NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Ferguson to be first EBCI tribal member to serve in N.C. House of Representatives
Anna Ferguson, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), has been selected by the Republican Party to serve the remainder of the late Rep. Mike Clampitt’s (District 119) seat in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
Cherokee Police Commission holds April Meeting; report reveals that several businesses sold alcohol to a minor in undercover operation
The Cherokee Police Commission held their monthly meeting in the Ginger Lynn Welch building on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 14. Chairperson Anita Lossiah called the meeting to order at 12 p.m.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (April 14)
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.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Yates named director of WCU Cherokee Center
Western Carolina University has appointed Shalana Yates as director of the Cherokee Center, bringing to the role a strong background in nonprofit operations, tribal government, and leadership.
Davy Arch selected as EBCI Beloved Man
Davy Arch, an elder of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), has been selected as a Beloved Man of the EBCI. Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) passed Res. No. 176 (2026), submitted by the Beloved Committee and which approved the designation, during its regular session on Thursday, April 2.
Language is medicine: 5K Walk/Run for Cherokee Language Revitalization held
With a nice breeze blowing over Kituwah, the Mother Town of the Cherokee, the sound of the Cherokee language was in the air on the sunny spring morning of Saturday, March 28.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: A lesson in transparency from a funeral home
Transparency is a byword in our society. We all seem to understand its importance, but we don’t seem to know what it is. And that is surprising.
THE GOOD STUFF: Dr. Hartwell Francis is positively dedicated to the Cherokee language
For more than two decades, Dr. Hartwell Francis has been dedicated to the preservation of the Cherokee language, and his dedication to the Cherokee people is immense. His smiles and positivity drive his energy in language preservation and learning.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: He Thinks of Us, Part 2 of 2
The Psalm begins with how God knows us (ALL of us) and our every move, regardless of how small or insignificant. He also knows our thoughts. He knows where you are going, when you will rest, and all your ways of doing things
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
ON THE SIDELINES: A wrestler’s code for life
Wrestling is special. It’s ancient, it’s biblical, it’s unlike any other sport in the world, but it can help you be better in every other sport.
Shirley Reagan receives USA Judo National Referee certification
Shirley Reagan, an elder of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has been doing Judo for years, and she recently hit a milestone in the sport she loves. She has received certification as a USA Judo National Referee and can officiate any national tournament in the United States.
WRESTLING: Cherokee H.S. competes at regional meets; two wrestlers qualify for state
The Cherokee High School (CHS) men’s and women’s wrestling teams competed in two separate regional events this past week, and two CHS wrestlers have qualified for the upcoming state meet scheduled for Feb. 19-21 at the First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Martha Walkingstick Sampson
Martha Walkingstick Sampson, 66 of Cherokee, N.C., passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Mission Hospital.
OBITUARY: Michael Glenn Murphy
Michael Glenn Murphy, 64, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2026, at 9:06 a.m. at Rainey Hospice House in Anderson, S.C., following a period of declining health.
OBITUARY: Lloyd Knowles Arneach Sr.
Lloyd Knowles Arneach Sr., born Oct. 6, 1943, to Francis Newman Arneach and Roberta Mollie Gloyne, passed away on Friday, April 3, 2026.
HAPPENINGS
Museum of the Cherokee Indian to host Community Writers’ Workshop Series
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian (MCI) has announced the Confluence: An Indigenous Writers’ Workshop, an opportunity offered to citizens of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians throughout 2023.
“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.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lindley Wyatt brings her culture to the runway
Lindley Wyatt, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), is a junior at Western Carolina University (WCU) double majoring in Marketing and Management. Wyatt is also a fashion model signed with a Sante Fe Indigenous modeling agency.
Two Cherokee women receive NC Folklife Apprenticeship Award
Two Cherokee women have received the In These Mountains NC Folklife Apprenticeship Award to better delve into the ancient art of making honeysuckle baskets
“In Light and Shadow”: New book highlights Indigenous photography
Three years in the making, a new book highlights the history of Indigenous photography. Co-authored by Brian Adams and Sarah Stacke, “In Light and Shadow: A Photographic History from Indigenous America” takes the reader on a journey through the ever-evolving landscape of photography by Native Americans.
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