NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Qualla Boundary Head Start & Early Head Start awarded Tribal Childcare Licensure for the fifth year in a row
EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Public Health & Human Services Division (EBCI PHHS) Regulatory & Compliance Department (RCD) has announced the Qualla Boundary Head Start & Early Head Start (QB HS & EHS) centers, Dora Reed Center, and Big Cove Children’s Center have been awarded their annual Tribal Childcare Licensure for the fifth year.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (July 9)
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.
NAFOA issues financial analysis of impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on tribal nations
Alongside other National Tribal Organizations, NAFOA is analyzing the provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill and their potential impacts on Tribal Nations. We are committed to providing you with a thorough assessment and advocating for the needs of Indian Country.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
CHS expands Cultural Arts Programming
Beginning August 2025, CHS (Cherokee High School) Cultural Arts students will begin learning how to make ribbon skirts. This exciting addition builds on their current instruction in Cherokee baskets, pottery, finger weaving, and beadwork. The Cultural Arts class, taught by Lori Reed, is offered to all Cherokee High School students as an elective.
Running for hope: McCoy doing transcontinental run
McCoy, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), has been doing a Transcontinental Run from San Diego, Calif. to Wilmington, N.C. to raise money for RezHOPE Recovery & Consulting Services and to raise awareness for recovery from drug addiction and mental health challenges.
CIHA welcomes new administrator of Tsali Care Center
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) is proud to announce Michelle Tenhengel-deVille as the facility’s new administrator. With an impressive background in nursing leadership and executive healthcare management, she brings a wealth of experience, vision, and compassion to this vital role in our community.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
SPEAKING OF FAITH: A Close Call Part Four
A Close Call from Jesus. A solemn close call. Have you ever had a close call with Jesus to live? Are you listening?
COMMENTARY: Getting your affairs in order
We are all dying. One philosopher rightly said that from the moment you are born, really from the moment you are conceived, you begin to die. Each day is one day less in your life.
THE GOOD STUFF: Cherokee Rod Run a good time for everyone
This past weekend, I attended the Cruise the Smokies Cherokee Spring Rod Run which is an event I try to make annually because it is truly awesome. I am not a car guy by any stretch of the imagination. I’m a sports guy.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
CROSS COUNTRY: Cherokee opens season at Hayesville; CHS and CMS Lady Braves win
The Cherokee Central Schools cross country teams started off their 2024 season at Hayesville High School on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 21, and both the Cherokee High School (CHS) and Cherokee Middle School (CMS) Lady Braves won the team event in their division.
FISHING: Tim Hill Memorial tournament draws over 400 anglers
A total of 407 anglers registered for the Tim Hill Memorial Fish Tournament held in Cherokee, N.C. on July 13-14.
Memorial Day Fish Tournament draws 529 anglers to Cherokee
The 2024 Memorial Day Fish Tournament, hosted by the EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Natural Resources Dept., was held in Cherokee, N.C. on May 25-26.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Peggy Owle Wolfe
Peggy Owle Wolfe, 71, of Cherokee, went home to be with her Heavenly Father, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. A native of Cherokee, she was the daughter of the late Lloyd Solomon and Betty Bradley Owle.
OBITUARY: John M. Curlee
John M. Curlee, or as we all knew him, “Mark”, passed peacefully on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Mark worked hard and played hard. He loved his family, his construction career and riding his Harley Davidson.
OBITUARY: Richard Dean Wahnetah
Richard Dean Wahnetah, age 66, of Hamilton, N.J., passed away at his residence on Friday, May 9, 2025, following a brief illness.
HAPPENINGS
Upcoming Pow Wows for Sept. 27-29
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.
Upcoming Pow Wows for Sept. 20-22
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.
Park to host Mountain Life Festival
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual Mountain Life Festival near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center at the Mountain Farm Museum on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience traditional fall harvest activities on the farm including hearth cooking, apple butter making, blacksmithing, lye soap making, and food preservation. All activities are free and open to the public.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“Behind the Mask: Cherokee Mask Makers and their Legacy” exhibition on display through May
The exhibition “Behind the Mask: Cherokee Mask Makers and their Legacy” aims to reinforce the significance of Cherokee masks, their history and use, as well as their meaning and significance.
University of North Carolina Asheville to host “Activating Indigenous Beats: Hip Hop Nativo” Festival
The University of North Carolina Asheville is hosting the “Activating Indigenous Beats: Hip Hop Nativo” Festival and Residency on April 11-14.
Native America Calling receives National Humanities Medal
Native America Calling, a program of the Alaska-based Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal from The National Endowment for the Humanities. The award was presented to Koahnic’s president and chief executive officer, Jaclyn Sallee, by U.S. President Joe Biden at a White House ceremony on Tuesday, March 21.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm