McDowell 250 Speaker Series

Before the Trail of Tears: Cherokee-Settler Relations in 18th-century Western NC On Thursday evening, April 2, an America 250 speaker event will highlight the sometimes congenial, oftentimes fraught relations between settlers and native Cherokees on the 18th-century frontier. Cherokee storyteller Nancy Pheasant and Cherokee historian Mark Ledford will provide the Native American perspective on that formative period of American history. Their presentation begins at 6 p.m. at the Historic Marion Train Depot. The event is part of the McDowell County America 250 speaker series. It is free and open to the public. Mark Ledford is a member of the Cherokee Nation who lives in eastern Tennessee. “The Trail of Tears is what the Cherokee are known for,” says Ledford, “but that was a low point – not the golden period by any means.” The golden period, according to Ledford, was the 1700s when Cherokee leaders visited England to negotiate land treaties. They traveled throughout eastern America as a powerful nation. Nancy Pheasant is a Cherokee storyteller and craftsperson who resides on the Qualla Boundary. Following in her father’s footsteps, she is a respected storyteller committed to preserving and promoting the rich culture of the Cherokee people. This coming July 4th, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. America 250 activities are being organized simultaneously on national, state and local levels.