The first cannabis dispensary in the State of North Carolina will open next month in Cherokee, N.C. The Great Smoky Cannabis Company, operated by Qualla Enterprises, LLC, an entity of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will open on Saturday, April 20 (4/20). 

During the past week, I had the privilege to journey to Raleigh, N.C. alongside my staff, Tribal Council Chairman, and Tribal Council members. Our goal was to engage with North Carolina legislators, sharing insights and priorities of our new administration and outlining the future stance of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) on critical issues.

Last week, the National Park Service announced that 400 national parks reported a total of 325.5 million visits in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4 percent over 2022.

Ruby Sky Montelongo, a 16-year-old member of the EBCI, was found beaten to death in April 2023. Her uncle, Gerald “Lij” Britton, discovered her body in a field in Mendocino County, Calif.

The Jackson County Board of Elections has announced the appointment of Amanda Allen as the new director of elections effective Monday, Feb. 26. The decision to appoint Allen was a unanimous decision of the Board.

The Cherokee Central Schools School Board met on Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the Central Office Board Room of Cherokee Central Schools.

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) expresses its full support and endorsement of the U.S. Truth & Healing Commission Bill introduced in Congress. This groundbreaking legislation marks a significant step towards acknowledging historical injustices and fostering reconciliation among Native American tribes and the broader American society.

The Cherokee language has been spoken for many millennia in the mountains of western North Carolina and throughout the southeast, and it will endure for many more due to the efforts of Cherokee speakers today.