In August 2010, a group of U.S. Cherokees, many from the Cherokee Nation whose capital is in Tahlequah, OK, visited the ancestral home of a mysterious Scottish immigrant who had interesting Cherokee connections during the 18th century. The 2010 festivities at the Clan Grant International Meeting included a major parade, followed by a formal ball and much celebration of the Cherokee-Scottish connection. As many know, sound genealogical records indicate that many Cherokees and Americans of Scottish heritage share their family roots.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith and wife Bobbie Gail, CN Councilors Cara Cowen and Jack Baker, along with our own Houstonian Marjorie Lowe, were warmly welcomed by their distinguished Scottish hosts.
Marjorie, who is one of our founding members of the Cherokee At Large Voters League, and a respected genealogist, reported on their adventures:
"The Gathering of the Grant Clan met in August, 2010, at Nethybridge, Scotland in the Highlands. We traveled to Grantown-on-Spey, which was where we stayed during our visit in the Highlands. Major sights that we saw were Lochness, sans Nessie, the Monster; Ballindoloch Castle, Ancestral Grant Castle where Aberdeen-Angus Cattle were first bred by one James Grant; the heathered landscape surrounding Balmoral Castle where the Queen is in residence during Grouse Season; and the remains of Elgin Cathedral, a 13th century Catholic Cathedral before Henry the VIII ruled."
Learn more from this BBC article and enjoy the photos to follow.
The Scottish "royalty" honored the visiting Cherokees with a gala, following a rousing parade, shortly after arrival from the U.S. Front row center shows Bobbie Gail Smith in a lovely blue traditional Cherokee tear dress beside husband Principal Chief Chad Smith in traditional Cherokee attire. Standing to their left is Houstonian Marjorie Lowe.
