Miss Cherokee Taylor Wilnoty (standing right) is shown with Teen Miss Cherokee Madison Long (standing left), Principal Chief Michell Hicks (sitting left) and Tribal Council Chairperson Terri Henry at the recent USET Impact Week in Washington, DC. (Photo courtesy of Taylor Wilnoty)
By TAYLOR WILNOTY
MISS CHEROKEE
Siyo nigada! Hello everyone! February was an interesting month for me as I traveled to Washington, D.C to represent the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians at the 2015 U.S.E.T Impact week! It was my very first time to Washington and my first time flying!
My first day, I attended the opening ceremony, and I got to meet many leaders from all of the other tribes in attendance. Shortly after the opening ceremony, my mom, Teen Miss Cherokee Madison Long, her parents, and myself decided to go sight-seeing. We made our way to the Arlington Cemetery and took a small tour of the grounds, and then made it to the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. That night, I attended the Close-Up reception where groups from many different tribes came to present their Close-Up Initiatives to the boards of U.S.E.T. I was so inspired and proud of all of their hard work and dedication to this program.
My next day in Washington, I got to attend meetings on Capitol Hill with Principal Chief Michell Hicks, and our council members with our Congressmen and leaders of the BIA. It was a very amazing feeling to walk the same halls my grandpa Jonathan Taylor did when he was once Principal Chief of the Eastern Band to make lives for our people better, and I will never forget that day. My last day in Washington. my mom and I went to the National Museum of the American Indian and the Holocaust Museum. Going through both museums put a lot of things in perspective for myself, both Jewish and Native American races have been put through terrible genocide but have came back and proved we cannot be broken. I will forever cherish my culture, and will forever respect other people’s beliefs. I had an amazing time with my mom and tribe in Washington, and I am very grateful to have gotten to go and represent my great tribe.
If you would like for me to attend an event, please contact Tooter Rose with your request!
Sgi, Thank you!
