This paper explores the history of the assimilation practices through education at the Snowbird Day School, of the Eastern Band of Cherokee student’s that went there. This process culminated in the integration of the Cherokee students into the Graham County school system, a process that took 11 years from 1954 to 1965. The Snowbird Day School was located in the Snowbird community of Graham County North Carolina. This small community is apart of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Qualla Boundary however it is located approximately one hour west of the main EBCI territory. This distance created unique issues with education for the Snowbird community. This had adverse affects not only on the students but the Snowbird community as well.
