This group of people is native to what is now the southeastern united states. the eastern portion of the group still resides in north carolina, while many were forcibly relocated west in the 1830s on what became known as the trail of tears. this granted tribes unsettled western prairie land in exchange for their territories within state borders, mainly in the southeast. this is a native american group who originally lived in parts of alabama, georgia, and florida, and are related linguistically to the seminole. this was the forced migration of the cherokee indians to oklahoma in 1838-39 which resulted in over 4,000 deaths. this 1832 supreme court case, with a majority opinion given by john marshall, held that cherokee native americans had federal protection from the action of state governments. although considered influential, it did not prevent the forcible relocation of the cherokees in what became known as the trail of tears. this is a native american group who originally lived in florida and are sometimes called the "unconquered people" for never surrendering to the united states.