Public hearings on the proposed Ravensford land swap with the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park will likely begin this fall.



David Nash, the attorney general for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,
said the Tribe has selected an independent contractor to stage the hearings
and is in the process of finalizing the contract.



The Ravensford tract is about 168 acres that lies just across the Oconaluftee
River from the GSMNP’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The land separates
the Big Cove community from the rest of the reservation. The Tribe first
approached the Park Service regarding the property in 1964. The EBCI
has plans to build an elementary, middle and high school complex if
the land exchange is approved.



The first phase of an archaeological study has been completed. Paul
Webb, of the archaeological firm TRC Garrow Associates Inc., presented
a brief status report at a recent Tribal Council meeting. The report
states that shovel testing “... discovered extensive distributions
of prehistoric, historic Cherokee and Euro-American artifacts.”
Webb presented two graphs showing where artifacts had been discovered.
One documented prehistoric and historic Cherokee resources and one noted
remains from the old Ravensford logging town.



Webb said the tract contains a record of at least 6,000 years of continuous
human occupation. The report goes on to state, “Many of the artifact
distributions are clearly eligible for the National Register of Historic
Places, and for this reason are considered significant resources under
the National Historic Preservation Act .... In the event that the exchange
and school construction go forward, extensive excavations, and possibly
some redesign of facilities, would probably be needed to mitigate the
impact to these resources.”



The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) opposes the land
swap. Don Barger, director of NPCA’s southeast region, said the
“National Park Service is mandated by Congress to protect those
significant resources.”



But Big Cove Tribal Council representative Teresa McCoy said Ravensford
was no different from any other flat, riverside land in the park.



“If you go across the river, where the Job Corps is located you’ll
find it’s just as impacted,” McCoy said.



Nash said former Tribal Archaeolo-gist Brett Riggs had seen the preliminary
study by TRC Garrow and pronounced there were “no show stoppers.”



“In my opinion the question is how can the archaeology be done
to allow the property to be used,” said Riggs, who is now at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hil.



Riggs said there was no evidence of large cemeteries or concentrated
villages like the ones at Kituwah or along Aquoni Road where the present
high school is located. He said the fact the Ravensford Lumber Company
site was more than 50 years old made it a “de facto” National
Historic site.



“But there’s nothing showing up to completely stymie a land
exchange,” Riggs said.



He said it would be expensive but that plans could be developed in conjunction
with Park Service covenants to accommodate protection of resources and
the building of schools.



The process has already proved to be expensive and will continue to
be, but the Tribe remains committed. Nash told the council the estimated
total cost was $3 to $3.25 million and up to two-thirds of it could
be expended without knowing if the land swap would be approved.



“That is not a lot of money when talking about schools for our
tribe. The sky’s the limit where the future of this tribe is concerned
— no price is too high,” said Principal Chief Leon Jones.

The chief said he felt the tribe had more support than ever regarding
the swap.



“We’re gonna do this,” he said.



Rep. Charles Taylor (R-Brevard) is supporting the swap. He included
language in the 2001 House Interior Appropriations bill endorsing the
exchange. In a form letter to constituents who have contacted Taylor
opposing the land deal, he states, “I was proud to lend my support
to the proposed land transfer for the purpose of building new schools
for the children of the Eastern Band of Cherokees ...

While every property exchange involving a national park involves a degree
of controversy, I can think of no worthier purpose than dedicating land
for education of the children of WNC.”



Barger said the real process to determine the feasibility of the swap
will begin with the public hearings. He noted a Blue Ridge Parkway viewshed
analysis prepared by the NPS that concluded, in part, “...the views
to Floyd Bottom [Ravensford] should be preserved...”



The analysis uses a numerical system to rate views. The highest possible
score is 18. According to the study, “The existing Floyd Bottom
View is intact and is rated as having a very high scenic integrity receiving
a total score of 13 out of a possible total score of 18. However, after
the proposed development of the Cherokee middle school, the site would
be rated with a very low scenic integrity, receiving a total intactness
score of 1.”



Barger said he feels the conclusions of the viewshed study, “...
added to the the results of the archaeological review, provide the NPS
all necessary information to conclude that this land is not appropriate
for exchange.”



Jones said Ravensford was not pristine land. He said there was a road
through it, water and sewer lines are being installed, and there are
already several buildings across the river.



“The Tribe is doing everything we possibly can to satisfy all concerns,”
said Jones.



One local government has done a 180-degree turnaround regarding the
swap. Swain County commissioners recently rescinded a November 2000
resolution opposing the swap and issued a resolution in support of the
project.



The reversal came on a motion offered by commissioner Dick Ensley, who
had been appointed, along with county attorney Kimberly Lay, to act
as liaisons between the board and the EBCI. Ensley said he felt the
November resolution was prompted by a lack of communication. He said
no one on the board was opposed to education, and the Tribe has a dire
need for schools.



Jones said he welcomed the support from Swain County and looked forward
to re-establishing good relations with the county.

 

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Copyright 2001, The Smoky Mountain News.