Sovereignty, identity, and culture were just a few of the issues the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes came together to discuss in the annual Tri-Council meeting. Under the theme, “Completing the Circle of Fire”, the Councils of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians met at the Harrah’s Cherokee Convention Center on the morning of Friday, June 16. 

An electronic census is currently being administered for members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).  Section 19 of the EBCI Charter & Governing Document states that a tribal census must be completed every 10 years, but the last one was conducted in 2001. 

“We’re still here” was the message as members of the three federally recognized Cherokee tribes gathered at Kituwah – the Mother Town of the Cherokee.  Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), Cherokee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians (UKB) gathered at Kituwah for the Kituwah Celebration on the evening of Friday, June 9. 

Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD) officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle with the driver slumped over the steering wheel in the McDonald’s parking lot on Tuesday, June 6 at approximately 7:26 a.m.

Assist. Chief of Police Josh Taylor was present to provide the CIPD report, ALE report, and to field questions from the Commission. He began by discussing the collaborative drug operation that was held in Cherokee the week of per capita and GenWell distribution, from May 30 through June 2.

On May 30 through June 2, the Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD), with the assistance of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Division of Drug Enforcement (DDE), coordinated a multi-agency interdiction operation that involved 17 law enforcement agencies that totaled 115 law enforcement officers. This operation was conducted during the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) per capita paycheck disbursement week.