Cherokee

Native tribes have lived in the Americas for thousands of years. The Cherokee Indians make up the largest tribe. The name Cherokee comes from an Indian word that means "speakers of another language." Cherokee Indians originally called themselves Aniyunwiya, "the principal people," but today they accept the name Cherokee, which is spelled and pronounced Tsalagi in their own language.

Before explorers arrived in the Americas, the Cherokee lived in the Southeastern United States. Today this region includes the states of Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Many people living in these states today boast Cherokee ancestors.