NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) Hicks elected treasurer of the Indian Gaming Association
Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) Michell Hicks, of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, was elected on Wednesday, April 1 as treasurer of the Indian Gaming Association (IGA).
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (March 31)
The One Feather will now provide weekly legislative updates on various pieces of federal legislation of interest to members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The bills are shown in the order in which they were introduced following the new bills for the week.
STAFF REPORT: 5th Annual News Summit and Law Reporting Fellowship Launch
On Friday, March 27, I attended the 5th Annual North Carolina News and Information Summit at McKimmon Conference and Training Center at North Carolina State University (NC State) and met with my mentor and cohort for the 2026 Law and Justice Reporting Fellowship I received officially on March 18.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
EBCI tribal members try a week off social media
The One Feather sought several members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) who were willing to try a week off of social media and report back with their findings. Below are our respondents:
Sharing knowledge: EBCI attendees give presentation on New Zealand trip
Indigenous educators from throughout the world gathered in Auckland, New Zealand last fall for the 2025 WIPCE (World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education), and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) was well represented.
Cherokee Historical Association moves to co-directorship, names new executive leaders
Local nonprofit organization, Cherokee Historical Association, has moved to a co-director leadership structure. After the departure of the previous executive director in 2023, the Board of Directors installed an interim executive management team.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
THE GOOD STUFF: Nancy Pheasant blends artistry with history
Pheasant is a true educator and represents the EBCI very well wherever she goes. She has a way of painting a picture in your mind as she speaks.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Cracked Pot
How often do you hear from those around you, “What can I do?” with the tenor of failure? Your choice to motivate others in service suggests we change these exact words into a tenor of service – “What can I do for God?”
COMMENTARY: Whatever we do, we should do with gusto
We have experienced the resulting apathy within our own community. When someone advocates for change, there will always be those who hang their Eeyore-like heads and say, “Oh, bother. They are bringing this up again. Don’t they know it will never work?” or “Why are they trying this?
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Tribal member to be inducted into North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame
Rebecca Wolfe Damas, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is a member of the Class of 2025 inductees into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame (NAIAHF). She will be officially inducted during a ceremony on June 7 in Green Bay, Wisc. at the Onedia Conference Center.
Qualla Boundary Special Olympics team members place at Fall Tournament
Members of the Qualla Boundary Special Olympics team placed at the 2024 Special Olympics North Carolina (SONC) Fall Tournament held recently in Charlotte, N.C.
Cherokee Recreation Youth Wrestling Program will begin in March
Starting in March, Cherokee Recreation will launch a new youth wrestling program. Casey Reagan, from Smokey Mountain Judo, will be heading up the program with help from his family, including his sister, Erin Reagan Kirkland, from Cherokee Central Schools.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Dawn “Sissy” West
Dawn “Sissy” West, a diehard Duke fan, 50, of Cherokee, started her new life on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. A native of Cherokee, she was the daughter of the late Paul “Buck” West and Mary Jackson West.
OBITUARY: Gary French
With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our husband, father, brother, and friend, Gary French, who began his next journey on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.
OBITUARY: Troy Wayne Poteete
Services in honor of Troy Wayne Poteete will be held Friday, Feb. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Sequoyah High School Gym in Tahlequah, Okla.
HAPPENINGS
Indian Nations Conservation Alliance hosting conference
Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA) will be hosting their annual National Tribal Conservation Districts Conference, Nov. 5-7, 2019, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa in Catoosa, Okla.
Upcoming Pow Wows for Oct. 18-20
Note: This list of pow wows was compiled by One Feather staff. The One Feather does not endorse any of these dances. It is simply a listing of ones occurring throughout the continent. Please call before traveling.
Homecoming 2019 to be celebrated at WCU with theme ‘Forever a Catamount’
“Forever a Catamount” will be the theme for Homecoming 2019 at Western Carolina University, with a schedule of public events that includes a concert by country music star Lee Brice, a parade down Main Street in Sylva, award presentations to exemplary alumni, and the traditional football game.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cherokee Historical Association and the Center for Cultural Preservation to host Cherokee cultural event and film screening
Cherokee Historical Association has partnered with the Center for Cultural Preservation to screen “Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes”, by award winning documentary filmmaker David Weintraub.
CCS Student Art Show Award recipients
Cherokee Middle School (CMS) and Cherokee High School (CHS) held their Student Art Show on the Night of the Arts at Cherokee Central Schools on Thursday, May 9.
Cherokee Central Schools Musical Theater presents “The Addams Family”
The Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) Musical Theater performed “The Addams Family: School Edition” on the evenings of May 9-11. The play was packed with the classic Addams Family characters, spooky ancestors, and Cherokee humor.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm