Lora Taylor at work in her office (right). Photo courtesy of Lora Taylor.
Degree: Anthropology
Profession: Tribal Historic Preservation Assistant, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), Cherokee,
N.C.
Work: The protection and/or preservation of Native American Indian historic, cultural and
environmental sites.
As the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians have an aboriginal territory of eight states
recognized on the C.C. Royce Map of 1884 [map of the former territorial limits of
the Cherokee], the [Tribal Historic Preservation] Office provides comments and consultation
to federal agencies throughout these states.
The law that allows native tribes to protect and administer their sites has been in
existence since 1992 and has made some effective decisions on where federal dollars
are spent.
This is a very rewarding employment, especially for a native person working in their
own region and assisting in the [protection of] tribal historic sites.
Your Western experience: School has truly been a highlight in my life. My greatest accomplishment in my education
so far happened in the year of 2002 when I graduated from Western with an Anthropology
degree.
Into the future: It is my hope to continue my education towards a graduate degree; I would like to
implement my studies in the area of my employment.
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I am a North American Indian of the once-known Cheraw Tribe, now known as the Lumbee
of Pembroke N.C. I also have the blood of the Iris running through my veins. I have
genealogy records on both sides of my heritage leading back to the 1500s.
- Lora Taylor |