Shopping

You'll find many opportunities to take some Cherokee culture home with you. A wide selection of handmade Cherokee products is available, as well as authentic Native American items from other areas. About 16 stores on the Cherokee reservation specialize in crafts, clothing, paintings, or jewelry made by local craftspeople or craftspeople from other tribes. The largest is Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual (tel. 828/497-3103), on U.S. 441 at Drama Road, at the entrance to the Unto These Hills arena. Formed in the mid-1940s as a cooperative, Qualla has a current membership of 300 Cherokees, whose items are sold exclusively at the store. It ships products worldwide and is frequently visited by other tribal representatives who are interested in establishing a similar facility on their lands. Whether the craftsperson is a woodcarver, pottery maker, finger-weaver, artist, or basket maker, the products show individual artistry and convey a personal link to the makers' ancestors. Hours are Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pm and Sunday 9am to 5pm.