Scope and Contents The Eastern Band of Cherokees were those who, under the leadership of John Ross, did not subscribe to the treaty of New Echota (1835) and had to be removed by force to the Western lands.However, there had been emigration to the West as early as 1810 by groups who wished to leave Georgia and the term "Western Cherokees" was applied to this group as well as to later emigrants. The papers in the Gilcrease files labeled "Eastern Band" generally apply to any Cherokees who were living...