The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is distributing its largest per capita payment in history, the tribe's newspaper reports.
The December 2018 payment, before taxes, comes to $7,007, according to The Cherokee One Feather. That's $615 higher than the 2017 check. "We are moving forward and we owe it to ourselves to keep moving in a positive direction; no looking back," Chief Richard Sneed said in a post on Facebook. The tribe distributes per capita payments twice a year. The June 2018 payment was $5,552, before taxes. The payments are derived from the tribe's gaming revenues. The tribe operates two casinos on its homelands in North Carolina: the Harrah's Cherokee Casino Resort and the newer Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel,. According the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, per capita payments are subject to federal taxes.