NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Qualla Boundary Head Start & Early Head Start awarded Tribal Childcare Licensure for the fifth year in a row
EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) Public Health & Human Services Division (EBCI PHHS) Regulatory & Compliance Department (RCD) has announced the Qualla Boundary Head Start & Early Head Start (QB HS & EHS) centers, Dora Reed Center, and Big Cove Children’s Center have been awarded their annual Tribal Childcare Licensure for the fifth year.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (July 9)
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.
NAFOA issues financial analysis of impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on tribal nations
Alongside other National Tribal Organizations, NAFOA is analyzing the provisions of the Big Beautiful Bill and their potential impacts on Tribal Nations. We are committed to providing you with a thorough assessment and advocating for the needs of Indian Country.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Great Smoky Mountains National Park team wins national award for Seeking Paths in Nature education program
A team of Great Smoky Mountains National Park employees was recently awarded the 2023 Excellence in Education Award at a National Park Service awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Many of the agency’s top awards were presented at the 2023 National Service Awards ceremony.
Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority Pharmacy earns two prestigious Indian Health Service Awards
The Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA) has announced that its Pharmacy Department has been honored with two prestigious Indian Health Service (IHS) Director’s Awards, recognizing the outstanding achievements of both the Inpatient and Outpatient Pharmacy Teams.
EBCI WIC Program receives Breastfeeding Award of Excellence
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) WIC program has been honored with the prestigious Breastfeeding Award of Excellence Gold status, making it the only agency in the Southeast Region to receive this recognition.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
LETTER: Statement from EBCI demands apology from Senator Tillis for offensive remarks
Last week, Senator Thom Tillis launched an emotional tirade on the Senate floor, targeting hundreds of tribal leaders and respected Native organizations with baseless accusations.
SPEAKING OF FAITH: Thankful that He thinks of us
I am inspired and awestruck when I try to imagine the grandeur of our God. When I am down or lonely, depressed, or confused, I think about how God is there to lean on anytime, all the time. God is good, and these verses are meant to remind us.
COMMENTARY: The importance of giving thanks and those desperate to help
I have had a roller coaster ride with my emotions over the past two months. Sept. 27, 2024, will forever be in my memory and my wife’s. It was the day that we lost our home of 36 years to the flood waters of Hurricane Helene.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
FOOTBALL: Braves lose season opener to Smoky Mountain
PHOTOS By SCOTT MCKIE B.P. One Feather Staff Smoky Mtn. Mustangs 37 Cherokee Braves 0 Friday, Aug. 19; Ray Kinsland Stadium PHOTO ALBUM: Braves vs Smoky Mtn. SCORING SUMMARY 1st Quarter 3:20 – SMOKY MTN.: Jed West 53-yard pass to De’Mare Williams, Zeke...
JV FOOTBALL: Cherokee starts season with commanding win
By SCOTT MCKIE B.P. One Feather Staff (Reporter’s Note: Official statistics are not taken for junior varsity games. All times and yardages are compiled by One Feather staff to the best of our ability.) The Cherokee JV Braves started their 2022 season off with...
Record-breaking WSOP Circuit Event concludes at Harrah’s Cherokee
It was a record-breaking return to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort for the World Series of Poker’s (WSOP) 2022/23 Circuit season, its first of four stops, as a record-setting field of 1,558 entries were recorded through two starting flights and a $2,360,370 prize pool was generated.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: Faye Pheasant
Faye Pheasant, 61, of the Big Cove Community, passed away Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024.
OBITUARY: Francisco Esparza Jr.
Francisco Esparza Jr., age 50, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, at Mission Hospital after a brief illness.
OBITUARY: Amanda Lee Beck Bevis
Amanda Lee Beck Bevis, 82, of the Qualla Community, passed away Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024 at her residence.
HAPPENINGS
Upcoming Pow Wows for June 23-25
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.
Park to Host “Women’s Work” event
he Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual Women’s Work Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum on Saturday, June 17.
Upcoming Pow Wows for June 16-18
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
Gabriel Iglesias and Halestorm to perform at Harrah’s Cherokee
Halestorm is scheduled to play Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Event Center on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30pm, and Gabriel “The Fluffy Guy” Iglesias is set to perform on Friday, June 17 at 9pm.
Rascal Flats, Man in the Mirror to play Harrah’s Cherokee
Country group Rascal Flats and Man in the Mirror, a Tribute to the King of Pop, are set to play Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center this spring.
Willie and Merle to play Harrah’s Cherokee
Country music legends Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard are scheduled to play Harrah’s Cheroke Event Center together on Saturday, May 21 at 7:30pm.
Call
(828) 359-6262
Address
801 Acquoni Road • Cherokee, NC 28719
Hours
Mon – Fri • 7:45am – 4:30pm



















