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
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).
EBCI Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, and Eastern Cherokee BIA host Eco-Cultural Wildland Fire training
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Natural Resources Department supported by the Eastern Cherokee Agency, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Nature Conservancy held a National Wildlife Coordinating Group FFT2 wildland fire training recently with an eco-cultural focus to build tribal workforce development and produce community fire practitioners and wildland firefighters.
EBCI Community Clubs win at WNC Communities
The WNC Honors Awards, a signature program of WNC Communities, continued its 76-year tradition of recognizing rural community development clubs for their innovative ideas, volunteer-powered leadership, and grassroots service.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
COMMENTARY: Tribal politics is not rocket science, but you do have to pay attention
We are governed through a document called “The Charter.” Like a constitution, it provides the broad stroke parameters of governmental function for our tribe. Unlike a constitution, the Charter has little language in it regarding the civil rights of the people who are governed.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Back to work, Part 2 of 2
Sometimes we might wonder what motivates others to write letters and notes, clean up the messes, stand in the hot sun or cold weather, do the shopping, set up the tents, hand out the bulletins, play music, pull the cables, visit the sick or dying in the hospitals, homes, or hospices.
COMMENTARY: What sovereignty actually means in 2026
As we enter a new year, there have been more public conversations about Tribal sovereignty and that attention creates opportunity. But when important ideas are discussed more widely, it matters that they are understood clearly.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
WRESTLING: Cherokee H.S. wrestlers place at SMC Championship
Several members of the Cherokee High School (CHS) wrestling team placed at the Smoky Mountain Conference Championship held at Swain Co. High School on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 23.
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.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Viola Lane
Viola Lane, age 72 of Robbinsville, N.C., went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at Cherokee Hospital.
OBITUARY: Donald Lee “Kanogsdaya” Swimmer
Donald Lee “Kanogsdaya” Swimmer, 70, of Cherokee, N.C., took his heavenly flight on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 to reunite with his parents, Luke and Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer; and his siblings, Mary Ellen Wolfe, Johnny, Ronald, Herbert, and McKinley Swimmer.
OBITUARY: Byron Jase Locust
Byron Jase Locust, 26, of Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of James William Locust Jr. and Elisha Wildcatt Locust of Cherokee.
HAPPENINGS
Landscapes by Jenean Hornbuckle to be exhibited in Virginia
Art on 16 Contemporary Gallery, in Marion, Va., is celebrating Native American Heritage Month in November by exhibiting the landscape paintings of Jenean Hornbuckle, an EBCI tribal member.
Native American Heritage Month to be celebrated at WCU with series of special events
November is Native American Heritage Month, and a series of events and activities is planned by Western Carolina University’s Cherokee Center in celebration of the designation.
Museum will offer stamped pottery workshop
The Museum of the Cherokee Indian will offer a two-day workshop on making stamped pottery on Thursday, Nov. 1. Tammy Beane, of Collinsville, Ala., will teach how to make traditional Cherokee stamped pottery.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
“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.
“A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art” exhibit set to open
“A Living Language: Cherokee Syllabary and Contemporary Art” features over 50 works of art in a variety of media by 30+ Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and Cherokee Nation artists.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm