By: Scott McKie, B.P.

One Feather Staff

The leadership of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation (OK) met in Joint Council on October 9^th at Harrah's Cherokee Casino.

Fellowship introductions, the day began with the singing of the United Cherokee nation Anthem by tribal member Paula Maney Nelson. The music to the song, which was adopted as the official anthem of the Joint Council later in the meeting, was written by Nelson with lyrics by EBCI Beloved Woman Myrtle Driver Johnson.

The students in the EBCI Cherokee Language Immersion program performed several songs and dances for the crowd to thunderous applause.

Principal Chief Michell Hicks welcomed everyone welcomed everyone to the event and commented, “I'm hoping, as we move forward, we continue to do things to strengthen ourselves as sovereign nations.”

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith said, “We're always appreciative of the invitation to visit the home of the Cherokee.” He related it is a time to renew acquaintances and strengthen friendships and allows everyone to “forge a stronger culture in the future.”

Cherokee Nation Deputy Chief Joe Grayson said he appreciates all of the hospitality shown by the Eastern Band of Cherokee. “My heart may be in Oklahoma, but my soul belongs in these mountains.”

Several EBCI programs gave presentations on their work including: Dr. Mickey Duvall, Planning and Development division director; Mary Jane Ferguson, Travel and Promotion director; and Renissa Walker, Kituwah Preservation and Education Program manager.

Following those presentations, Della Warrior (Otoe-Missouria) and Walter Echohawk (Pawnee) spoke on the newly formed Native Arts and Cultures Foundation and requested $50,000 from each tribe for the organization.

“It is out hope that we can bring out native art and our native culture to the forefront of the nation and to the forefront of the world stage,” said Echohawk who called native artist “ambassadors to the rest of the world.”

The Joint Council passed four resolutions on the day on topics ranging from the Seqouyah Museum to Cherokee language.

Joint Council Resolution #16, submitted by Principal Chief Michell Hicks, called for support and the formation of a planning committee for a special celebration next April for the 25^th Anniversary of the historic Red Clay (TN) Join Council which was the first held since the removal 146 years prior.

“I think it would commemorate something that is very important to all of the Cherokee people,” said Chief Hicks who said that a torch run is in the works for the event. He even issued a friendly challenge to chief Smith to run the last one-mile leg of the run with him. Gilliam Jackson was one of the original runner a the 1984 event. “I think we're going to set the standard pretty high in that they're going to have to be in really great shape.” He said the plan is to run the entire distance in one day.

Cherokee County – Snowbird Rep. Abe Wachacha was a Council Member at the 1984 event. He commented, “1984 seems like a long time ago for a lot of people, but for me it seems like a short time ago.”

He said the event was special to him because his late grandmother, Maggie Wachacha, was honored as the second person ever to receive the recognition of being named a Beloved Woman. “Both tribes honored her that day, and I'll always hold that close to my heart.”

Rep. Wachacha said it was also the first time a lot of people from the Eastern Band got to meet Cherokee relatives from Oklahoma. He described the event as “emotional” and commented, “You'll hear the echos and the wisdoms of the people who walked that trail.”

Carol Crabtree, Red Clay State Historic Park manager, was present on Thursday and commented, “I'm very honored to be a part of the planning for this great event. I think it's very important for the park as well as the Cherokee people.”

A committee was formed consisting of representatives from the Eastern Band and the Cherokee Nation to help plan the event. The committee members representing the Eastern Band include: Rosie McCoy, Ashleigh Brown, Mary Jane Ferguson, Russell Townsend, Barbara Duncan and Gilliam Jackson. Representing the Cherokee Nation will be: Gayle Miller, Felicia Olaya, Carey Tiller, Jack Baker, Julia Coates, and Duane King.

Joint Council Res. No. 17, submitted by Big Cover Perry Shell, originally called for both tribes to agree to financially assist the Seqouyah Birthplace Museum located in Vonore, Tenn. The resolution was passed, after being amended, but the language was changed to take out any agreement of financial assistance until a defined amount could be determined.

“It's very important that we keep our story out there,” said Rep. Shell

Joint Council Res. No. 18, submitted by Renissa Walker, Kituwah Preservation and Education Program manager, called for the United Cherokee Nations Anthem, created by Myrtle Driver Johnson and Paula Maney Nelson, to be used as the official anthem of the Eastern Band of Cherokee and the Cherokee Nation at all official events.

Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee Nation council member, stated, “We alreadyhave a national anthem.” She said it would conflict with the one they have in placed and asked that the United Cherokee Nations Anthem be used as the official anthem for Joint Council.

It was so approved.

Johnson shared how the anthem came to be. She said in 2000, Sharon Bradley, who was then the manager of the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds, asked her if she knew if there was a translation in Cherokee Language for the National Anthem.

“I said I didn't know of one, but I would look,” Johnson said who related that she couldn't find one anywhere.

“I called her back and said I would be honored to translate the National Anthem into Cherokee.”

The following week she started working on it and could not get the translated lyrics to fit the tune. “They just would nor fit...they just wouldn't go together.”

So, her and Nelson set off to create a new tune and working. Two weeks later, it was sung in public for the first time as Nelson and Johnson's daughter, Renissa Walker, saig it for the annual Prayer Breakfast. “It belongs to the Cherokee people,” said Johnson.

Joint Council Res. No. 19, submitted by Walker called for the Speakers Consortium to be recognized as the “official translating group for the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians and the Cherokee Nation.”

Since there are other official groups working within the Cherokee Nation, it was amended to recognize the Speakers Consortium as one of the official translating groups of the two tribes.

Walker commented both Principal Chiefs and stated, “More has been done for the Cherokee language under Chief Hicks' leadership than ever before.”

Gilliam Jackson a member of the Speakers Consortium, stated, “it has been such a pleasure to work with such strong speakers. This group of strong speakers has been so respectful of each other.”

He said that each of them speaks a little differently and with differently and with different dialects, but “it doesn't matter. We understand each other.”

Walker recognized the members of the Consortium Walker recognized the members of the Consortium with certificates and special “One People, One Fire” lapel pins.