NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Cherokee Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting held
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting was held on the afternoon of Thursday, May 21 for the new term.
Constitution Meeting Report for May 29
The May 29 session of the Constitutional Convention for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) continued discussion on opportunities to expose some form of educational content and process for the community. The meeting started with a quorum present.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (May 26)
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
EBCI students co-chair powwow at UNC
Roxi Bark, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), valedictorian of Cherokee High School Class of 2024, and a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), co-chaired the annual Carolina Indian Circle Powwow at UNC on Saturday, March 7, in Woollen Gym, with co-chair and UNC sophomore Isabella Garcia, who is a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and a descendant of the EBCI raised in Tsisqwohi (Birdtown). Garcia is a graduate of Swain Co. High School.
A passion for politics: Grayson Mathis’ extraordinary collection of political signatures
Grayson Mathis is a 13-year-old member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) attending North Carolina Cyber Academy. He has a passion for politics and history, and he has begun a massive project of collecting signatures from politicians, and some celebrities, amassing nearly a hundred in a little over a year.
Georgia’s Maxwell Guo wins gold in record-breaking World Series of Poker Main Event at Harrah’s Cherokee
The World Series of Poker (WSOP), the world’s most prestigious brand in poker, awarded $9.7 million during its most recent Circuit tour stop at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort in western North Carolina, which ran Feb. 12-23. And the largest payday of all was secured by tournament rookie Maxwell Guo, took took down the Main Event for over $380,000.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
February report from Aniwodihi (Painttown) Rep. Michael Stamper
This is my Council Report for the month of February. I want to begin by publicly expressing my appreciation for the collective effort shown by our Tribal programs in both the preparation for and response to the recent snowstorm on the Boundary. As always, my report follows the standard format below.
THE GOOD STUFF: Nancy Pheasant blends artistry with history
Pheasant is a true educator and represents the EBCI very well wherever she goes. She has a way of painting a picture in your mind as she speaks.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Cracked Pot
How often do you hear from those around you, “What can I do?” with the tenor of failure? Your choice to motivate others in service suggests we change these exact words into a tenor of service – “What can I do for God?”
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: Rick Bradley
On Thursday March 12, 2026, we lost a legend in his own right. Rick Bradley passed away in Trinity Alabama where he has resided for the last 15+ years.
OBITUARY: Kellie Ann Bridgeman
Kellie Ann Bridgeman, born on Sept. 7, 1976, in Haywood County, N.C., passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Kellie’s life was defined by her deep love for her family, friends, and the animals she cherished.
OBITUARY: Lola Owl Blankenship
Lola Owl Blankenship, age 65, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. She was born on June 5, 1960, in Toombs County, Ga., and spent most of her life in Cherokee, N.C., where she built a life centered on family, friendship, and laughter.
HAPPENINGS
Upcoming Pow Wows for May 31 – June 2
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.
EBCI Housing Division hosting 12th Annual Cherokee Housing Fair
The EBCI Housing Division will host the 12th Annual Cherokee Housing Fair at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds on Friday, July 19 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Upcoming Pow Wows for May 24-26
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
Native America Calling receives National Humanities Medal
Native America Calling, a program of the Alaska-based Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, is a recipient of the National Humanities Medal from The National Endowment for the Humanities. The award was presented to Koahnic’s president and chief executive officer, Jaclyn Sallee, by U.S. President Joe Biden at a White House ceremony on Tuesday, March 21.
New Cherokee Language Choir finding their tune
Many Monday afternoons are unremarkable, but on this particular Monday Seli and Geyadi were moving a mile a minute.
CHA cancels spring run of “Alice”
“Alice in Wonderland” will not be returning to the Mountainside Theatre in 2023.
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(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
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