The Cherokee Nation The Cherokee nation was one of the bigger Indian tribes. The Cherokee called themselves the Ani-Yun' wiya which means leading or principal people. They originally lived in what is now Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and West Virginia. They have had contact with the white people ever since they met the Desoto expedition in 1540 and they have always been friendly towards them. The Cherokee helped the British in wars …showed first 75 words of 893 total…

…showed last 75 words of 893 total…the British and the Americans took advantage of them. The Cherokee was a great nation. They had become very civilized. All of the Indians in America were badly mistreated. However, not many were treated as bad as the Cherokee were. The Trail of Tears was devastating to the Cherokee. It could be considered "ethnic cleansing," which is what is going on in Kosovo right now. No group of people deserves to be treated that way.