OPINIONS & LETTERSLetter from Jimmy G. Arispe, <strong>Cherokee</strong> Central SchoolsSuperintendent<strong>Cherokee</strong> Central School Parents, Guardians and <strong>Cherokee</strong> Community Members:<strong>The</strong> ability to read is critical to the success of any person! Research tells usthat if a child is not on grade level by 3rd grade he/she is four times less likely tograduate from high school by the age of 18. <strong>The</strong>re is nothing more importantthat we do at <strong>Cherokee</strong> Central Schools than teach our children how to read andread well.After the Christmas holidays, we will launch a massive effort to ensure thatall of our children can read on grade level. All of our teachers and students inKindergarten thru 12th grade will be involved in this effort EVERY SINGLE DAYfrom 9am-10:30am. This will be our sacred reading time.I ask that you not check out your son/daughter during this time. I ask that youschedule any appointments for your children before or after this time. <strong>The</strong>re isno more important time during their school day than from 9am-10:30am EVERYSINGLE DAY. I ask that you respect this time as sacred.We will use a highly acclaimed and successful reading program (SRA) that willprovide us with the greatest results possible. Students will be placed into smallgroups to receive instruction on their level and ability. <strong>The</strong>y will move to differentgroups at any time based on their needs. Students who are “knockin’ it out ofthe park” and are above grade level will be placed in literature circles or novelstudies classes.We are inviting community members to assist us in these efforts. You do notneed to have a child at our schools. We need and want your help. You can assistus by distributing materials, testing students (you will be trained to do this),tracking inventory, or developing teacher resources. You will not have to be hereevery day, but would have to be here the same time/day of the week. If youwould like to teach, you will receive continuous training, be given a smaller groupof students, and would be teamed up with a teacher at the school. In this type ofteaching situation, you would need to be here every day.If you would like to help in any capacity, please contact the front ofice ofyour child’s school. Thank you for embracing and supporting this sacred readingtime. Thank you for supporting our students and schools.Sincerely,Jimmy G. ArispeSuperintendentThank YouFirst of all, I want to apologize forhe delay in putting this thank you inhe paper. I want to thank everyone forour prayers, thoughts, calls and visitsuring my stay in the hospital. Thankou to my family and church family, Dr.ranning and staff the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Hospial,tribal EMT worker, and Missionospital staff. If I have overlooked anyneplease accept my apology. Again,hank you for caring and God Blessou.ignedinda RabyYour 1/16page adcould behere!$25/weekGreensboro – <strong>The</strong> Strategic PlanningCouncil that advises <strong>The</strong> CooperativeExtension Program at N.C. A&TState University, welcomed new membersat its <strong>Nov</strong>. 1-3 meeting on campus.<strong>The</strong> Strategic Planning Council representsthe needs of communities acrossthe state to Cooperative Extensionleaders, who use that input to developresearch-based programs and informationon critical issues.Marvel Welch of <strong>Cherokee</strong>, whohas an extensive background in children’sadvocacy. She is a member ofthe <strong>Cherokee</strong> Youth Advisory Counciland the Eastern Band of <strong>Cherokee</strong>’s ExtensionAdvisory Board, among otherafiliations. Welch is also a guardian adlitem with the state judicial system anda certiied substance abuse counselor.She is a doctoral candidate in publichealth, at Walden University.Other new members are:• David Autrey of Yancey County,who rejoins the council after havingserved from 2003 to 2007. He ownsMillstone Cove Farms, and Autrey Treeand Landscaping; and is on the Boardof Advisors at his alma mater, Mars Hill30 cherokee one feather THURSDAY, NOVEMBER <strong>17</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>Relive <strong>Cherokee</strong> History andBattles in 2012Enrolled members of the Eastern Band of <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indians, <strong>Cherokee</strong> Nation,and United Keetoowah Band are invited to participate in <strong>Cherokee</strong> livinghistory events in 2012. <strong>The</strong> Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian will be sponsoringseven events in four states to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Timberlakeand Ostenaco’s journeys at the end of the French and Indian War. (see article)<strong>The</strong> year’s events will commemorating the events in the Museum’s exhibit,“Emissaries of Peace: <strong>17</strong>62 <strong>Cherokee</strong> and British Delegations.” <strong>Cherokee</strong> re-enactorsare invited to participate in the recreation of the battles of the MontgomeryExpedition (<strong>17</strong>60) and Grant Expedition (<strong>17</strong>61). <strong>The</strong>se will be held MemorialDay weekend, 2012.“This is going to be the largest recreation of a <strong>Cherokee</strong> battle ever held, andwe are looking forward to an exciting weekend,” said Ken Blankenship, ExecutiveDirector of the Museum. More than 100 volunteer re-enactors will be portrayinga British regiment in redcoats; the 42nd Highland regiment with kilts and bagpipes;and the South Carolina militia.<strong>Cherokee</strong> re-enactors must have their own historically accurate clothing andweapons and must be over 18 to have black powder weapons. Historically accurateclothing includes breechclouts, moccasins and red paint. <strong>The</strong> Museum willbe providing workshops this winter on moccasin and clothing making. All participantswill be juried before the event.All <strong>Cherokee</strong> re-enactors must have their own lintlock riles or muskets withlashpan. Any bags and pouches must have a closed top to avoid accidents. Allparticipants must be certiied in a black powder safety course to be offered at theMuseum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian in spring 2012. All war clubs must have softweaponry and will be inspected onsite for safety. <strong>The</strong> Museum will provide blackpowder at the event.<strong>The</strong> battles will be held at the actual site of the original Grant expedition battlesouth of Franklin North Carolina, on the Moore farm near the Spring RidgeCreamery on Highway 441 . Information is available on the Museum website atwww.cherokeemuseum.org. For more information contact Barbara Duncan byemail: bduncan@cherokeemuseum.org.-Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> IndianLocal Resident joins A&T Advisory PanelMarvel WelchCollege. Autrey is also a past presidentof the N.C. Nursery and Landscape Association.• Gilbert Flowe of Concord, a longtimecommunity advocate, as well as astaunch supporter of Cooperative Extensionprograms and activities. Aspresident of his rural neighborhood association,Flowe was instrumental inthe ive-year process of getting waterconnections to 36 homeowners. He hasalso served on the Cabarrus CountyNursing Home Committee, and as avoting-precinct judge.• Lenon Hickman, a Kenansville residentwho retired from the U.S. PostalService in New York before movingwith his wife to Duplin County. Hickmanis a grower who serves on twosmall farmers’ cooperatives. He hasalso worked with a Summer EnhancementProgram teaching students togrow their own vegetables, and is amember of the Rural EmpowermentAssociation for Community Help.• Alice Locklear of Robeson County,an assistant professor of social work atUNC-Pembroke who is also pursuing adoctoral degree in human services. Shehas worked in various levels of socialwork practice including mental health,substance abuse counseling, cognitivebehavior therapy and more. As a LumbeeIndian, Locklear is particularly devotedto maintaining a healthy and safeenvironment in the physical-mentaland-emotionalwell being of NativeAmerican people.-N.C. A&T State University
Museum takes <strong>Cherokee</strong> Story to wide audience in 2012Ostenaco and Lt.James Timberlake.Emissaries of Peace: <strong>17</strong>62-2012, a “Wethe People” ExhibitAs part of American Indian Heritagemonth, the Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong>Indian announced today a series ofnew programs showcasing Ostenaco’sand Henry Timberlake’s journey toeach other’s countries as Emissaries ofPeace two hundred and ifty years ago.<strong>The</strong> Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indianwill celebrate their stories and exploretheir two cultures—<strong>Cherokee</strong> andBritish—with seven events in fourstates in throughout 2012.“We are looking forward to theseexciting events, and taking this story oftwo cultures to a wider audience,” saidKen Blankenship, Executive Director ofthe Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indianand enrolled tribal member of theEastern Band of <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indians. In2006, the Museum created the exhibit,“Emissaries of Peace: <strong>17</strong>62 <strong>Cherokee</strong>and British Delegations.” It was designateda “We the People” exhibit by theNational Endowment for the Humanities.This designation is awarded toprojects that encourage andstrengthen the understanding of Americanhistory and culture and that advanceknowledge of the principles thatdeine America.During 2012, seven events and apublic television broadcast will tell thisstory to new audiences. A battle re-enactment,festivals with eighteenth century<strong>Cherokee</strong> living history, scholarlysymposia, a television broadcast and atrip to London take place from MemorialDay through <strong>Nov</strong>ember. Additionally,a smaller version of the Emissariesexhibit will be on display at Fort NecessityNational Battleield in Farmington,Penn., and at the SequoyahBirthplace Museum in Vonore, Tenn.,while the original exhibit resides at theMuseum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian in<strong>Cherokee</strong>, N.C. Two additional small exhibitsare available for rental.Performances throughout the yearPhoto Courtesy of the Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indianbring history to life. Henry Timberlakeand Ostenaco will provide irst personhistorical interpretation. <strong>The</strong> Warriorsof AniKituwha, a traditional <strong>Cherokee</strong>dance group sponsored by the Museum,will be performing at all venues.As oficial cultural ambassadors, thisgroup has been at the center of culturalrevitalization for <strong>Cherokee</strong> people.<strong>The</strong>y have inspired pride in a littleknownperiod of <strong>Cherokee</strong> historywhen <strong>Cherokee</strong>s took part in globalevents. Timberlake’s description of theWar Dance that welcomed him is thebasis for their revival of this and othertraditional <strong>Cherokee</strong> dances. Researchused in the exhibit has inspired andhelped create cultural revitalization intraditional dance, <strong>Cherokee</strong> clothing,pottery, ingerweaving, feather capesand more.<strong>The</strong> exhibit has been viewed bymore than two million people since itsopening in 2006. It was the irst exhibitcreated by an American Indian tribe tobe displayed at the Smithsonian, openingin 2007 at the Smithsonian Museumof Natural History. It has been ondisplay at the Frank McClung Museumin Knoxville, Tenn., the Gilcrease Museumin Tulsa, Okla., and the NorthCarolina Arboretum in Asheville.Sponsors include the National Endowmentfor the Humanities, <strong>Cherokee</strong>Preservation Foundation, First CitizensBank, <strong>The</strong> Cannon Foundation, Harrah’sFoundation, Colonial WilliamsburgFoundation and the Museum ofthe <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian.For more information go to:www.cherokeemuseum.org.-Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian“Emmisaries of Peace” 2012 Schedule of EventsMAY 26-27 REENACTMENT OF MONTGOMERY AND GRANT EXPEDITIONBATTLES ON SITE, MACON COUNTY, N.C.PARTNERS: Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian, Jim Moore, Fort Loudoun State HistoricSite, Macon County Historical SocietyMAY 1 OCONALUFTEE INDIAN VILLAGE OPENS. Timberlake and Ostenaco willbe in residence June-August. PARTNER: <strong>Cherokee</strong> Historical AssociationJUNE 10 CHEROKEE VOICES FESTIVAL, MUSEUM OF THE CHEROKEEINDIAN GRAND RE-OPENING OF EMISSARIES EXHIBITPARTNERS: Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian, North Carolina Arts CouncilJULY 7-8 FORT NECESSITY NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD (Penn.)Event with <strong>Cherokee</strong> dance and living history; Emissaries of Peace smallexhibitPARTNERS: Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian, Fort Necessity National Battleield,National Park ServiceJULY 18-22 TIMBERLAKE AND OSTENACO IN WILLIAMSBURG (Va.)Historical drama; dance by Warriors of AniKituwha; camp of the <strong>Cherokee</strong>s.PARTNERS: Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian, Colonial WilliamsburgAmericanIndian InitiativeJUNE 15 CHEROKEE LONDON TOURTour of places visited by the <strong>Cherokee</strong>s in <strong>17</strong>62: PARTNERS: Gilcrease Museum(Dr. Duane King); Cultural Tourism Dept. of <strong>Cherokee</strong> NationJUNE 22-23 TIMBERLAKE IN THE OVERHILLS:FORT LOUDOUN STATE HISTORIC SITE Symposium with scholars; “Timberlakein the Overhills” tours with <strong>Cherokee</strong> guides.SEQUOYAH BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM Emissaries of Peace traveling exhibit;Living history demonstrations; Warriors of AniKituhwaPARTNERS: Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian; Fort Loudoun State Historic Site;Sequoyah Birthplace Museum; TN Humanities CouncilSEPT 14-15 GRAND FINALE with SOUTHEAST TRIBES FESTIVALLiving history, traditional dance, crafts, stickball games, blowgun competitions,from ive original Southeastern Tribes. “Colonial Lifeways Presented by ColonialWilliamsburg” including the Colonial Williamsburg and Fife and Drum Corps.Timberlake family reunion.PARTNERS: Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> Indian, <strong>Cherokee</strong> Preservation Foundation,North Carolina Arts Council, Colonial Williamsburg FoundationNOV 7-8 EMISSARIES OF PEACE ELECTRONIC FIELD TRIPColonial Williamsburg PBS Broadcast of documentary ilm; live studio call-inPARTNERS: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, Museum of the <strong>Cherokee</strong> IndianTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER <strong>17</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>cherokee one feather31