After decades of advocacy, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is on the verge of reclaiming ownership of the Noquisiyi Mound, also known as Nikwasi or Kituwah Mound, in Franklin. The anticipated transfer marks a significant step for the tribe's cultural preservation efforts, allowing for EBCI-led storytelling, education, and community engagement.
The Franklin Town Council unanimously approved the transfer from the Noquisi Initiative nonprofit on January 5, 2026. The transfer awaits EBCI Tribal Council approval and legal finalization. The resolutions passed by the council also honored the town's citizens from 1946 who raised funds to save the mound from demolition.
Historical Significance
The Noquisiyi Mound, located in Macon County, is the largest unexcavated mound in the Southeast. It is part of an ancient Cherokee "mother town" predating the U.S. The mound holds deep spiritual and cultural importance to the EBCI and connects to the nearby Cowee Mound, which is also owned by the EBCI, forming a cultural corridor.
The ownership timeline reflects a history of dispossession and reclamation. Cherokee preserves from 1819 were ignored by North Carolina, leading to militia removals. The land passed into private hands until 1946 when local citizens purchased it. The town held the title until 2019, when it was transferred to the Noquisi Initiative, involving the EBCI, the town, the county, and conservation groups. Advocacy intensified in 2012 after a town employee damaged the mound with herbicide.
How the Transfer Occurred
The transfer process involved multi-year collaboration, from the town to the nonprofit in 2019, and then from the nonprofit to the EBCI. Legal adjustments ensured preservation without nonprofit-specific rules. The tribe's edits maintained core protections. No opposition was noted during the votes, which passed unanimously.
Implications for Cultural Preservation
This repatriation ends over 150-200 years of non-Cherokee control. The transfer enables EBCI-led storytelling, education, and community bridges while upholding public access. The transfer is considered a "national example" amid EBCI efforts to reclaim sacred sites.