NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Cochran hearing postponed, two more local sheriffs face removal
The pretrial hearing set for Feb. 17 in Cherokee Tribal Court for the sexual abuse case against former Swain Co. Sheriff Curtis Cochran was postponed to June 8. Graham Co. Sheriff Brad Hoxit faces removal due to alleged abuse of power for personal gain, and former Cherokee Co. Sheriff Dustin Smith resigned effective Feb. 6 due to allegations of willful and habitual negligence, both levied by District Attorney Ashley Hornsby Welch.
Federal legislative updates of interest to EBCI citizens (Feb. 17)
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.
Noquisiyi Mound deed transfer to EBCI to happen next week
According to officials from the Noquisi Initiative, their organization will transfer the deed to the Noquisiyi (formerly known as Nikwasi) Mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) early next week. The details are still being finalized.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
EBCI tribal member selected as Red Earth Artist
Margaret Littlejohn Wakefield, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, has been selected as an Official Red Earth Festival Artist for the 2026 event. She will display her paintings at the Festival set for Aug. 1-2 at the OKC Convention Center in Oklahoma City, Oka.
Cooper endows “Hand Up” Scholarship at SCC
As a lifelong educator and charity worker, Joyce Cooper has a history with Southwestern Community College that is rooted in philanthropy as she serves on the SCC Foundation Gala Planning Committee, as well as the Board of Trustees, and she previously endowed the “Pass It On” Scholarship for SCC Health Sciences students.
Lindley Wyatt brings her culture to the runway
Lindley Wyatt, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), is a junior at Western Carolina University (WCU) double majoring in Marketing and Management. Wyatt is also a fashion model signed with a Sante Fe Indigenous modeling agency.
OPINIONS ᏃᎵᏍᎬᎢ
THE GOOD STUFF: Dallas Bennett is a great example of a future leader
In a One Feather “grad profile” in April 2020, Dallas Bennett said he plans to run for Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief) one day.
EDITORIAL: Proposed Ordinance 107 (2026) will shield community information from the tribal members
The Attorney General submitted proposed legislation to withhold internal audit and ethics report findings from the community.
COMMENTARY: The Dead Zone – Why Billie Eilish is right about “Stolen Land”
History is not a ghost. It is a neighbor. It lives in the 38 tribal nations headquartered here in Oklahoma and in the ancestral homelands of the 574 sovereign nations across Indian Country.
SPORTS ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
Atlanta Braves to host Fourth Annual Native American All-Star Baseball Showcase
The Atlanta Braves will host the fourth annual Native American All-Star Baseball Showcase at Truist Park, June 21-22. The top high school baseball players of Native American descent from around North America will participate in a showcase experience at Truist Park from Saturday, June 21 through Sunday, June 22.
WRESTLING: Cooper signs with Frostburg State University
Anasette Cooper, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and a senior at Swain County High School (SCHS), signed a letter of intent to wrestle collegiately for the Frostburg State University Bobcats during an event held at SCHS on the morning of Friday, March 28.
SOFTBALL: Lossie signs with Montreat College
Amila Lossie, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and a senior member of the Tsalagi Anata Anitsvyasdi (Cherokee Lady Braves) varsity softball team, signed a letter to intent to play collegiately for Montreat College during an event held at the Charles George Memorial Arena in Cherokee, N.C. on the morning of Monday, March 24.
OBITUARIES ᏧᏂᏲᎰᏒ
OBITUARY: John Wesley Raby “John Bug”
John Wesley Raby “John Bug”, 40, of the Wolftown Community passed away on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.
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.
HAPPENINGS
Upcoming Pow Wows for Dec. 13-15
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.
Cherokee artist to show at Rotunda Gallery in Sylva
A showing of new works and a series of prints by Jenean Hornbuckle, a landscape painter, will open at the Rotunda Gallery in the Sylva Library on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a reception sponsored by the Jackson County Arts Council and Sequoyah Fund.
Upcoming Pow Wows for Dec. 6-8
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
Tribal member named a Virginia A. Groot Craft Futures Resident
Ky’Lee Robison, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) with Mvskoke heritage, has been selected to receive the prestigious Virginia A. Groot Residency at the Center for Craft.
Sneed’s art shown in exhibit at Hickory Museum of Art
Lenoir-Rhyne University students participated in an exhibit at the Hickory Museum of Art recently entitled “The Art of Profession” which featured students in the Advanced Studio Practices, and a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) was one of those featured. Tishara Sneed, an EBCI tribal member who also has Dine’ (Navajo) heritage, displayed three ceramic masks for the exhibit.
“Homelands”: EBCI artists featured in McClung’s mound exhibit
Four artists of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) are among Indigenous artists featured in a new exhibit at the McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.
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