Dadiwonisi

Five new members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians graduated from the Cherokee Language learners program Sept. 25. From left are She-li "Seli" Lewis; April "Svgta" Johnson; Jack "Uwetsi" Cooper; Desiree "Kiyug" Turpin; and Kyla "Kali" Millsaps. Photos by Latresa Phillips/The Graham Star

Heritage preserved

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Snowbird resident Kyla "Kali" Millsaps was honored with the Speaker's Council Award at Sept. 25's Cherokee Language learners graduation exercise. Snowbird – The Cherokee culture is steeped in traditions of language, spirituality, food, storytelling, crafts and other forms of art.

Cherokee County/Snowbird Tribal Council Rep. Adam Wachacha (far left) and Roger Smoker (far right) gather around the six latest graduates of the Dadiwonisi Language Program, all of whom were recognized at a Monday ceremony. In-between Wachacha and Smoker (from left) are language instructor Cassidy Galaviz, Callie Bush, Malakai Littlejohn, Lauryn Rattler, Rachel Ballou, Lakoda Bird, Troy Jones and Mike Wachacha. Photo courtesy of April Johnson/Contributing Photographer

'Be the voice’

Latresa Phillips

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Snowbird – In 1872, Graham County took action to create a school system for the Cherokee on the Snowbird Reservation. On Sept. 6, 1880, a school district was established and the Cherokee attended a one-teacher schoolhouse.