A Bit of History

The word "Cherokee" is believed to be derived from a Choctaw word meaning "Cave People". Another explanation says it came from a Creek word "Chelokee", meaning "People Of A Different Speech". It was picked up and used by the Europeans as "Cherokee" and was eventually accepted and adopted by the Cherokee in the form of Tsalagi or Jalagi. In their own language the Cherokee originally called themselves The Aniyunvyia or Anniyaya meaning The Principle People or The Keetoowah or Anikituaghi, Anikituhwagi meaning "People Of Kituhwa". Although they usually accept being called Cherokee, many prefer Tsalagi Ayili. Traditionally the people now known as Cherokee refer to themselves as Aniyun-wiya, a name usually translated as "The Real People". Other names applied to the Cherokee have been: Allegheny, Delaware, Arapaho, Chilukki(dog people), Osage and Kansa. Their first encounter with the Europeans was with Hernando Desoto in 1540. The English traders appeared among the Cherokee in 1673. They first went to war with the colonists in 1711 and were devastated by epidemics of disease such as small pox during that century. In 1835 the U.S. Govt. passed The Removal Act . Principal Chief John Ross refused to recognize the legality or validity of the Removal Act and challenged it in court. The Supreme Court rulled in favor of The Cherokee Nation. President Jackson said : "Justice Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it." You all know what happened after that.