NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Un-redacted Consent Agenda from January School Board
On Jan. 12, the Cherokee Centrals Schools Board of Education voted to un-redact names from their consent agenda after a two-week period, long enough for employees to provide a two-week notice to their previous employers.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (Jan. 27)
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.
CCS aligned with BIE strategic direction
On Jan. 20, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) shared the 2024-2030 strategic direction of the BIE. The full strategic direction focuses on strengthening student success through cultural instruction, which Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) superintendent Consuela Girty says is already in motion for the school system.
2026 4th of July Powwow
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ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
“A sacred space”: Kuwohi Connection Day held to educate students
The low-hanging clouds, mostly blue skies, and brisk temperature made for a magical morning as area students attended Kuwohi Connection Day at Kuwohi (Mulberry Place) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 9.
WCU–CIHA partnership grows Cherokee’s next generation of healers
In the midst of ongoing staffing challenges across the healthcare industry, the innovative partnership between Western Carolina University (WCU) and the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) is doing exactly what a great pipeline should do – it matches local talent with meaningful careers close to home, expands continuing education opportunities, and opens career-ladder pathways for enrolled members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians (EBCI).
Cherokee Growing Readers Unite for Literacy program begins book garden initiative
During Reports to Council on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 3, Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) Superintendent Consuela Girty, Center for Native Health (CNH) Relational Health Program Director and Growing Reader Associate Kristina Hyatt, and Hope Center Director Michele Galloway, presented the Cherokee Growing Readers initiative through Unite for Literacy, which will include book gardens and a community writer’s workshop.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: Don’t let the media become your Pied Piper
Conveying the news is a sacred trust. That is why, over the course of over a decade as editor of the Cherokee One Feather, I have focused my journalistic role to be one of gatekeeping.
COLUMN (Living the Arte Suave): Between a chair and a hard place
When pursuing healthy living habits people often find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Many of the prescriptions and suggested cures come with lengthy laundry lists of warnings and possible contradictions. Every pharmaceutical TV advertisement ends with a rushed litany of reported side effects. Sometimes the possible cures or prescriptives seem worse than the ailments!
COMMENTARY: Why are we having to ask “Show me the Money”?
Are we too stupid to know? A former tribal official stated in a leadership meeting that we would just be too confused by getting information on our projects and finances, so it is better to let the government handle it without community involvement.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
WRESTLING: Cherokee takes on Smoky Mtn. (Jan. 11) and Murphy (Jan. 12)
Cherokee takes on Smoky Mtn. (Jan. 11) and Murphy (Jan. 12)
WRESTLING: James Orr Memorial results
Robbinsville High School hosted the James Orr Memorial Invitational wrestling tournament on Saturday, Jan. 13.
Qualla Boundary Senior Games announces new N.C. Senior Games Ambassador
Sherrene Swayney, from Cherokee, N.C., has been chosen by Qualla Boundary Senior Games to serve as a North Carolina Senior Games (NCSG) Ambassador, she will join, Lois Dunston, Loretta Bolden, Margaret Teesateskie, Annie Owens, and Willard McCoy.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Charles “Charlie” William Bigwitch (Tsali)
Charles “Charlie” William Bigwitch (Tsali), 67, of Cherokee, N.C., went home to be with the Lord Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Fred and Eva Bigwitch.
OBITUARY: Nicholas Donald Briggs III
Nicholas Donald Briggs III, 81 of Whittier, N.C., passed away to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025.
OBITUARY: Thomas Keith Parker
Thomas Keith Parker, “Tom” as he was better known, age 81, of the Wolftown Community in Cherokee, N.C., passed away on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, after an extended illness.
HAPPENINGS
The Southern Momma Cledus T. Judd Comedy Experience coming to Harrah’s Cherokee
Bang Productions presents The Southern Momma Cledus T Judd Comedy Experience, produced by John Edmonds Kozma and featuring Comedians Red Squirrel and Gary Cargal, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort on Friday, June 14.
Alabama to perform at Harrah’s Cherokee
Alabama will play Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort on Friday, May 24. Tickets go on sale at www.ticketmaster.com on Friday, March 8.
Region A Partnership for Children Community Groups Workshop and Meeting schedule for March 2019
Region A Partnership for Children Community Groups Workshop and Meeting schedule for March 2019
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Qualla Arts & Crafts celebrates 75 years of craft excellence
Seventy-five years to the day, officials at Qualla Arts & Crafts Mutual, Inc. (Qualla) celebrated the start of one of the most successful Native American craft co-ops in the country.
“Dracula” to sink his teeth into Mountainside Theatre
On Friday, Oct. 1, Mountainside Theatre will host the world premiere of “Dracula: The Failings of Men,” written by debut playwright Benedetto Robinson. The production is an original work by Havoc Movement Company that will be joining the Cherokee Historical Association for the fall season.
EBCI photographers featured in The 400 Years Project
The 400 Years Project is a new photography collective designed to showcase Native American life through the lens of Native photographers. Created in 2020 ahead of the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower’s arrival from England, this project seeks to create a groundbreaking pictorial collection of photography from the mid-1800’s to the present.
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(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm