Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Resource Information Center for Young Adults
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Leadership Intiatives
The Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s mission is to preserve our native culture, protect and enhance our natural environment, and create appropriate and diverse economic opportunities in order to improve the quality of life for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and our neighbors in western North Carolina. These four leadership programs
The mission of the Cherokee Youth Council (CYC) is to bring back the valued voice of youth that was the tradition in the days of the Cherokee Grand Council and enable youth to serve their community and develop selfless leadership skills. You must be 12-18 years old to participate in the youth council program. The CYC was established in 2007 by Cherokee Preservation Foundation and continues to receive support from the Foundation and the EBCI Cooperative Extension Program.
Participants sign up to be interviewed and then are voted upon by the current members.
In 2005, Cherokee Preservation Foundation and the EBCI Cooperative Extension Program partnered to develop a cross-cultural eco-study program involving EARTH University in Costa Rica. To date, dozens of youth in the region, ages 14 through 17, have traveled to Costa Rica in the summer. They visit other indigenous communities, experience Earth University’s sustainable environment practices, and broaden their cultural awareness. This cross cultural sharing with other indigenous tribes allows the participating youth to develop their own cultural knowledge and awareness through individual and group cultural presentations.
Tammy Jackson - Community Development Coordinator
Phone: (828) 554.6934
Email: tammjack@nc-cherokee.com
The Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program makes financial awards to undergraduate college students committed to developing their leadership skills. The program honors the memory and leadership of Principal Chief Leon Jones and Mr. James Bowman, who were founding members of the Board of Directors of Cherokee Preservation Foundation.
Each year they participate in the program, Jones-Bowman Fellows receive funding of approximately $4,000 for individual leadership learning plans they develop with their mentor.
The Right Path , “Du-yu dv-i,” Adult Leadership program provides unique leadership learning that tailors contemporary leadership development competencies from the wisdom of Cherokee ancestral cultural leadership. Right Path serves members of the Cherokee tribes of the Eastern Band, Cherokee Nation, and United Kituwah Band. The 12-month program works to bridge the past and present by incorporating programming that includes Cherokee language lessons, and introduction to cultural lifeways such as Cherokee clan customs, field trips to identify native plants, and visits to sacred sites like Kituwah and Cowee mounds. Curriculum includes use of the contemporary personality assessment tools.
Participants are selected through a nomination process, final selection is determined by the Right Path Advisory Council which is made up of community professionals and Right Path alumni. Participants’ employers support their attendance for two days each month, for 12 months. There are 20 alumni.
JUNALUSKA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Junaluska Leadership Council is a youth leadership program comprised of Native American youth enrolled in Cherokee High School, Swain County High School, Smoky Mountain High School, and Robbinsville High School. The program enhances participants leadership, social, public speaking, and relationship development skills. Participants also gain experience in understanding operations of Tribal Government.
Junaluska Leadership Council hold monthly meetings with rotations between the 4 schools. During meetings they plan community events, discuss issues and concerns in the community, write resolutions with issues that were collected from their peers and based on needs of the community.
Community events planned by the council were a result of legislation submitted by Junaluska Leadership Council to Tribal Council.
Community events include and Honor the Elders Day named after Ned Long. The council determines what elders will be honored and plan a community gathering, send invitations, and set up entertainment using local entertainers.
The council plans a Junaluska Wreath Laying Ceremony at the gravesite of Cherokee Chief Junaluska. They organize invitations, a luncheon, and entertainment for the event.
Junaluska Leadership Council hold 2 Council Sessions per year one in the fall and one in the spring. The council submits resolutions (at least 3 per school) that pertain to needs of the youth as well as needs of the community. Resolutions passed in Junaluska Leadership Council are submitted to Tribal Council.
Resolutions submitted to Tribal Council that have been ratified by the Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and that are now in place include; Ned Long – Honor the Elders Day be held the last Wednesday of October, Building a 5 Star Hotel, enclosing community gymnasiums, constructing a movie theatre, bowling alley, and skate park, placing concave mirrors at hidden driveways, painting lines on tribal side roads, placing guardrails on Big Cove and Old No. 4 Roads.
JLC elects officers; Chairman, Vice Chairman, Recorder, and English Clerk.
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