NEWS ᎧᏃᎮᏓ
Resolution recognizing Purple Lotus Day passes unanimously
Sheyahshe Littledave, public information officer for the Office of the Principal Chief, and Billie Jo Rich, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (DVSA) program manager, walked in a resolution during Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) Annual Council on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 30 for the EBCI to officially recognize the third Thursday of the month of October as Purple Lotus Day in honor of survivors of domestic violence.
EBCI Government Explained: Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) meetings
The Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is established in the EBCI Charter and Governing Document. Laws regarding its meetings can be found throughout the Charter and Governing Document as well as Cherokee Code.
Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) tables resolution regarding weighted vote
The weighted vote used by the Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) has been in place since 2001. Dinilawigi tabled a resolution during an Annual Council session on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 that seeks to evaluate the numbers based on a 2023 tribal census.
ONE FEATHER PHOTOS
COMMUNITY ᏍᎦᏚᎩ
113th Cherokee Indian Fair EBCI Cooperative Extension winners
113th Cherokee Indian Fair EBCI Cooperative Extension winners
113th Cherokee Indian Fair Qualla Arts & Crafts winners
Cherokee Indian Fair Qualla Arts & Crafts winners
Inheriting the game: Tsisqwohi’s Elias Griffin
Elias Griffin, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), is an Anetsovsgi (Ball player) for the Tsisqwohi (Birdtown) Anetso (Stickball) team. Griffin said he comes from the Griffin and Ledford families, and he is a member of the Tsisqwohi (Birdtown) community.
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
CROSS COUNTRY: Three CHS runners qualify for state meet
Three Cherokee High School (CHS) runners placed at the 1A West Regional Cross Country championship held at Kituwah on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 26 and have qualified for the 1A State Championship meet. Ogana Swimmer, Dvdaya Swimmer, and Livia Crowe all qualified for the state meet set for Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville, N.C.
FOOTBALL: Braves move up in SMC with second consecutive shutout
The Cherokee Braves (5-2) have moved into second place in the Smoky Mountain Conference following their second consecutive shutout in a row. The Braves defeated the Hayesville Yellow Jackets 22-0 at Ray Kinsland Stadium on the evening of Friday, Oct. 18 and sit in second place in the SMC behind Murphy (7-1).
FOOTBALL: Braves dominate on both sides of the ball in win over Andrews
The Cherokee Braves (4-3) amassed 363 offensive yards as they blanked the Andrews Wildcats (4-2) by a score of 27-0 on the chilly evening of Friday, Oct. 11 at Ray Kinsland Stadium.
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
Cherokee Christmas Parade 2019 participant information
Cherokee Christmas Parade application form EBCI Waiver - Christmas Parade 2019 Form W-9
Upcoming Pow Wows for Nov. 7-10
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 Star Gazing event at Purchase Knob
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is hosting a stargazing event on Friday, Nov. 15 at the Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center in North Carolina.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Cherokee Historical Association and the Center for Cultural Preservation to host Cherokee cultural event and film screening
Cherokee Historical Association has partnered with the Center for Cultural Preservation to screen “Nature’s Wisdom Thru Native Eyes”, by award winning documentary filmmaker David Weintraub.
CCS Student Art Show Award recipients
Cherokee Middle School (CMS) and Cherokee High School (CHS) held their Student Art Show on the Night of the Arts at Cherokee Central Schools on Thursday, May 9.
Cherokee Central Schools Musical Theater presents “The Addams Family”
The Cherokee Central Schools (CCS) Musical Theater performed “The Addams Family: School Edition” on the evenings of May 9-11. The play was packed with the classic Addams Family characters, spooky ancestors, and Cherokee humor.
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