee from further decimation, Chief James Martin, cousin to Stand Watie, gathered the mixed blood refugees and organized 75 wagons at Fort Smith to form a wagon train. Some opted to stay behind, while many departed with the wagons. Others chose to split off along the way for destinations such as Tennessee Illinois and Missouri, but the majority pressed onward to Kentucky with Chief James Martin. The Southern Cherokee Nation and their constitutional government were thereby effectively reestablished in Henderson, Kentucky. However, this tragic event left many of the southern Cherokee scattered and forgotten to all but a few. 

Once in Kentucky, the Southern Cherokee reunited with their relatives who managed to evade the U.S. Army - while the rest were forced to march on the Trail of Tears through western Kentucky in 1838. The Southern Cherokee stayed quietly to themselves for well over 100 years for fear of being sent back to Indian Territory. They would still be concealed from the public if it were not for pseudo groups calling themselves Southern Cherokee. The Southern Cherokee of Kentucky remains the only sovereign Nation. In 1893, we were officially welcomed to Kentucky and "Recognized as an Indian tribe" by Governor John Y. Brown. In 2006, Governor Ernie Fletcher paid tribute to the Southern Cherokee Nation for its 114 years of existence in Kentucky.

Please see our historical documents page, as it provides information in support of the foregoing statements.


Enrollment information... We are proud to live and keep the traditions of our ancestors. Our family has never relinquished or forsaken the core Cherokee citizenship or heritage. We claim our birthright and honor the ways of our ancestors! We feel the lost Southern Cherokee people who have been separated from their ancestors should reunite. Therefore, it is not required that you or your ancestor be full blood Cherokee. You must however provide certified documentation proving a direct link to your ancestors. If you are sincerely interested in reuniting with your Cherokee family, we invite you to read the enrollment information page for further instructions. Though our rolls are now closed, some may still be eligible for citizenship if you are a descendant of those currently enrolled. The Southern Cherokee Nation has no enrollment fees or dues as we are not a fraternity or a club. We do not have members; we have citizens. If we can be of further assistance to you, please feel free to contact us.


Please note: we are not able to do genealogy research for you.
For assistance in researching your family tree, please visit www.ancestry.com or www.rootsweb.com as they are better able to help you in your quest.
Thank you for understanding. 

Donadaha  Oginali



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