The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Tribal Council convened on January 8, 2026, to consider a resolution recognizing the inherent legal rights of the Longperson, an interconnected waterway system. The resolution was brought forward by the NAIWA Daughters, a youth group of Indigenous girls aged 10 to 17.
The Longperson waterway system’s headwaters originate in the Great Smoky Mountains and extend over 1,270 kilometers (790 miles) through multiple states, ultimately reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The waterway holds significant cultural and spiritual importance to the Cherokee Tribe, who view it as a living entity.
The Tribal Council passed the resolution unanimously, with the attendees rising in a standing ovation.
Source: Mongabay