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- By Chez Oxendine
- Real Estate
The town of Franklin, N.C., formally transferred the Nikwasi mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on Jan. 5, completing a years-long effort to return the largest un-excavated Cherokee mound in the Southeast to tribal ownership.
The Noquisi Initiative, a nonprofit advocacy group, led the effort to return the mound, also known as Noquisiyi.
The Franklin town council voted unanimously to release the deed to the Noquisi Initiative, which had held the property since 2019 as a neutral steward. The group then conveyed the land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, closing what organizers described as a “historic circle.”
“This is a long story of reflection, principled action, and perseverance,” Elaine Eisenbraun, executive director of the Noquisi Initiative, said in a statement. “The chronicle weaves community, culture, ownership and humanity as people of diverse heritage have worked together to embrace the prominence of the mound and bring it home to its family of people.”
The Nikwasi mound, located in downtown Franklin, was once part of a Cherokee town. It remained in private hands until 1946, when local residents raised funds to preserve the site. A 2012 incident involving herbicide damage prompted renewed calls for tribal stewardship, eventually leading to the formation of the Noquisi Initiative.
The nonprofit’s board was intentionally balanced between Cherokee and non-Indigenous members to facilitate conversations about stewardship and transfer, according to the organization’s website. In early 2025, the group began legal preparations to return the deed, working in partnership with the town of Franklin.
“Noquisi Mound is more than a place. It is a spirit,” Eisenbraun said. “It is a pathway of continuity from past to present and on to the future.”
Principal Chief Michell Hicks of the Eastern Band said the transfer marked a significant step in cultural restoration. “We’re very thankful to the town of Franklin for understanding,” Hicks said.
The tribal council is expected to finalize the title transfer in the coming weeks.
