My name is Wilmore Marshall, and I’m from Alabama. In 1991, I founded a group called Wild, motivated by issues concerning the destruction of cultural resources on public lands. Specifically, there was a clear-cut operation that destroyed a site called Indian Tnuala, which outraged the local Native Americans. They approached the Forest Service, only to be dismissively told by a ranger, “You got toilet paper and a good road there now, what’s the problem?” This led to the founding of our group. We raised ten thousand dollars through selling endangered species necklaces made by an Apache Indian, which supported ten years of litigation. This effort culminated with officials from the regional office in Atlanta intervening to address the violations of the National Historic Preservation Act. They shut down 18,000 acres of the forest to enforce cultural protection measures.

Three years ago, I moved to the mountains to continue my work in preserving cultural resources in the mountains and on public lands. This project was initially funded by the Cherokee Preservation Foundation and involved mapping Cherokee trails on the Qualla Boundary. I’ve collaborated with local communities and experts like Nokomis Well-Read Riddick, an archaeologist who has helped map out the Trail of Tears. Our work aims to compile primary sources and physically explore these trails, uncovering the historical layers beneath modern transportation systems, which often overlay ancient Cherokee trails. These trails not only traverse the Appalachian Mountains but also connect the Atlantic to the Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico, reflecting thousands of years of extensive trade.

The arrival of Europeans didn’t bring them to a new world but to an old one, a well-established network that they would eventually absorb. If I’m going too fast, let me know. There’s a lot to cover, and I have too many slides for a 30-minute presentation.

The impact of European colonization began with the trade, marking the beginning of the end for free Native American tribes due to the economic systems introduced. The narrow mountain passes, once traversed by buffalo and Native American trails, became routes of economic and cultural exchange but also of conflict and loss. The history of these paths reflects a profound transformation from a land of freely roaming tribes to one of mapped and regulated paths serving colonial and later American expansions.

In my work, I’ve endeavored to protect these trails under the National Historic Preservation Act, submitting detailed maps of discovered trails to ensure they are preserved and studied for historical significance. Our findings not only connect us to the past but also guide the preservation of these cultural landscapes for future generations.

As we continue this work, we aim to engage the Cherokee youth, teaching them to map and navigate these ancient routes using modern technology like GPS, fostering a connection to their heritage and the land itself. The ultimate goal is to ensure that these ancient pathways, markers of a rich and complex history, are not forgotten but honored and preserved, allowing new generations to walk the paths of their ancestors and appreciate the deep historical roots that run through these mountains.

Thank you for your attention, and I’m happy to answer any questions about our projects or the ongoing efforts to preserve our cultural heritage.