Marshall McClung
Much has been written about the Civilian Conservation Corps, the work performed and the part it played in pulling America out of the Depression.
But when it comes to the part the Cherokees had in the effort, not so much.
One exception is the book That Magnificent Army of Youth and Peace, by Harley E. Jolley. One Cherokee historian – in speaking about the Depression – said, “We didn’t know there was one.”
Periods of scarcity were a common aspect of life for the Cherokee people. No jobs, lack of adequate food and clothing was a way of life for them.
The Native American CCC program was operated from the Office of Indian Affairs, which was under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
That being the case, the Native Americans had their own quotas and operations, and used qualified Native Americans to plan and supervise operations.
Another difference in this program was that the War Department had no role in the Native American CCC program, as they did in other camps. There were few actual camps in the Native American CCC program, since most enrollees were family men living at home and commuting to the job.
The Cherokee enrollees were paid $30 per month, as well as the enrollees in other camps. Enrollees had to be at least 18 years old. At the time, there were 3,622 Cherokees on the tribal roll.
The Cherokee CCC program lasted for nine years. During that time, 520 tribal members worked in the program and spent $594,000.
Family names of those enrolled in the CCC program include Adams, Arkansas, Wolfe, Youngdeer, Bradley, Bushyhead, Chekelelee, Cornsilk, Crowe, Cucumber, Driver, Feather, George, Hardin, Hornbuckle, Jackson, Jumper, Lambert, Littlejohn, Locust, Lossy, McCoy, Maney, Owl, Panther, Partridge, Pheasant, Rattler, Rose, Saunooke, Sequoyah, Smith, Squirrel, Standingdear, Swimmer, Tahquette, Teesatesky, Toineeta, Wachacha, Wahyahnetah, Walkingstick, Welch, Wildcat, Wilnoty and Youngbird.
A 1937 report listed the following projects completed by this program:
* One steel fire tower erected;
* 12 1⁄2 miles of telephone lines built;
* 38 miles of fire lanes constructed;
* 29-man days fighting forest fires;
* 39 miles of truck roads built;
* 30 miles of truck roads maintained;
* Two 24-foot-by-90-foot sheds for equipment built;
* 28 miles of horse trails constructed;
* 120 miles of Indian Boundary line surveyed;
* 50 miles of Indian Boundary line marked with paint;
* 150 acres of land reforested;
* 250 acres of forest land improved by removal of undesirable species;
* Seven vehicle bridges built;
* 500 acres of land improved by building check dams in gullies;
* Debris cleaned from five miles of the Oconaluftee River.
Marshall McClung is the historical columnist for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, mcclungs828@gmail.com.