“The Institute of American Indian Art is a multi-tribal center of higher education dedicated to the preservation, study, creative application, and contemporary expression of American Indian and Alaska Native arts and cultures.”

— mission statement of the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development

The word renaissance is tossed around loosely, often in relation to some event or occurrence to which the literal meaning of the word simply does not apply. In the case of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, however, it correctly describes the upward arc of artistic, economic and political achievement taking place on the Qualla Boundary that is changing the face of Western North Carolina and the lives of the members of this long impoverished tribe.

Two weeks ago representatives of the Institute of American Indian Art presented a plan to the Tribal Council for establishing a branch campus in Cherokee. The tribe will have to invest $150,000 annually to start holding classes in September under the auspices of the institute. The program is seeking accreditation from the UNC system but would be affiliated with the main IAIA campus in Santa Fe. Initially it would offer associate degrees in fine art and serve about 20 students in classes held in the evening at Cherokee High School. If all goes well, there will be an actual campus with dormitories, classroom buildings and full-time faculty within 10 years.

All IAIA campuses are open to students of every ethnic origin, but admission is weighted toward Native Americans. Cherokee High School art teacher James Smith — who is the project manager for the institute — said the emphasis of the school will be on the individual artists, not what is typically construed as Native American art. It’s about nurturing young artists to find their own creative muse.

In Cherokee, there is growing support for the institute and its potential to become another chapter in the tribe’s recent successes.

“There’s a lot of local talk about the institute and how it will affect the evolution of the town,” according to Davy Arch, a Cherokee storyteller and traditional artist.

The arrival of Harrah’s Casino in 1997 has opened a lot of doors for the Cherokee. Once known as a sleepy tourist town selling trinkets and kitsch, Cherokee — and its tribal government — is now the economic and political powerhouse of the region. Much of the casino riches have gone directly to projects to benefit tribal members. Numerous health-care facilities have been built, new schools are in the planning stages, water and sewer upgrades have been paid for, and a scholarship fund has been established for students. A language immersion program for toddlers has been started, and language courses are taught in schools. The Cherokee Preservation Foundation has handed out grants worth millions of dollars for projects that focus on cultural preservation, economic and workforce development, and environmental protection. This money also comes from casino profits.

Cherokee tribal leaders deserve praise for the way they have managed casino profits. They have worked to make people’s lives better, both in the short term and for the long term. They have also made it a priority to preserve and enhance the artistic and cultural traditions of the Cherokee. The establishment of the Institute of American Indian Art in Cherokee is another important step in this continuing renaissance.