NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson explains the function of his office
By BROOKLYN BROWN BIGMEAT One Feather Reporter CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The One Feather interviewed Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, to discuss the function of the U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of an ongoing criminal justice...
Editorial Board holds July meeting, discusses A.I. content
The Editorial Board of the Cherokee One Feather held their monthly meeting on the morning of Thursday, July 16 in the Ginger Lynn Welch Poke Salad Room. The meeting was called to order at 10:01a.m.
This Week in Native News
This Week in Native News
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Gov. Stein appoints Myra Cloer to Cherokee Preservation Foundation Board of Directors
Myra Cloer is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) from Kolanvyi (Big Cove). She was appointed to the Cherokee Preservation Foundation Board of Directors by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein in April.
CMS students voice support for Historic Lands Reacquisition Act
Students in David Pringle’s 8th grade social study class at Cherokee Middle School are letting their voices be heard in regards to Cherokee getting back an important piece of land.
Former Ugvwiyuhi Lambert shares his story in “The River”
Patrick H. Lambert, former Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), has poured his heart and soul into a new book. “The River: A Cherokee Principal Chief’s Fight for Family, Truth, and Vindication” chronicles his life which has included many historical moments for the EBCI.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: We should all do less nose-thumbing and more listening.
I recently had coffee with a friend who was sharing frustration about a coworker who neglected or ignored duties.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Layaway Plan, Part 2 of 2
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so, through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” NIV
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Layaway Plan, Part 1 of 2
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him, the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
BASKETBALL: Rogers signs with Montreat College
Around 100 people filed into the Charles George Memorial Arena in Cherokee, N.C. on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 25 to witness a very dedicated athlete sign to play at the next level. Whitney Rogers, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and a senior member of the Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) varsity basketball team, signed a letter of intent to play for Montreat College during the ceremony.
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.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Kristine Trottingwolf
Kristine Trottingwolf, of Petaluma, Calif., passed away on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at the age of 79. Kris was enrolled as a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Thankfully, she endures no more suffering from her battle with cancer.
OBITUARY: Velma Jean McMillan Hemphill
Velma Jean McMillan Hemphill, 82, of the 3200 Acre Tract, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2026 after a long illness. A native of Swain County, she was the daughter of the late Ray and Edna Owle McMillan and wife of the late Henry Hayse Robertson and Charles Hemphill.
OBITUARY: Robyn Michelle Bigmeat
Robyn Michelle Bigmeat, age 54, of Cherokee, N.C., passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 24, 2026, at her residence in Cherokee, N.C.
HAPPENINGS
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.
Upcoming Pow Wows for Sept. 13-15
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 Music of the Mountains event
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting the annual “Music of the Mountains” event on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Sugarlands Visitor Center near Gatlinburg, Tenn.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
WCU Fine Art Museum exhibition wins Bronze Award
Denise Drury Homewood, executive director of the Bardo Arts Center at Western Carolina University, believed “Spark of the Eagle Dancer: The Collecting Legacy of Lambert Wilson” exhibition was an award winner from the start.
“The Way We Connect with the World:” A Night for Indigenous Filmmaking
The Museum of the Cherokee People hosted their annual Indigenous film screening, “The Way We Connect with the World,” on the evening of Friday, Aug. 2 at the Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort.
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.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm