Appendix 3
MISSION & VISION The mission of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Fisheries and Wildlife Management office is to sustainably manage aquatic and terrestrial species and ecosystems for the present-day Cherokee community and future generations. We envision a Cherokee landscape that sustains abundant and healthy wildlife populations that maintain ecosystem services, cultural traditions, along with economic and recreational opportunities for the Cherokee community. Our program works to manage fish and game populations for subsistence and cultural uses, restore and protect both culturally significant and rare non-game species, and promote the connection between conservation and cultural values. Responsibly managing resources of value for the Cherokee community requires a sustainable focus that seeks an understanding of how conservation actions and stressors affect the quality of life for both present and future Cherokee generations. HISTORY Cherokee aboriginal territory historically encompassed hundreds of thousands of square miles across eight southeastern U.S. states. Lands stretched from southern Appalachian mountaintops to productive Tennessee River valleys providing for a rich agricultural and subsistence lifestyle. The wide range of elevations, diverse landforms, mild temperatures, and abundant rainfall found on aboriginal Cherokee lands provided for diverse and productive aquatic and terrestrial habitats (Vick 2011). The Cherokee people possess a long history of natural resource stewardship dating back thousands of years. Traditional management actions such as the use of fire to improve habitat, wildlife-friendly agricultural practices, and traditional hunting and fishing methods were implemented to improve natural resource conditions and sustain resources. The fish, wildlife, and plants found within this land base were intricately tied to cultural identity and the livelihood of the Cherokee people (Mooney 1900, Cooley 2002, Altman 2006, Vick 2011, EBCI 2013). The gradual shrinking of Cherokee’s aboriginal homeland began in 1721 with land cessions culminating in the Treaty of New Echota, which initiated the systematic removal of the Cherokee people from their homelands. By 1860, Cherokee that resisted removal were able to develop a contiguous land-base in the region of Jackson, Swain, Graham, and Cherokee Counties (North Carolina) by purchasing lands through William Holland Thomas (Starr 1922). The Qualla Boundary and other outlying parcels were surveyed in 1875 and in turn held in
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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