By BROOKLYN BROWN BIGMEAT
One Feather Reporter
CHEROKEE, N.C. – On the afternoon of Thursday, Aug. 6, Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) passed Ordinance No. 184 (2026) “…amending Chapter 19 regarding caging bears on Tribal lands.” The ordinance prohibits the caging of bears on the Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The ordinance change was originally submitted by Mary Crowe, an EBCI tribal elder from Elawodi (Yellowhill).
The ordinance passed with a motion by Kolanvyi (Big Cove) Rep. Lavita Hill seconded by Elawodi (Yellowhill) Rep. Shenelle Feather. Taline Gahvsgi (Vice Chairman) and Elawodi Rep. David Wolfe, Kolanvyi Rep. Venita Wolfe, Aniwodihi (Painttown) Reps. Shannon Swimmer and Michael Stamper, Wayohi (Wolftown) and Widagalinidisgv (Big Y) Reps. Bo Crowe and Mike Parker, and Hill and Feather voted to pass. Gahvsgi (Chairman) and Tsisgwohi (Birdtown) Rep. Jim Owle, Tsisgwohi Rep. Boyd Owle, and Tutiyi (Snowbird) and Tsalagi Gadugi (Cherokee Co.) Reps. Adam Wachacha and Michael Smoker opposed.
A motion to table by Rep. Boyd Owle seconded by Rep. Wachacha failed to pass, with Reps. Stamper, Wachacha, Smoker, Owle and Owle voting to table.
The ordinance was previously tabled on May 7. The ordinance passed as amended on Aug. 6, with changes to the ordinance that can be read here. The floor amendments were submitted by Reps. Bo Crowe and Parker.
The amended ordinance reads in part, “…The Tribe hereby declares that keeping bears in captivity for public or private entertainment or profit is an outdated practice and contrary to the Tribe’s interest in preserving and protecting wildlife and natural resources. Therefore, the practice of keeping bears in captivity on Tribal lands for public or private entertainment shall be phased out during the two-year period beginning September 1, 2026, and ending September 1, 2028, as further provided in this section.”
Mary Crowe said, “I appreciate the floor amendments that you have presented…looking at this you’re asking for a two-year phase out. Like I told folks I’ve talked with and agreed to submit this resolution, at the end of the day it’s prohibiting the caging of bears, and we’ve heard that it needs to stop.”
Mary Crowe advocated for the prohibiting of the caging of bears, citing Cherokee traditional stories and ceremonies: “
WHEREAS caring for and living with and among our native bears has a long and storied tradition; and
WHEREAS the bears were the first to meet in council in their townhouse under Kuwohi, the mulberry place (Mooney, Myths of the Cherokee p. 250); and
WHEREAS the bears are transformed Cherokee of the old clan of the Ani-Tsaguhi, and their chief is the White Bear, who lives at Kuwohi near the enchanted lake of Atagahi, to which the wounded bears would go to be cured of their hurts (Mooney p. 264); and
WHEREAS under Kuwohi the bears hold dances every fall before retiring to their dens for the winter (Mooney p. 264); and
WHEREAS being really human, they can talk if only they would, and once a mother bear was heard singing to her cub in words which the hunter understood (Mooney p.264)…”
The phase out requires that “On or before November 1, 2026, all persons who keep bears in captivity for public or private entertainment shall identify and register each specific bear with the Cherokee Animal Control Department.” After Sept. 1, 2026, no new or additional bears can be substituted or used to replace existing bears.
On and after Sept. 1, 2028, it will be prohibited for any person to keep bears in captivity on Tribal lands.
