Pathways to Food and Economic Security in Appalachia’s Indigenous Communities 

For thousands of years, the Cherokee people have hunted and fished throughout Appalachia. Now, a new project from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in Cherokee, North Carolina, seeks to draw on that tradition to develop new economic avenues for its 16,000 members.  

Using a $50,000 ARC POWER planning grant, EBCI seeks to build on an existing effort to increase meat production on tribal lands by exploring opportunities to leverage historic traditions in leather tanning. 

New Economic Avenues from Indigenous Traditions 

The Cherokee people are historical innovators in hunting and tanning. This includes trapping a wide variety of animals – such as rabbits, groundhogs, beaver, deer and elk – and their centuries-old technique of producing buckskin leathers. These traditional skills create a unique opportunity for present-day EBCI to position itself as a regional leader in meat and leather production. 

After securing nearly $6.5 million in funding from the USDA in 2024 to open a meat processing facility on tribal lands, tribal leaders began exploring the next steps in the production line and business plan. Potential options included expanding the variety of meats processed, and the potential for a local artisanal tanning industry. 

With funds from their 2024 POWER grant, EBCI will study the potential of a tribal tannery operation to complement the processing facility. The study will include an environmental analysis, operational plan, workforce assessment and a cultural report on the value of tanned goods as a means of Cherokee cultural preservation and regional tourism development. 

Tribal leaders are also prioritizing limiting environmental impact from the projects, creating an opportunity for a high quality, sustainable and resilient industry within the Qualla Boundary. 

Access to High Quality Food 

Prior to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Cherokee people farmed and hunted across Southern Appalachia. Once relocated to Western North Carolina, the mountainous terrain presented challenges to maintaining these traditions. Over time, said Walker, the tribal community’s diet changed, and health outcomes declined

A thriving meat and leather production pipeline within the tribal community would improve access to food for tribal community members, in addition to providing pathways to employment. 

“We want to give an avenue to encourage hunters to bring animals harvested elsewhere back here to be processed, and a portion of that animal will go to elders or families in lieu of payment for processing,” Walker said. “We want to support the livestock producers we do have and remove that barrier of meat-processing access. And we want to see more families raising an animal again to help supplement their protein needs.” 

From History to Modern Day 

Over the years, ARC has funded a variety of projects aimed at strengthening economies within tribal communities. Supporting pathways to employment, education and healthcare are key priorities to ensure that tribal communities can thrive. For Walker and other tribal leaders, these pathways include modern economic ventures rooted in ancient Indigenous traditions. 

“We want to have a positive impact to our community and region,” Walker said, “by providing a service that makes use of the animal, helps our artisans, and creates business and employment opportunities.”  

Learn more about ARC’s $68.2 million POWER package announced on October 16, 2024, at the headquarters of POWER grantee Catalyst Connection in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which supports 65 economic diversification and revitalization projects in coal-impacted communities across 10 Appalachian states.