NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (Feb. 3)
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.
This Week in Native News
This Week in Native News
Lumbee Tribe added to official list of Federally Recognized Tribes
The Department of the Interior today (Friday, Jan. 30) affirmed its commitment to tribal sovereignty by adding the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina to the official list of federally recognized tribes, formalizing the tribe’s government-to-government relationship with the United States and carrying out federal recognition enacted into law in December 2025.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Bark accepted into National Leadership Academy for Young Native Women
Raylen Bark, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and RKLI’s (Ray Kinsland Leadership Institute) grants and fundraising specialist, was recently accepted into the Native Action Network’s 2025 Young Native Women’s Leadership Academy.
113th Cherokee Indian Fair EBCI Cooperative Extension winners
113th Cherokee Indian Fair EBCI Cooperative Extension winners
113th Cherokee Indian Fair Qualla Arts & Crafts winners
Cherokee Indian Fair Qualla Arts & Crafts winners
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
THE GOOD STUFF: Yona Wade serves, represents with style
Yona Wade is a true servant to his people and one who is dedicated to making sure the world knows of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
Ask a Therapist: Therapists tips for staying sane during the holidays
As the holidays have approached, I received several questions regarding this topic and decided to combine them into some next steps.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: I Miss Church, Part 3 of 3
Heb 10:24-25 “ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” NIV
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
TRACK & FIELD: Cherokee hosts Smoky Mountain Conference championship
Cherokee High School (CHS) played host to the Smoky Mountain Conference (SMC) track and field championship on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 1.
Ward signs to play basketball, volleyball at Johnson & Wales
Loshi Ward, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and a senior at Cherokee High School (CHS), will be a two-sport athlete at the next level.
TRACK & FIELD: Cherokee hosts multi-school meet
Cherokee High School (CHS) hosted a multi-school meet on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 24.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Brina “Bri-Bri” L. Blauvelt
Brina “Bri-Bri” L. Blauvelt, 24, passed away Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, in Savannah, Ga. Born in Robbinsville, N.C., she had lived in McIntosh County for the past 20 years.
OBITUARY: Maria “Ada” Arch
Maria “Ada” Arch, 61, of the Painttown Community, peacefully gained her wings surrounded by her loving family on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
OBITUARY: Esther “Gig” Ross-McCoy
Esther “Gig” Ross-McCoy, 78 of the Yellowhill Community, went home to be with the Lord, Friday, Oct. 17, 2025
HAPPENINGS
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.
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.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Dracula returns to Cherokee
“Last year we built it, and I feel like this year we’re crafting it,” said Bailey Frankenberg, who plays Lucy Westerna in “Dracula: The Failings of Men”.
“Disruption” shakes up Museum of the Cherokee Indian exhibit
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian is switching gears on its permanent exhibit and taking funerary and ceremonial objects off display. Taking these items off display created holes in the exhibit which have been filled with contemporary Cherokee art pieces.
Kansas returns to Cherokee
After 10 years, prolific rock band Kansas is coming back to the mountains of North Carolina and will play Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort this Saturday, June 25.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm