NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Santa from Santa’s Land arrested on child sex abuse charges
Bevier Hasbrouck Sleight III, 78, who was employed as Santa at Santa’s Land Fun Park & Zoo in Cherokee, was arrested by Cherokee Indian Police Department on Aug. 29 for 13 child abuse charges:
From Darkness Into Hope: Tribe hosts mental health awareness/suicide prevention event
Over 300 people attended the “From Darkness Into Hope” Mental Health Awareness and Suicide Prevention Event held on the Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee, N.C. on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 4.
BGN to review Kuwohi name restoration application in September meeting
An application to restore the name of Clingman’s Dome, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, to its original Cherokee name, Kuwohi (mulberry place), will be heard by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) soon.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute holds Right Path completion ceremonies and inductions
The Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute held the completion ceremony on Aug. 22 for the Dinedi Eginelv (To Give What Was Given to Us), and the Anigiduwagi Iyunadvnedi (Kituwah Ways), Adult Leadership Programs at the Yellowhill Activity Center. Both programs are advanced levels of the Duyugodv’i Right Path Adult Leadership Program. The most advanced level is Dinedi Eginelv.
Cherokee youth promote the importance of understanding, practicing, and advocating for Cherokee culture
On Aug. 29-30, the Cherokee Youth Council sponsored a series of workshops for the school system and other tribal organizations, the community, and youth and young adults by Dr. Pearl Yellowman that covered topics such as epigenetics, activating ancestral knowledge, and how your environment impacts brain development.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park team wins national award for Seeking Paths in Nature education program
A team of Great Smoky Mountains National Park employees was recently awarded the 2023 Excellence in Education Award at a National Park Service awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Many of the agency’s top awards were presented at the 2023 National Service Awards ceremony.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: A year of caring
Several times a year, we are enlisted, or solicited, to do volunteer work for our community. Community work is noble work indeed and should be done. But the way many of us do it and what we call volunteering is not noble at all.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: The devil made me do it. (Part 1 of 2
The title is far from being original. Flip Wilson, a well-known comedian, made the phrase a tag title for jokes and commentaries and probably about a zillion sermons and devotions back in the late ’70s and early ’80s.
COMMENTARY: Don’t shorten the primary process
I think allowing the primary period to be shortened further distances the community from the process of electing tribal officials and discourages qualified but lesser-known candidates from attempting to seek office. Similarly, the Election Board is asking for the filing period to be reduced to five days.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
CROSS COUNTRY: CHS, CMS Lady Braves win at home meet
Cherokee Central Schools hosted a cross country meet on the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 4, and both the Cherokee High School (CHS) and Cherokee Middle School (CMS) Lady Braves won their team contests.
JV FOOTBALL: Cherokee Braves win double overtime thriller over Rosman
Sports fans got their money’s worth at the JV football game as Cherokee hosted Rosman on Thursday, Aug. 29. Ray Kinsland Stadium erupted as Cherokee’s Wakinyan Raines ran four yards for the go-ahead and eventual winning touchdown in double overtime to lift the Braves 26-20 over the Tigers.
CROSS COUNTRY: CMS Lady Braves win at TCEC Jaguar Jungle Run
The Cherokee Central Schools cross country teams traveled to Murphy, N.C. on the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 28 to participate in the TCEC (Tri-County Early College) Jaguar Jungle Run.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Nancy Lois Lambert
Nancy Lois Lambert, better known as Lois, age 79, went to be with the Lord on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 after an extended illness.
OBITUARY: James David Pheasant Sr.
James David Pheasant Sr., 72, of the Big Cove Community, went home to be with the Lord Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024.
OBITUARY: Julia Inez Welch
Julia Inez Welch, age 85, passed away on Friday, Aug. 30, 2024 at her residence surrounded by her loving Family after an extended illness.
HAPPENINGS
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.
Museum of the Cherokee Indian to host Community Writers’ Workshop Series
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian (MCI) has announced the Confluence: An Indigenous Writers’ Workshop, an opportunity offered to citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians throughout 2023.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“The Way We Connect with the World:” A Night for Indigenous Filmmaking
The Museum of the Cherokee People hosted their annual Indigenous film screening, “The Way We Connect with the World,” on the evening of Friday, Aug. 2 at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
Cherokee Historical Association and the Center for Cultural Preservation to host Cherokee cultural event and film screening
Cherokee Historical Association has partnered with the Center for Cultural Preservation to screen “Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes”, by award winning documentary filmmaker David Weintraub.
CCS Student Art Show Award recipients
Cherokee Middle School (CMS) and Cherokee High School (CHS) held their Student Art Show on the Night of the Arts at Cherokee Central Schools on Thursday, May 9.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm