Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

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Levern Hamlin scrapbook

items 133 of 147 items
  • wcu_memories-1066.jpg
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Item’s are ‘child’ level descriptions to ‘parent’ objects, (e.g. one page of a whole book).

  • EASTERN Cherokee Today For a number of years the government schools have worked toward the revival of old handicrafts, the introduction of new crafts and craft methods and materials, and the maintenance of high standards in design and workmanship. The Cherokee Central School is well equipped for teaching handicrafts and offers practical courses in weaving, basketry, pottery, art metal work, cabinet making, wood carving and jewelry making. The summer arts, crafts and dramatics school held each year through the co-operation of the Cherokee Historical Association and the Indian Agency uses the facilities of the Central School. Self-sustaining, the Cherokee comb a living from earth . . . make use of every available piece of land turn out crops that shame the white man. the The Cherokee spin out a livelihood from a heritage as old as the hills. The hands are sure even when the eyes grow dim and the hands are never idle. Back in the secluded coves, Cherokee women such as the one shown here, carry on the ancient technique of basket weaving. An Indian Service forester and his assistants advise the Cherokees in the use of their forests and help to administer the forests on a sustained yield basis. An agriculture extension agent and a soil conservationist provided by the Indian Service assist the Cherokees to build up their land and use it wisely. Through the Indian Service revolving loan fund the extension division assists the Indians to set up productive enterprises of all kinds, and helps the Indians to secure loans from other federal, state and private agencies. The Cherokees receive the benefits of all services rendered by the state and county to other residents. A Cherokee does not pay taxes on tribal land which has been assigned to him, and he may not dispose of this land to anyone not a member of the tribe. This is a provision to keep the Cherokees from becoming landless. Of course if a Cherokee owns land off the Reservation he must pay taxes on it and can dispose of it as he sees fit. The Cherokees pay income taxes, sales taxes, and all other taxes paid by other citizens. The Eastern Cherokees live under a charter from the state of North Carolina which is somewhat similar to the charters under which municipalities operate. They have a chief and vice-chief, elected every four years by the people, and a council of twelve elected biennially. This body passes ordinances and regulations and manages the tribal land and other assets of the tribe. There are seven community organizations functioning effectively on the Reservation. Many striking improvements have been made through the work of these organizations; among them are home repair and improvement, roadside beautification, bringing power and telephone lines into the community, repair and beautification of churches and cemeteries, construction and upkeep of roadside picnic areas, erection of community buildings, formation of a Softball league, various organized recreation projects, increased interest in all public affairs and an amazing development of effective, constructive local leadership. Prizes for improvement made by the organized communities are offered jointly by the Cherokee Fair Association and the Cherokee Historical Association. The whole community development movement on the Reservation has the active support of the Agency. In addition to competing in the Reservation Community Organization and Development Contest, most of the Indian Communities also enter the Western North Carolina Community Improvement Contest, and every year since this contest began a Cherokee Community has won one of the major awards. Like all growing communities, Cherokee is looking ahead and trying to plan for the future. A year-round industry has been one of the things most needed, and only recently the reservation got its first industry. It is a moccasin factory called "The Cherokees." Only Cherokee Indians are employed, and they make several styles of Indian moccasins. As the factory develops other crafts such as beaded handbags and sandals more Cherokee will be employed. The Cherokee Indian Fair is the big annual event for the Cherokees. As many as 40,000 persons have visited the fair in one season. Exhibits of Cherokee handicrafts and agricultural, Community Club, Women's and Girls' Club and homemaking exhibits, Indian singing and dancing, archery and blowgun contests and Cherokee Stick Ball games are important features of this harvest festival. String band and square dancing contests attract crowds to the fair nightly for the best teams of the area compete. This year the Cherokee Fair will be held from September 24 through 28 inclusive. The Cherokees are citizens of the county, the state and the United States, and exercise all of the privileges of citizens including the franchise and service in the military forces of our country. A young Cherokee soldier, PFC Charles George, of Birdtown Community, was recently awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, post-humously, for heroic action on the field of battle in Korea. In addition to the problems of making a living and raising a family which must be solved by all people, the Cherokees are solving an additional problem, that of remaining as "Indian" as they like, of retaining all they value in Cherokee culture, yet feeling themselves in every respect a vital, integrated part of the stream of American life. There is genius in the hands of Watty Chiltoskie who creates matchless woodcarvings with knife from native woods. Watty is the brother of Going Back Chiltoskie who has won fame as a wood sculptor. Wood-carving is an ancient Cherokee art that is being revived.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).