Robeson County towns support honoring American Indians on I-74

While construction of a new Interstate freeway progresses in Robeson County, local officials and towns are voicing their support of a petition that would name I-74 within the county as the "American Indian Freeway." Currently, US 74 - which will share the new highway with I-74 - is named the Andrew Jackson Highway.

The petition would lead to a resolution that would keep the "Andrew Jackson Highway" name while the highway within the county would also have the "American Indian Freeway" distinction.

The Lumbee Indian Tribe traces their origins to the Robeson County area.

Story:
Highway is a reminder of Indian history ---Fayetteville Observer

Commentary:
Personally, what I found interesting in this article is how American history comes into play with the current name of US 74 and the proposal for I-74. While President, Jackson's "Indian Removal" policy was and remains one of the most controversial and far-impacting issues of his administration.

The Indian Removal Act signed into law in 1830 allowed the President to negotiate 'treaties' with Eastern Indian tribes. The act allowed the Federal government to enter into treaties where it purchased Indian tribal land in the eastern US in exchange for lands in the west outside of the U.S. borders. One of the results of this act was the infamous Cherokee 'Trail of Tears'. Although the removal of Cherokee Indians was under his successor's (Martin Van Buren) administration, the Indian Removal Act was a Jackson policy.

Over 4,000 Cherokee would die in their journey west.

In it's entirety in North Carolina, US 74 is known as the Andrew Jackson Highway. For years, Cherokee, Lumbee, and Tuscarora descendants have tried to change the name of the highway.

Naming I-74 in Robeson County the "American Indian Freeway" would be an acceptable compromise.

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