NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
CCS School Board holds January meeting
The School Board of Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) met on Monday, Jan. 12 in the Central Office Board Room. The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Jennifer Thompson at 4:51 p.m.
Groundbreaking held for Cherokee Cultural Grounds
Leaders of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) broke ground on the new Cherokee Cultural Grounds in Cherokee, N.C. on the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 12.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (Jan. 12)
The One Feather will now provide weekly legislative updates on various pieces of federal legislation of interest to members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The bills are shown in the order in which they were introduced following the new bills for the week.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Cherokee High School 2nd quarter Honor Roll
Cherokee High School 2nd quarter Honor Roll
EBCI tribal member selected as Red Earth Artist
Margaret Littlejohn Wakefield, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has been selected as an Official Red Earth Festival Artist for the 2026 event. She will display her paintings at the Festival set for Aug. 1-2 at the OKC Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oka.
Cooper endows “Hand Up” Scholarship at SCC
As a lifelong educator and charity worker, Joyce Cooper has a history with Southwestern Community College that is rooted in philanthropy as she serves on the SCC Foundation Gala Planning Committee, as well as the Board of Trustees, and she previously endowed the “Pass It On” Scholarship for SCC Health Sciences students.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: Tribal politics is not rocket science, but you do have to pay attention
We are governed through a document called “The Charter.” Like a constitution, it provides the broad stroke parameters of governmental function for our tribe. Unlike a constitution, the Charter has little language in it regarding the civil rights of the people who are governed.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Back to work, Part 2 of 2
Sometimes we might wonder what motivates others to write letters and notes, clean up the messes, stand in the hot sun or cold weather, do the shopping, set up the tents, hand out the bulletins, play music, pull the cables, visit the sick or dying in the hospitals, homes, or hospices.
COMMENTARY: What sovereignty actually means in 2026
As we enter a new year, there have been more public conversations about Tribal sovereignty and that attention creates opportunity. But when important ideas are discussed more widely, it matters that they are understood clearly.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
BASKETBALL: Hicks signs with Pfeiffer University
Marlee Hicks, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and a senior on the Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) varsity basketball team, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Pfeiffer University next season.
WRESTLING: Cherokee takes second place at Enka Duals Boys meet
The Tsalagi Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Braves) varsity wrestling team took second place in Pool D at the Enka Duals Girls meet in Candler, N.C. on Saturday, Jan. 3.
WRESTLING: Cherokee takes second place at Enka Duals Girls meet
The Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) varsity wrestling team took second place in Pool B at the Enka Duals Girls meet in Candler, N.C. on Saturday, Jan. 3.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Viola Lane
Viola Lane, age 72 of Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at Cherokee Hospital.
OBITUARY: Donald Lee “Kanogsdaya” Swimmer
Donald Lee “Kanogsdaya” Swimmer, 70, of Cherokee, N.C., took his heavenly flight on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 to reunite with his parents, Luke and Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer; and his siblings, Mary Ellen Wolfe, Johnny, Ronald, Herbert, and McKinley Swimmer.
OBITUARY: Byron Jase Locust
Byron Jase Locust, 26, of Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of James William Locust Jr. and Elisha Wildcatt Locust of Cherokee.
HAPPENINGS
32nd Annual Stories from the Pumpkin Patch
The thirty second Annual Stories from the Pumpkin Patch will be held Saturday, October 11th from 3pm till 8pm at Tipton-Haynes State Historic Site. The evening will feature several storytellers from the Jonesborough International Story Tellers Guild. These...
LampLight Theatre to present “The Advocate” in Cherokee
While many haunted attractions promise a night of terror, LampLight’s favored traveling production of “The Advocate” will besiege you long past your visit to see it. Have you ever wondered if God and Satan are real? Is there really a time we will all stand in God’s court of judgment?
12th Annual Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala set for July
The 12th Annual Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation Gala, which will be held on Saturday, July 15 at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, promises to be “A Star-Filled Summer Night,” to celebrate healthcare and community in a festive atmosphere under the stars.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
EBCI tribal member selected as Red Earth Artist
Margaret Littlejohn Wakefield, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has been selected as an Official Red Earth Festival Artist for the 2026 event. She will display her paintings at the Festival set for Aug. 1-2 at the OKC Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oka.
Lindley Wyatt brings her culture to the runway
Lindley Wyatt, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), is a junior at Western Carolina University (WCU) double majoring in Marketing and Management. Wyatt is also a fashion model signed with a Sante Fe Indigenous modeling agency.
Two Cherokee women receive NC Folklife Apprenticeship Award
Two Cherokee women have received the In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Award to better delve into the ancient art of making honeysuckle baskets
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