In recent years, we have seen a number of people leaving the teaching profession or moving to other states for higher salaries among other reasons. According to the NC Department of Public Instruction, the percentage of teachers leaving the profession increased from 7.53 percent in 2019-20 to 8.20 percent in 2020-21. In 2020-21, the most common reason for leaving the profession was personal reasons (44.6 percent), followed by other reasons (25.5 percent), beyond control of the district (24 percent), and initiated by the district (5.9% percent).

Only a few days away from the beginning of the Cherokee Indian Fair. It has been a long time coming for those of us who remember the pre-pandemic days of fun and laughter at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds.

No constitution. No census. No civil rights. And I guess a bigger question is “Why are we silent?”

You know, on the Qualla Boundary, the Fair is one of the life-celebration times that, even though it happens in the fall when the plants are “dying”, it is very much a time of Cherokee life and renewal.