Miss Cherokee 2015 Taran Swimmer (4th from right) visited the Museum of the Cherokee Indian with several visiting royalty on Thursday, March 3. Shown (left-right) are Dakota Wilnoty, Cherokee Friend; Tsini McCoy, an EBCI tribal member and Asheville Blue Ridge Valley Carolina Princess 2016; Bo Taylor, Museum of the Cherokee Indian executive director; Kate Peacock, Miss North Carolina 2016; Swimmer; Teya McCurry, Asheville Blue Ridge Valley Carolina Princess 2016; Jordan West, Miss Blue Ridge Valley 2016; and Last Bear Wilnoty, Cherokee Friend. (Photo by Tina Swimmer)
TARAN SWIMMER
MISS CHEROKEE 2015
Si-yo, greetings, I would like to share with you all some of the activities and events that I have attended the month of February and the first part of March.
I accompanied the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post 143 Color guard to the Charles George VA Hospital in Asheville on Thursday, Feb. 18. I always enjoy going to different events with the Steve Youngdeer post, and I am so grateful for this opportunity. The Color guard presented the colors and then we all said the Pledge of Allegiance. I was able to meet a lot of people while I was there. The staff and volunteer staff were amazing and so welcoming to me. I was able to meet some of the veterans who are getting rehab and who are in there for long term care. My heart was filled with all kinds of emotions, but the biggest emotion I felt was gratitude.
I could never say it enough or try and show how much our men and women in the military mean to me. My great-grandfather, John Wahnetah, served during World War II and my grandfather, Virgil Swimmer, served during the Vietnam War, and I had an uncle and many cousins and friends who served and are serving in the military. What a huge sacrifice that they have given up for our freedom. When you pray, please remember all of our retired and active men and women and their families who served in the branches of our military. If you have family members or friends who served or are serving now, please remember to tell them thank you. It doesn’t have to be a special holiday to tell them thank you.
Dr. Seuss’ birthday was Wednesday, March 2, and I was invited to take part in the reading event at the Qualla Boundary Public Library. I enjoy reading, and I had the best time reading to the students in different grade levels from the Cherokee Central School system. I would like to encourage parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, if you have small children in your home or who are a part of your family, please take the time to read to them and/or have them read to you. Reading can take them on many adventures.
The Qualla Boundary Public Library has many great books for all different ages. If you or your young ones do not have a library card go by and get one and let the adventures begin. Thank you Robin Swayney for inviting me to this wonderful event.
I met the 2016 Miss North Carolina Kate Peacock and Miss Blue Ridge Valley Jordan West on Thursday, March 3. It was nice to have met both of these ladies and to be able to have spent part of the day with them as they were able to visit the New Kituwah Academy and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. While we were at New Kituwah Academy, we were able to go into the classrooms and interact with some of the students and their teachers and we also were able to talk with a few staff members. At the museum, we all took a tour and then we met Bo Taylor, Museum executive director, who shared some history of our Tribe and had us do the Cherokee Bear Dance and the Friendship Dance. It was a lot of fun, and I think the two young ladies had a great time especially with the dancing part. Thank you Rosie McCoy for inviting me to be a part of Miss North Carolina’s trip to Cherokee and to also meet Miss Blue Ridge Valley and the two 2016 Carolina Princesses.
My journey so far has been amazing, and I look forward to all of the upcoming events. Spring is almost here, and I look forward to taking part in as many activities as I can. If there is an event that you would like me to attend, please contact me at ebcimisscherokee@gmail.com If you do not have access to the internet, you can contact my mother, Tina Swimmer, 497-6303 or 554-5027.
