NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
EBCI Chestnut Project Update: USDA reopening public comment period for GMO chestnut tree.
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reopened the public comment period recently on a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) and plant pest risk assessment (PPRA) drafted in response to the petition seeking deregulation of the genetically modified chestnut tree known as Darling 54 (formerly known as Darling 58).
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (June 12, 2025)
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.
Graham County man sentenced to 19 years in prison on drug, DV charges
District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch announced that a Graham County jury found Keith Mark Tipton guilty of four criminal charges, resulting in a minimum active sentence of 231 months, or 19.25 years in prison.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Cherokee Middle School 3rd Quarter Honor Roll
Cherokee Middle School 3rd Quarter Honor Roll
Cherokee Elementary School Honor Roll – 3rd 9wks. Grading Period
Cherokee Elementary School Honor Roll – 3rd 9wks. Grading Period
“Our objects are living”: Museum of the Cherokee Peoples’ Collections tell an important history
Evan Mathis puts on plastic gloves, opens an area, and begins examining several old Cherokee baskets. He is working diligently to not only protect the items contained in the Museum of the Cherokee Peoples’ Collections area; but, he is working to help others learn about these fascinating and culturally-important items.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
THE GOOD STUFF: Beloved Woman is a fierce language warrior
I take a lot of photographs, but one of my favorites from the past few years shows an elder of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) at the Annual Cherokee Speakers Walk.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Fireworks
I was born and raised in Montana in the fifties and sixties. The 4th of July was the biggest holiday of the year for me. Bigger than Christmas or my birthday or anything. Our family plans always included doing something special.
EDITORIAL: Clay County’s “strong emotions” excuse is not ok
Several incidents occurred during the Smoky Mountain Conference varsity girls basketball final between the Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) and the Hayesville Lady Yellow Jackets that are just not ok.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
MIDDLE SCHOOL TRACK & FIELD: Cherokee Middle participates in Hayesville meet
The Cherokee Middle School (CMS) track and field team participated in a multi-school meet at the Hayesville High School track in Hayesville, N.C. on the chilly afternoon of Monday, March 18.
BASKETBALL: Lady Braves bring home State Title
On the evening of Friday, March 15 in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, the Cherokee Lady Braves defeated the East Columbus Gators in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1A State Championship, earning the state basketball title for the second time in school history since the first title in 1996.
TRACK & FIELD: Cherokee participates in meet at Montreat College
The Cherokee High School (CHS) track and field team participated in the Swain County High School Invitational meet held at the Montreat College track in Black Mountain, N.C. on the afternoon of Thursday, March 14. A.C. Reynolds won both the men’s and women’s team events.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Jack “Ray” Blankenship
Jack “Ray” Blankenship, 86, of Cherokee went home Thursday, April 3, 2025. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Roy and Georgia Goforth Blankenship.
OBITUARY: Allen “Leonard” Tolley
Allen “Leonard” Tolley, born on Oct. 6, 1942, to the late William “Dink” and Olive Maney “Ollie” Tolley, of Cherokee, walked into his eternal reward, April 1, 2025, He was a dedicated individual and a proud veteran of the US Army.
OBITUARY: Patricia Ann Owle
Patricia Ann Owle, age 75, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, surrounded by her loving Family. She is the daughter of Helen Elizabeth Arch and the late Johnson “Sonny” Arch Jr.
HAPPENINGS
Park to host Smokies Service Days
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is inviting the public to participate in “Smokies Service Days” beginning June 29
Los Moralitos Circus bringing a family tradition to Cherokee
To say that the circus is a family tradition for the Vazquez family would be an understatement.
Upcoming Pow Wows for June 21-23
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.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Annual Spring Literary Festival returns to WCU campus with live events
After two years being held as an online celebration, Western Carolina University’s Spring Literary Festival returns to campus March 14-17 for a series of live events.
Tribal member a finalist for Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award
The Western North Carolina Historical Association announced the selection of five finalists for the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award recently and a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is included. Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle was nominated for her book, “Even As We Breathe: A Novel”.
Cherokee National Treasure Betty Frogg featured in new exhibit
“Betty Christie Frogg: Carrying Her Culture” is on display at Cherokee Nation’s Saline Courthouse Museum.
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