Museum features Cherokee perspective on American Revolution in new exhibit

CHEROKEE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Yesterday, the Museum of the Cherokee People, the tribal museum of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, unveiled “ᏧᏂᏲᏍᎩ ᏂᎨᏒᎾ: ᏣᎳᎩ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎯ ᏃᎴ ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏁᎦ ᏓᏂᎦᏘᎴᎬ ᎠᏰᎵ ᎤᏙᏒᎲᎢ,” or “Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution,” an exhibit platforming Cherokee artwork, perspectives and reminiscences on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

“Unrelenting” opened with a reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, and will remain on view through Dec. 30, 2026. MotCP is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 589 Tsali Blvd., Cherokee, N.C.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under, as well as members of federally recognized tribes. Find tickets here.

American past and Cherokee present

“Unrelenting” is housed in one long exhibition hall at MotCP. The colorful walls are covered with museum text, contemporary artwork by Cherokee Nation and EBCI artists and historical artifacts like maps and textiles. Glass cases are scattered throughout the space, containing items like tools, weapons and adornments. The exhibit is unified by the sensation of timelessness, the past and present of Cherokee history coexisting inside the diverse display.

That is by design.

“Because American nationalist mythology pretends like Native people belong in the past, our contemporary existence contradicts the dominant memory and commemorative landscape of the United States,” said guest curator Brandon Dillard in a press release. “With ‘Unrelenting,’ we just wanted to invite people to think about some of those things and recognize how complicated it all is… and most importantly, to welcome complexity when thinking about the past.”

Despite the two and half centuries that have elapsed since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Cherokee history from the time has rarely had an opportunity for this level of examination, the least of which by Cherokee scholars themselves. “Unrelenting” is unique in its conception as a first-voice exhibit.

“We talked a lot about what it means to be a first-voice museum,” said Shana Bushyhead Condill, executive director of MotCP, during the exhibit reception. “One of the things that we like to say is that we want Cherokee people to walk in these doors, we want Cherokee people to feel like they belong here and we want Cherokee people to hear Cherokee language.”

The presence of Tsalagi, or ᏣᎳᎩ, Cherokee syllabary, in “Unrelenting” is another thing that sets the exhibit apart from other America 250 retrospectives.

“One of the methodologies that we’ve applied to this exhibition is the knowledge that’s contained in Cherokee language,” Condill said. “That’s very intentional. 
Anytime you see syllabary on the wall, that is intentional. That is not what you’re gonna see from other American 250 exhibitions, which you might see along your travels. But you will see it here, because this is a Cherokee place.”

When research into the exhibit began in 2022, the curators were looking for Cherokee accounts of the American Revolution, which spanned 1775-1783, and the Cherokee American War, which took place from 1776-1794. “Unrelenting” is a space where the Cherokee revolutionaries of the 18th century can be clearly linked to the efforts to honor, preserve and spotlight Cherokee perspectives today.

“History is tough. Native view of history is a way for us to recognize resilience and power, and the people who continue to remain and continue to honor their ancestors by fighting for the things that they believe in,” said Dillard during his remarks at the exhibit reception. “I think that’s what ‘Unrelenting’ means to me, and I hope that it means something different to each and every person here.”

For more information about “Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution” and the Museum of the Cherokee People, visit www.motcp.org/exhibitions-events/changing-exhibitions.

“Unrelenting: Cherokee People and the American Revolution” was curated by Dakota Brown (EBCI), Brandon Dillard (Cherokee Nation) and Evan Mathis.

The exhibit features artwork by Joshua Adams (EBCI), Beth Anderson (Cherokee Nation), Karen Berry (Cherokee Nation), Martha Berry (Cherokee Nation), Anagali Shace Duncan (Cherokee Nation), Keli Gonzales (Cherokee Nation), Aaron Lambert (EBCI), Robert Lewis (Cherokee Nation, Navajo Nation, Apache), Louwana Jo “ᏍᎩᎵᎡᏆ” Montelongo (EBCI), Paula “Qualla” Nelson (EBCI), Isabella Saunooke (EBCI), Laura Walkingstick (EBCI), Tara White (Cherokee Nation) and Alica Murphy Wildcatt (EBCI).