COIN TOSS: The EBCI royalty participated in the coin toss at the Cherokee High School Homecoming football game at Ray Kinsland Stadium on Friday, Sept. 22. Shown (left-right) are – Little Miss Cherokee Nevayah Panther, Teen Miss Cherokee Melah Perkins, Miss Cherokee Amorie Gunter, and Junior Miss Cherokee Alitima Perkins. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather)
By AMORIE GUNTER
2016-17 MISS CHEROKEE
Siyo, I am very sad to say that this will be my final report as your 2016-17 Miss Cherokee. In just a few days, there will be a new Miss Cherokee crowned. Each contestant competing is beautiful and strong and very deserving of this title. Good luck ladies!
At the beginning of this month, I traveled to Tahlequah, Okla. for the Cherokee National Holiday. While there, I got to ride in the parade, meet all the new royalty along with their Chief, and attend their annual powwow. We received numerous gifts while there. To the Cherokee nation, I would like to say sgi for your hospitality.
The following weekend, I traveled to Vonore, Tenn. for the Sequoyah birthplace Museum’s annual Fall Festival. While I was there, I was able to talk about my title and my platform. I also got to perform many dances with the Warriors of Anikituwah. To the warriors, I would like to say sgi for always getting me involved and recognizing me at events. You helped make my year fun and memorable.
At the beginning of this year, I accepted a job at Cherokee Elementary School as a kindergarten teacher assistant. For our Sacred Path day I was asked to tell the legend I told for my talent, to our kindergarteners. It was so heart-warming to see how happy they all were to see me as Miss Cherokee. I also participated in our anti-bullying week. On Thursday, it was traditional day. There are currently seven employees at CES that are former Miss Cherokees. So, we all wore our sashes and/or crowns and welcomed students to school that morning along with the help of our current Little Miss Cherokee Nevayah Panther.
The Hope Center always does a great job keeping me involved and volunteering. For many years, I have been volunteering at their group nights and any other events they may be having. For their September group night, they invited me to come since it was their fall festival night. I had so much fun getting to talk to people and seeing all the awesome masks the kids and their families painted.
I was asked to do the coin toss at Cherokee’s homecoming football game on Friday, Sept. 22. I was joined by Little Miss Cherokee Nevayah Panther, Junior Miss Cherokee Alitima Perkins, and Teen Miss Cherokee Melah Perkins. I am always so happy when we’re all able to attend events and represent together. I would like to say sgi to the Cherokee school system for keeping me involved.
The month of September was Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Since my platform was raising awareness for childhood cancer, this month meant a lot to me. I hosted my 3rd annual 5K with the theme this year being “Race you to the castle”. I had a good turn out and raised about $1,000! I also cut 11 inches off my hair to donate for children with cancer. I would like to say sgi to everyone who helped me with my platform throughout my reign!
This year has meant so much to me. I am so grateful and blessed to have been the one to represent our tribe for the past year. To my friends and family, I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. You guys never stopped believing in me and supporting me. You’ll never know how thankful I am to have you guys in my life. To my board, thank you so much for everything you did for me. You ladies are awesome!
It is with great sadness that I say to you one last time, as Miss Cherokee, Denvdagohvyu nole sgi!
