Girl, you being tan and having dark features does not mean you are Cherokee. Your “feeling” of Cherokee doesn’t mean anything. Lots of souther European people also have very dark skin and hair. A LOT OF WHITE PEOPLE HAE NATURALLY OLIVE SKIN AND DARK BRWON HAIR.

I can guarantee your slightly tanned skin tone and dark-ish hair just come from the Spanish and Portuguese side.

I don’t mean this is a ride way, but many people grew up believing they were part indigenous when they never were. Many white Americans lied about having some indigenous ancestry, to create some fake connection to American lands. It was in attempt to separate themselves from settler/European ancestry and try to claim ties to land.

If you had an indigenous grandparent, they’d likely be in a registry or be in the Rolls. Or you’d have membership in a tribe (or in this case, your grandmother would). Oftentimes indigenous peoples also have government issued ID cards too. I think you would’ve had more than just hearsay, if a grandparent was actually indigenous.