Fall is always busy and exciting for our Cherokee community. October ushers in our Annual Fall Festival, pumpkin hunting, cool weather, and Halloween Events. I would like to share with you some of the activities I have been involved with this Fall.
Principal Chief Michell Hicks participates in the Chief’s Challenge one-mile road race on Tuesday, Oct. 1. (LYNNE HARLAN/EBCI Public Relations)
Like everyone else, I enjoyed the Cherokee Fall Festival, the rides, the good food, the Little, Junior and Teen Miss Cherokee Pageants, and of course the Kiss-A-Pig contest. I hope everyone took the opportunity to watch the stickball games, enjoy the exhibits and spend time with friends and family we don’t see often. I would like to congratulate our new princesses Miss Cherokee Madison Crowe, Teen Miss Cherokee Kaycee Lossiah, Junior Miss Cherokee Raylen Bark, and Little Miss Cherokee Tah-Tah-Yeh Swimmer. All the contestants did a wonderful job and I applaud your bravery and talent.
Since 2010, the Chief’s Challenge has started off our Fall Festival. The Chief’s Challenge is a one-mile fun run/walk that goes through downtown Cherokee prior to the Parade. This year the Chief’s Challenge attracted 263 runners and walkers and raised $2,267.67 for the Madison Hornbuckle Children’s Cancer Foundation. I would like to thank all those that joined me for the Chief’s Challenge those who joined me in the Harvest Half Marathon and 5K on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Acquoni Expo Center.
Chief Hicks speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Harrah’s Valley River Casino to be constructed in Cherokee County. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather)
To end our Fall Festival activities we held a Flag Dedication Ceremony for the flagpoles constructed in front of the Council House. This memorial serves as a reminder of the many Cherokee people that have served in the armed forces. Please take some time to thank the veterans in your life for their service to our people and our country.
On Monday, Oct. 7, the EBCI held an Inauguration for our 2013-2015 Tribal Council and our 2013-2017 School Board. I would like to congratulate all our returning Tribal Council members and School Board members and would like to welcome all the new Tribal Council members and School Board members. I especially want to congratulate our new Tribal Council Chairman Terri Henry. I look forward to working with each of you in the next two years and am excited to begin our work in making the Eastern Band of Cherokee stronger.
I am excited to announce that I have begun my work with the NC Wildlife Commission. I have attended a few gatherings to begin the discussion around how North Carolina can be firm and yet responsive to our Western North Carolina hunters and landowners. I look forward to continuing my work with this Commission and representing the needs of the Cherokee people and Western NC.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, I attended the Groundbreaking Ceremony for our new gaming facility set to begin construction in Cherokee County. I look forward to the economic opportunity this Casino will bring to Cherokee and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
