YANCEY COUNTY, N.C. – An area in Yancey County that contains a rare rivercane patch is being preserved, and artisans of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will be able to harvest some for traditional weaving.
Caleb Hickman, EBCI Fisheries and Wildlife Management supervisory biologist, noted, “The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC), with support from the Office of Fisheries and Wildlife Management for Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), and the North Carolina Land and Water Fund recently finalized the permanent protection of the 433-acre Cane River Confluence property in Yancey County. The site lies where the Toe and Cane Rivers join to form the Nolichucky – a place of ecological rarity and deep Cherokee cultural significance.”
The land is now owned by SAHC who will operate under a land management plan that will allow EBCI artisans access for harvesting sustainably.
He said that EBCI artisans were able to access the area in 2021 through RTCAR (Revitalization of Traditional Cherokee Artisan Resources) and the previous owners. “They (RTCAR) knew that it would have substantial potential for artisans because of the size of the cane patch. The size of the cane patch is a very rare find because of the height and also individual clones – the cane itself is very big around and that’s what artisans prefer.”…