NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Qualla Nonprofit Alliance working for the people, collaboratively
A group of nonprofit organizations serving the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) community has joined together recently to form the Qualla Nonprofit Alliance.
Rare rivercane patch in Yancey County to be preserved
An area in Yancey County that contains a rare rivercane patch is being preserved, and artisans of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will be able to harvest some for traditional weaving.
EBCI tribal legislative updates (Dec. 4)
The One Feather will now provide regular legislative updates on various pieces of legislation of the Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Littledave, Stephens receive Frell Owl Award
Sheyahshe Littledave and Ahli-sha Stephens, both members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, were named the recipients of the prestigious Frell Owl Award during a ceremony at Granny’s Kitchen in Cherokee, N.C. on the morning of Monday, Dec. 8.
Meet the EBCI’s 2026 Remember the Removal Riders
Following are the riders who will represent the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on the 2026 Remember the Removal (RTR) bicycle ride. The ride will retrace the northern route of the Trail of Tears from New Echota, Ga. to Tahlequah, Okla. Exact dates are not yet available for this year’s ride, but it will occur in June 2026.
Cherokee Preservation Foundation approves a $20,000 award for Planning Grant
The Cherokee Preservation Foundation (CPF) has approved a $20,000 planning grant to the Southwestern Commission Regional Council of Governments (SWC) led by the Mountain West Partnership (MWP), a division of the SWC. The project will advance sustainable economic development through culturally aligned collaboration with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: Top men are on it
We, as a tribe, have been debating and searching for ways to communicate facts and truth to our people without sharing them with other people.
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.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Building from Legacy: Cherokee Wrestling begins again
Tsalagi Anitsvyasdi nole Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Braves and Cherokee Lady Braves) wrestling kicked off the 2025-26 season with the Maroon and Gold intrasquad scrimmage on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 6 in the Charles George Memorial Arena.
CROSS COUNTRY: Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) High School, Middle School teams win at Hayesville
The Cherokee High School (CHS) and Middle School (CMS) cross country teams participated in a meet, hosted by Hayesville High Schools, at the Clay County Rec. Center in Hayesville, N.C. on the afternoon of Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Back-to-Back Champions: Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) honored for second straight state title
Members of the Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) varsity girls basketball team unveiled a new championship banner in an event on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 7 in the Charles George Memorial Arena.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Thomas Joseph “Tom” Haigler
Thomas Joseph “Tom” Haigler, 96, passed away peacefully on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, at home in Bryson City, N.C., with his daughter by his side.
OBITUARY: Leonard E. Lossiah (Butch)
Leonard E. Lossiah (Butch), 77, of Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025.
OBITUARY: Doyle Jack Smith
Doyle Jack Smith, 79, of Bryson City, N.C., passed away surrounded by his family after a 10-month battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme, a rare and incurable brain cancer.
HAPPENINGS
Food truck rodeo coming to Harrah’s Cherokee
Three Cherokee-owned food trucks will be setting up at The Cherokee Convention Center this Friday, Feb. 4 and Saturday, Feb. 5 to serve any and all who want an Indian dinner or Cherokee fare.
May classes at Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education
The Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, has released the May class schedule. The workshops will be hosted outside and led by Wildlife Commission staff. The Center’s COVID-19 policies are stated on their...
Mountain Heritage Day planning for return to WCU campus this fall
Mountain Heritage Day, the festival of cultural traditions presented by Western Carolina University, is again being planned as a live, in-person event on Saturday, Sept. 25.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A Butterfly’s Heart: Melah Perkins’ fashion show debut
Kimmemelah Chontay Perkins, or Melah, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and Sioux, is a beadwork and quillwork artist making her debut as a designer in the Kananesgi Fashion Show coming up Nov. 8.
Waleli Crow brings an artist’s eye to modeling
Waleli Crow is surrounded daily by art, and modeling offers her another artistic outlet. Crow, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is a student at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga. where she majors in dramatic writing with minors in film and television and graphic design.
“The web grows stronger”: The story behind Kananesgi
What began as a bold vision to bring Cherokee art to the world has become one of the region’s most celebrated showcases of Indigenous creativity. The Kananesgi events, including an art market, competition, and fashion show, were created to uplift artists of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and celebrate both tradition and innovation.
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Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
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