Bearmeat’s Indian Den, in the Soco section of the Qualla Boundary, offers an array of locally connected craft from Cherokee artists. After 20 years in construction, David Smith decided he needed to try something a little kinder to his body. In 1992, he founded Bearmeat’s Indian Den, named after his great grandmother. His goal was to present the arts and crafts of the local people of Cherokee. David was born and raised in Cherokee and is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. Today, he offers work from more than 300 artists, most of whom are Cherokee artists.
Visitors to Bearmeat’s Indian Den can find handcrafted, authentic Native American arts and crafts. The large display space features items wall-to-wall and a back deck with an excellent mountain view. Offered for sale are Native American baskets, pottery, carvings, jewelry, produce, local food, natural and herbal medicines, raw materials for craft work, and more.
During summer and fall, Bearmeat’s Indian Den hosts several weekends of hands-on demonstrations with some of their local artists.
Hours: Daily 9 am-5 pm
