The Elohi Dinigatiyi (Earth Keepers) and the North American Indian Women’s Association (NAIWA) Daughters submitted a resolution that was passed unanimously on the afternoon of Thursday, May 7 by Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) to “support the removal of Ela dam and the restoration of Longperson”.

Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) has approved a moratorium on data centers within the lands of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).  They passed Ord. No. 158 (2026) during the regular Dinilawigi session on Thursday, May 7 by a vote of 11-0 with Tutiyi/Tsalagi Gadugi (Snowbird/Cherokee County) Rep. Michael Smoker being absent. 

On the morning of Wednesday, May 6, Luke Swimmer, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and vice president of marketing and communications for Kituwah, LLC. provided a community impact update at the Reports to Council session for Dinilawigi (Tribal Council).

Sequoyah Fund has been awarded $528,190 from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation to support small business lending, small business support programming, and administrative expenses that strengthen Sequoyah Fund’s ability to serve entrepreneurs in Cherokee and the surrounding region.

The Kananesgi Committee, supported by Sequoyah Fund, has been awarded $40,000 from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation to support the annual Kananesgi Art Market and Fashion Show.

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) wore red to remember relatives taken too soon and bring awareness for those currently missing.  The 7th Annual Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Walk, hosted by the Qualla Boundary MMIW (QBMMIW) Organization, was held at the Oconaluftee Island Park on the afternoon of Saturday, May 2.

The Qualla Boundary Public Library has been awarded $88,800 from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation to support the continued development of the library makerspace and workforce development initiatives serving the Qualla Boundary community.