The EBCI also possess, hold, or retain further lands in the surrounding area, and as far away as 100 miles from the Qualla Boundary and continue to make foremost progress in areas of healthcare, support services and utilities, business district revival and other projects to the advantage of Qualla Boundary. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is a federally accepted Native American tribe in the United States of America, a self-governing nation with a three-tiered government: Executive Branch, headed by Principal Chief and Vice Chief, Legislative Tribal Council and Judicial Branch. Housing more than 13,000 registered members of the Tribe, with over 60% still living in the vicinity. Their residence at present is the 56,000-acre Qualla frontier in Western North Carolina adjoining the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Today's Eastern Band members are straight descendents of those who survived the Cherokees' enforced removal to Oklahoma in the 1830's after 15000 Cherokee moved to the west in the 19th century following the Indian Removal Act, but only on the circumstance that they absorb and forsake Cherokee identity. What is now known as Western North Carolina used to be the homeland of the Cherokee people for innumerable centuries.
