Abstract:

This dissertation argues that the continuation of traditional indigenous institutions is the most effective means for successful economic and community development strategies on American Indian reservations in the United States. It is a study of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina and their tradition of gadu:gi which represents a concept of mutual aid and translates to mean "working together for the good of the community," and "everyone's heart is in the same place." A critical examination of the history of gadu:gi from 1934 to 1984 demonstrates the institution evolved from a physical work group to a cultural ideology and a major focus of modern Cherokee identity. Utilizing oral histories, ethnohistorical, and interdisciplinary sources, this study concludes that the Eastern Cherokee economy and local communities are inextricably linked.

It is shown that the development of the Eastern Cherokee reservation during the twentieth century required efforts from external and internal forces, however, the gadu:gi remained the unseen force which motivated the tribal communities to create situations of local autonomy. This dissertation provides a better understanding of various development strategies employed by the Cherokees as they negotiate the ever-changing federal policies of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Originating from the traditional Cherokee free labor groups, a central tenant of gadu:gi is to work together for the good of the community. The Eastern Cherokee communities adhered to this concept throughout the twentieth century to create a flourishing local economy prior to the advent of tribal gaming enterprises. In so doing, these indigenous communities also discovered what it meant to be a modern Cherokee living within the "spirit of gadu:gi. "