Cherokee
- IV. Contemporary Life
In Oklahoma, traditional Cherokee culture
was severely weakened. The old ways, including traditional
crafts, are most strongly preserved by the Eastern Band,
some of whom continue to live on the Qualla Reservation
in North Carolina.
The
quality of North Carolina Cherokee basketry is considered
to be equal to or better than that of earlier times.
In
Oklahoma the Cherokee live both on and off the reservation,
scattered in urban centers and in isolated rural regions.
Their
occupations range from fishing to industrial labor
to business management.
In
North Carolina, farming, forestry, factory work, and
tourism (about 5 million tourists annually) are sources
of income.
The
Cherokee language has about 10,000 modern speakers.
In 1990 there were 308,132 Cherokee descendants in
the United States.
Return
to Cherokee Index
"Cherokee,"
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000 http://encarta.msn.com
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