This Week in Native News

Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) has approved the establishment of a Governmental Affairs Department for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).  During its regular session on Thursday, Nov. 5, Dinilawigi approved Res. No. 341 (2026) establishing that Department.

Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) Michell Hicks maintains a Facebook page to share public information. This report recaps the postings on his page. These are excerpts. We encourage you to visit the Chief’s page for full content and context.

On the evening of Monday, Nov. 2, the Cherokee Central Schools Board of Education met in the Central Office Board Room. Gahvsgi (Chairperson) Jennifer Thompson called the meeting to order at 4:45 p.m.

Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) has authorized two tribal programs of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) to apply for a total of three grants that would benefit the EBCI community.

On the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 4 in the Asheville U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Shawnenna Caroline Roland, 41, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), entered a guilty plea with Magistrate Judge W. Carleton Metcalf presiding, for one count of child abuse in Indian Country, one count of child neglect in Indian Country, and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury in Indian Country. The incidents occurred in May 2024. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.

In July, Gary Libby joined Kituwah Global Government Group (KG3), the government contracting (GovCon) sector of Kituwah, LLC., as the executive vice president. Libby is an army veteran with decades of experience in GovCon.