A marker designating the historic Kituwah site near Cherokee, N.C. PHOTO COURTESY CHEROKEE PHOENIXQUALLA BOUNDARY, North Carolina – Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians enrolled citizen Natalie Smith is asking leaders of the two federally recognized nations of Cherokees in Oklahoma

for support against a proposed electric power tie station because it desecrates the sacred place from where all Cherokees originate. “There really can’t be a negotiation other than to relocate the project out of view of the valley,” Smith said. “In any shape or form, it is not appropriate for Kituwah.”
Recently, Smith and others raised opposition asking EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks to oppose the construction upon learning that Duke Energy had begun work on a site adjacent to the Kituwah Mound near Cherokee, N.C.
The EBCI Council by resolution on Feb. 4 opposed Duke’s plan. Also referred to as Ferguson Field, Kituwah is considered sacred and is said to be the Mother Town to all Cherokees.
Between 4,000 and 8,000 Cherokees died on what is called the Cherokee “Trail of Tears,” during forced removals to the West in the 19th century. Two groups of Cherokees, Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band, ultimately settled in Oklahoma.
Hicks said that Kituwah still remaining is amazing and that EBCI purchased the site because of its sacred meaning to the Cherokee people and to ensure protection of it for future generations of Cherokees.
EBCI Public Relations representative Lynne Harlan said in a statement that the EBCI has directed its Office of Attorney General to seek remedies, “including, but not limited to retaining independent counsel” to assess EBCI’s rights and “to work with local county officials to halt progress on construction until local concerns can be heard by the Public Utilities commission.”
The EBCI resolution states that interested parties, including the EBCI or nearby Swain County governments or residents were not consulted about potential effects of the substation.
However, Duke Corporate Communications spokesman Jason Walls said the company was not required to obtain input from nearby communities since it is upgrading an existing line.
“We reviewed several sites to locate the tie station but none of the property owners were willing to sell.” Walls said.
He added that Duke then bought property for the substation next to where it already had an existing station, approximately 200 yards from Kituwah. Walls said that the company would work with EBCI to meet its growing energy needs in a way that is respectful to Cherokee culture. He added that Duke is taking steps to reduce the visual impact of the substation on Kituwah by using dark darkened, less-reflective steel, installing a retaining wall constructed of dark stone and planting natural vegetation that would grow to eventually block the substation from view.
But Natalie Smith is not convinced, saying that a substation next to Kituwah would be akin to building a similar structure next to Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy. She said Cherokees from everywhere make pilgrimages to the site. Therefore, she thinks all federally recognized Cherokee leaders should band together to stop the substation from being constructed.
“We need some type of letter or public statement from (Cherokee Nation) Chief Chad Smith and (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians) Chief George Wickliffe. We need them both to plainly ask our government to not allow the substation to be in that location at all,” she said. “A general statement of support is not enough. We need a specific request of some significance.”
In a letter to Hicks, Chief Smith pledged, “to protect this historical and revered place… Kituwah Mound is a sacred place and should be preserved at all costs.”
The letter also stated that a resolution in support of Kituwah was to go before the CN Council on Feb. 16.
UKB spokeswoman Marilyn Craig also confirmed that Wickliffe had also sent a letter to Hicks in support of Kituwah.
But Natalie Smith wants the Oklahoma Cherokee leaders to show their support by coming to North Carolina.
“You have an interest in Kituwah’s well-being as well,” she indirectly addressed Chiefs Smith and Wickliffe in an e-mail received by NAT.
Neither CN or UKB staff could confirm either chief’s official travel to N.C. for EBCI support.
E-mails received by NAT have indicated Hicks was to  meet with Duke officials on Feb. 17 in Cherokee.
Inhabited by Cherokee people for thousands of years, Kituwah fell into the hands of white farmers during European colonization. The 300-acre site was bought back in 1997 by the EBCI for $3.5 million.
A once-impressive mound stood at the center and is said to be where the Cherokees’ Sacred Flame was housed. Kituwah is listed on the Nation Register of Historic Places.
Enrolled citizen of Cherokee Nation and language educator Tom Belt, who lives in Cherokee and is married to an EBCI citizen, agreed with Natalie Smith, saying a substation in the area of Kituwah is disrespectful.
“It’s like putting up a huge billboard between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument,” he said. “I’m sure the American people would consider that irreverent and this is the same thing.”