Nurturing our Cultural Roots CHEROKEE PRESERVATION FOUNDATION ga-du-gi 2016 www.cherokeepreservation.org from the The Cherokee Preservation Foundation’s reputation is built on involving LETTER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR community members to accomplish key objectives which have been hank you for taking time to consider Below is a list of the Cherokee Core outlined through community interactions. Community input is expressed Tthese remarks, as this is a busy time of Values, as articulated by Cherokee through the projects CPF supports. year. Regrettably, the Cherokee Preservation community members, which continue to Foundation (CPF) has been without an guide our people in the decision-making Executive Director for many months. process. However, our work has persisted with great CheroKEE CORE VALUES resolve. CPF staff members have performed Spirituality their duties during these most unusual times Sense of Place and are to be commended for their efforts. Group Harmony In the coming years, the CPF will Strong Individual Character be committed to involving more Honoring the Past community members and partners in Educating the Children group endeavors to preserve Cherokee Possessing a Sense of Humor culture. The flame of cultural knowledge burns within the Cherokee people and May these Core Values guide my is intrinsically related to value-based leadership intentions and reflect my decision making. It is the task of the CPF commitment to serving the community in to create an atmosphere that is conducive an honorable manner as the new Executive to sustaining the EBCI’s most cherished Director. We must work together to ensure values within our grant making activities. that the Tribe remains on the “Right Path” (du-yu dv-i) as the Principle People. COVER PHOTO AND BACKGROUND PHOTO THIS PAGE: JEREMY WILSON BOBBY RAINES yo na gv s ga Executive Director ALL STAFF PHOTOS: DANA COCHRAN www.cherokeepreservation.org www.cherokeepreservation.org CHEROKEE CONTENTS Preservation Foundation CHEROKEE CORE VALUES: A GUIDE TO Grant Making Totals ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION CPF GRANT MAKING ACTIVITES Fall 2002 through Fall 2015 Grant Cycles FISHING WEIR/YOUTH PARTICIPATION 6 SUSTAINABLE RAMPS HARVEST STUDY 8 ❖ S PIRITUALITY ❖ 1,196 proposals were received for a total request of ◆ A Holistic Lifeway Approach Through Prayer and Faith $113,776,866 RIVER CANE PARTNERSHIP 10 SENSE OF PLACE CHEROKEE CHILDREN’S HOME 12 ❖ ❖ 922 grants were awarded for a total of $76,273,204 ◆ Strong Connection with and Stewardship of the Homelands of the Cherokee ❖ AREAS OF FOCUS: CULTURAL PRESERVATION • Cultural Preservation — 467 grants = 50% ❖ GROUP HARMONY THE RIGHT PATH 14 ◆ Including Community and Kin Relationships, Giving and Sharing, • Economic Development/Employment — Respect for Family Institution, and Sacrifice for the People 267 grants = 28% BIG COVE TRADITIONAL WOMEN 16 • Environmental Preservation —188 grants = 22% ❖ STRONG INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER CHARLOTTE’S WEB TRANSLATION 18 ◆ Encompassing Integrity, Honesty, Perseverance, Courage, Respect, ❖ Grants Trust, Honor, and Humility • Of the 922 grants, 524 (56%) went to EBCI ECONOMIC/WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT institutions/projects and 398 (44%) went to CHEROKEE FRIENDS 20 ❖ HONORING THE PAST EBCI/regional collaborative projects. ◆ Knowing One’s Ancestors, Respecting Elders, Possessing a Sense CULTURAL & DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS 22 of Cherokee Identity and Belonging, and Preserving Cherokee Culture ❖ MONIES ❖ EDUCATING THE CHILDREN • Of the total $76,273,204, 76% went to CHEROKEE PRESERVATON FOUNDATION ◆ Providing Value-Based Leadership Necessary to Become Selfless EBCI institutions/projects and 24% went to EBCI/ 71 John Crowe Hill Road, Cherokee, NC 28719 Leaders Through Life-Long Learning Opportunities that Include regional collaborative projects. All EBCI/regional 828/497-5550 Interactions with Families, Elders, and Community Role Models projects have direct impact on tribal members or tribal programs. ❖ SENSE OF HUMOR ◆ Self-Effacing Humor is Used to Lighten Pressure and Help Make Good Decisions. Every $1 given by CPF has been matched by $1.45, either by secured funds/grants, in-kind or leveraged resources, making BACKGROUND PHOTO: JEREMY WILSON our total contribution to the area $187,625,785. www.cherokeepreservation.org www.cherokeepreservation.org ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION This grant is helping preserve Cherokee Meet the Staff traditions and teaching children the importance of regional ecologies. “We set out the trap, and run nets along the veins, then the kids line up across the stream with cane or bamboo stalks. They move downstream, slapping the water to corral fish,” said Clapp. “Several parents help us that day, and usually everyone finds an excuse to get into the stream.” The fish harvest these days is sparse, but the ecology lesson is robust. Clapp pointed out that these streams used to have an abundance of fish. “To make these weirs, the people had to move tons of rock, and form channels, and weave baskets and make traps. Then the community would wade out in the stream. Going to all that trouble makes sense only if there were a lot of fish there,” he explained. The annual fishing weir day-out provides R T children and adults with other lessons. F WA F Participants learn to identify insects the fish eat, DANIEL L. MARTIN O CHEROKEE CHILDREN SPLISH SPLASH IN THE they learn more about the fish (there are about 40 de ni li ma ta ni STREAM FOR FUN AND LEARNING species natural to this watershed) and they hear GER CLAPP CLAPP GER stories about the people who used to live here. O F R F hen Cherokee children go wading in watershed. He’s a hydrologist with more than Program Director O “It’s fun to be in the water, to share a picnic a stream the first Monday each June, three decades of experience, much of that at ESY ESY and have a great learning experience,” said Economic Development, Regional Grants, T UR fun and laughter mix beautifully Oak Ridge National Laboratory. At Oak Ridge he Clapp. “ The Foundation grant makes it all Environmental Preservation O W with learning. studied radioactive sediments discharged into possible, and we are grateful.” For the past six years, more than two dozen the Tennessee River system. PHOTOS: C PHOTOS: pre-teen and early teenage children from “This grant is helping preserve Cherokee Qualla Boundary and outside the Boundary traditions and teaching children the importance have enjoyed wading in the Tuckasegee River to of regional ecologies,” said Clapp. “ If these learn about fishing weirs—an ancient Cherokee resources are lost, it’s a loss to the Tribe and also method of trapping fish. The children also learn the regional community,” he said. about invertebrates, sediment impacts, and Fishing weirs are well known in community and history. anthropological circles. The ones made by the Roger Clapp, Executive Director of the Cherokee are made from stone in a V-shape Watershed Association of the Tuckasegee River pointing down stream. At the throat of the V, (WATR) administers the Foundation grant that a basket or trap catches fish. When the water funds this activity. WATR is a citizen-based group is low, the weir becomes a dam. Duke Energy dedicated to the protection and enhancement of works with WATR to set aside that first Monday the health and quality of the Tuckasegee River in June each year for low flow, assuring there and its watershed. The fishing weirs are found is a dam. outside Qualla Boundary in this watershed and While the dam is working, children go the upper Little Tennessee River. upstream and corral fish, guiding them into Dr. Clapp is no stranger to protecting the the traps. 6 7 www.cherokeepreservation.org www.cherokeepreservation.org ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION We are looking at the study from a tribal “We are looking at the study from a tribal perspective and we believe the old methods perspective, and we believe the old methods work to keep the ramps coming back each work to keep the ramps coming back year. This study will encourage other people to each year. harvest more sustainably, so future generations can continue to enjoy these flavorful onions,” (RTCAR), the North Carolina Arboretum said Cozzo. Germplasm Repository implemented a study This research may have implications for in 2013 of the impact of traditional Cherokee other Native Americans across the nation. methods of harvesting ramps. The study It may serve as a test case for other Tribes compares three treatments at three separate experiencing regional issues with harvesting sites in Graham, Macon, and Jackson counties. traditional plants in national parks. The treatments include the traditional “This is a great opportunity to partner with Cherokee method of taking only young white the Forest Service and make it a larger, more tips, cutting the mature plant at the base, and definitive study. We hope this may lead to a a control group where nothing is done. Because permitting system, a way to sustainably harvest most tribal members harvest ramps before the plants in a partnership,” said Cozzo. green shoots have emerged, the nutritional profile of young tips is also being analyzed and compared to previous analysis of whole plants. Joe-Ann McCoy, Director of the NC Meet the Staff Arboretum Germplasm Repository is heading up the study. “What we are trying to establish is long term conservation of a precious species. It’s hard to get seeds to grow, and we PHOTOS OF CAMERON COOPER: JEREMY WILSON are working on ways to propagate the plants quickly and grow them. The white tips of the plant are extremely nutritious and may help prevent some illnesses. We’d like to see Left: A native population of ramps at mature everyone growing them in their yards,” she said. harvest stage before flowering. Each Spring, dozens of communities hold Above: Earlier spring white tip ramps. Spring ramp festivals, celebrating the pungent PHOTOS: COURTESY OF JOE-ANN McCOY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ARBORETUM onion and raising funds for various causes.