Why was the treaty of new echota controversial?

The Treaty of New Echota, signed in 1835, was controversial because it facilitated the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Many Cherokees opposed the treaty, viewing it as illegitimate since it was negotiated by a small faction of the tribe without the consent of the majority. The treaty led to the tragic Trail of Tears, where thousands of Cherokee suffered and died during the forced relocation. Its enactment highlighted the broader issues of U.S. government policies toward Native American tribes and their sovereignty.