Cherokee Blog

The Nikwasi Initiative oversees the Cherokee Cultural Corridor project, a heritage tourism initiative to preserve and showcase historical sites crucial to the US and EBCI. Conceptualized to be a regional economic driver, the Corridor is about 60 miles long and extends from Cherokee along Highway 28 along the Little Tennessee River to Franklin and continues along Highway 441 to the Georgia border.

Cherokee in the fall is a thing of beauty; the mountain air gets cool and the leaves shine brightly in brilliant hues. There’s really no better time to take in the scenic beauty on foot, and lucky for walkers and runners of all speeds, there are two not-to-be-missed outdoor events: The Cherokee Harvest Half Marathon and 5K and the Turkey Strut 5K Walk/Run. 

If you’ve eaten the amazing food at the annual Cherokee Indian Fair or Qualla Arts and Crafts Open Air Indian Art Market, it’s likely that you’ve interacted with members of the Cherokee Chapter of the North American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA) who often prepare the fare at large Cherokee events. But NAIWA is so much more than a group of talented cooks. It’s a nonprofit membership, educational, and service organization established in 1970.