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North Carolina News You Can Use

Billy Ball Explains NC: Why a NC town gave a sacred mound back to the Cherokee

By Billy Ball, Staff Reports

March 25, 2026

The western NC town of Franklin is returning a sacred mound to the Cherokee people, and how that fits into the national “land back” campaign for Native Americans.

In the story of America, land has mostly moved one way—out of Native hands, and into the hands of white people. But recently, leaders in one western North Carolina town came to a remarkable decision. Billy Ball Explains NC has the story.
Billy Ball Explains NC is a weekly conversation about North Carolina politics, culture, and news, led by Cardinal & Pine Senior Newsletter Editor Billy Ball (@thelivingsouth). Make sure to like and subscribe to Cardinal & Pine on YouTube so you never miss an episode!
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Written by Billy Ball
Edited by Kim Lawson
Video produced by Dylan Courbat

Authors

  • Billy Ball

    Billy Ball is Cardinal & Pine's senior newsletter editor. He’s covered local, state, and national politics, government, education, criminal justice, the environment, and immigration in North Carolina for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary have earned state, regional, and national awards. He's also the founder of The Living South, a journalism project about the most interesting people in the American South.

    Have a story tip? Reach Billy at [email protected]. For local reporting that connects the dots, from policy to people, sign up for Billy’s newsletter.

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Billy Ball Explains NC | LOCAL VIDEO
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