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.
2025 Cherokee Indian Fair Countdown
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ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Sharing her culture: Scarlett ᎩᎦᎨ Guy to run for Miss Indian World
Scarlett ᎩᎦᎨ Guy will join 21 other Native American women in vying for the 2025-26 Miss Indian World (MIW) title later this week. Guy, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) who served as the 2023-24 Miss Cherokee, will compete at the pageant being held April 24-26, 2025 in conjunction with the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow (GON) in Albuquerque, N.M.
Cherokee Middle students advocate for Tenn. trust land bill
Cherokee students are making their voices heard on a House bill that would put land into trust for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in Tennessee. Students in David Pringle’s eighth grade social studies class at Cherokee Middle School recently completed a project on H.R. 226 (Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act).
10 Years of Cherokee Choices Stress & Healing Arts Retreat
Cherokee Choices just celebrated their 10th Anniversary of the Stress & Healing Arts Retreat (SHAR), a wellness retreat that ran from 2006 to 2011, and started back up in 2015 to now. This year’s two-day retreat, held on March 19 and 20, featured several workshops and sessions to promote healing and wellness for the Cherokee community.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: Hard truths – hirings and appointments
We have heard our tribal governmental administration say on multiple occasions that they prioritize hiring tribal members for tribal government positions. This commitment benefits every enrolled member, at least on the surface.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Your engine light is on
If you had ever ridden with me in my old 2005 pickup, you might have seen my engine light glowing on my dash. It’s been like that for about five years now. It makes my wife nervous, and it used to bug me, too.
COMMENTARY: Hating behavior
“Hate the sin. Love the sinner.” That is a phrase I have heard since I was a toddler.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
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.
BASKETBALL: Lady Braves win Western Regionals, advance to State Championship
On the evening of Monday, March 11 in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial (LJVM) Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C., the (#3) Lady Braves basketball team defeated (#1) Mountain Heritage, earning the title of North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 1A Western Regional Champions, with a final score of 64 -51.
BASKETBALL: Lady Braves topple Bishop McGuinness in Fourth Round
The Cherokee High School Lady Braves ended the two-year reign of the Bishop McGuinness Lady Villains on the evening of Friday, March 8, at Southwest Guilford High School in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 1A state basketball playoffs.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Patrick Ernest “Rick” Sneed
Patrick Ernest “Rick” Sneed, 60, of Cherokee, N.C., passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 13, 2025, at his home.
OBITUARY: Clint Arneach
Clint Arneach passed away Thursday, April 3, 2025 at the Cherokee Indian Hospital after an extended illness.
OBITUARY: Reba Rattler
Reba Rattler, 78 of the Snowbird Community, gained her heavenly wings the morning of Monday, April 7, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.
HAPPENINGS
National Park to host Women’s Work Festival
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual Women’s Work Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Upcoming Pow Wows for June 14-16
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.
Cherokee Summer Carnival returns June 9-15
After being absent in 2018, the Cherokee Summer Carnival returns to the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds on June 9-15.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cherokee writer selected for prestigious poetry event
Indigenous Nations Poets (In-Na-Po) is set to hold its Inaugural Retreat event next month, and a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will be one of the participating poets. Mary Leauna Christensen is one of 16 poets selected for the event scheduled for Washington, D.C. on April 25-29.
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”.
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(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
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Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm