Eastern Band of Cherokee takes another step toward renaming Clingmans Dome

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Tribal Council has taken the next step toward renaming Clingmans Dome, the highest point in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to its traditional Cherokee name: Kuwohi, which translates to “the Mulberry Place.”

On January 4th, 2024Tribal Council unanimously authorized the submission of an application to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to restore the name, “Kuwohi,” in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Members Mary Crowe and Lavita Hill started the process of changing the name back in 2022. Crowe explained that the renaming would help to keep the Cherokee culture alive and serve as a reminder for younger generations of the tribe.

As of 2019 there were only about 200 fluent speakers of the native Cherokee language, causing the tribes to declare a state of emergency for the language.

The resolution passed by tribal council states that Kuwohi “is the highest and most visible point in our area, and has special significance to us as Cherokee people, as it was visited by medicine people who prayed and sought guidance from the Creator regarding important matters facing our people, and then returned to our towns to give guidance and advice.”

Resolutions supporting the change were passed by Buncombe, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Graham, Clay and Cherokee counties as well as the towns of Asheville, Andrews, Murphy, Hayesville, Fontana Dam, Lake Santeetlah, Robbinsville, Canton, Clyde, Maggie Valley, Waynesville, Dillsboro, Sylva, Webster, Franklin, Highlands and Bryson City.