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Cherokee Nation (U.S.)

Flag of the Oklahoma Band
Peace Flag

See also:

Flag of the Oklahoma Band of the Cherokee Nation

image by Thanh-Tâm Tê, 7 January 1999

The unreadable part of the script around the seal is in Cherokee script "Tsa la gi yi A ye hli" meaning "The Cherokee Nation."
Thanh-Tâm Tê, 7 January 1999

The current flag was adopted on October 9, 1978 and first raised on September 30, 1979. The seven-pointed stars have multiple symbolism: the seven clans of the Cherokee, the seven holidays in the life cycle and the seven sacred rites. On September 9, 1989, a solitary black star was added to the upper fly in memory of the Cherokee who lost their lives during the Trail of Tears march. Full information can be found in NAVA's Raven volume 3/4, 1996/97. The seal is from the Oklahoma Band of the Cherokee. The Eastern Band of Cherokee, located primarily in North Carolina uses a slightly different seal. There is also the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee (also in Oklahoma) and the Chickamauga Cherokee (in Missouri and Arkansas).

Phil Nelson, 12 February 1999

Peace Flag

image by Filip Van Laenen, 16 February 1997

I have seen in one of Whitney Smith's Books a reference to the Cherokee Nation using a white flag with red stars in the shape of the big dipper. Similiar to Alaska only with different colors. Probably nothing exact or pre-Columbus historically correct.
John E. Niggley, 29 May 1996