The Cherokee Nation honored three World War II and two Korean War era veterans with the Cherokee Medal of Patriotism at its June Tribal Council meeting.

In response to requests from the Native Hawaiian community, Hawaii’s congressional delegation and state leaders, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced on Wednesday, June 18 a first step to consider reestablishing a government-to-government relationship between the United States and the Native Hawaiian community.

According to Howard Wahnetah, EBCI events and fairgrounds supervisor, July 4th fireworks are a must see. Over 3000 people gathered to view the display last year with some coming from as far away as Alabama and Mississippi. This year’s show will be put on by East Coast Pyrotechnics, a commercial fireworks provider who has presented spectacular fireworks displays for Cherokee, NASCAR, City of Charlotte and the Atlanta Braves.

Check out a video of the Snowbird Choir singing in the Cherokee language at the release event for the new Cherokee Hymnbook at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian on Friday, June 13.

Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel is moving forward, and all is on track and on budget, according to Lumpy Lambert, general manager of the facility. According to Lambert, Cherokee Enterprises is on the verge of completing the mass grading which shapes the property into the proper dimensions to begin other, more advanced, land development.

A seven-year project involving 143 hymns has culminated in the Cherokee Hymnbook. The hymns were derived from an 1830 Cherokee hymnbook that contained only the words in the Cherokee syllabary but no music.