WCU hosts 35th annual International Festival

April 10 marked the 35th time that Western Carolina’s community has gathered to celebrate cultural diversity. Over that span of time, the International Festival has become one of the more popular events on campus. This year’s event included performances based around Japanese, Saudi Arabian and Cherokee cultures, along with stands providing intercultural information and offering […]

Gospel singing fundraiser comes to Cherokee this Saturday

Winter is almost over, and Cherokee is ready to sing in the spring. Cherokee Student Assistance Program hosts the seventh annual Southern gospel singing fundraiser at Cherokee Central Schools Cultural Arts Center on Saturday, Mar. 8, 5-8 p.m.  Donations are expected for admission with all proceeds from the concert going to benefit the assistance program. […]

End of the world prophecies duped

By Marysa Burchett and Ben Haines The sun sets and the day ends. The sun rises yet again to start a new day. Leaves fall, plants die, and seasons change. Winter eventually turns to spring. This is a reoccurring cycle in our lives. A fear that has also been reoccurring is the Mayan prediction of […]

Native American Heritage Month is much more than a celebration of the past

Western Carolina University celebrated Native American Heritage Month this November with its fourth annual Native American Heritage Expo featuring a wide variety of events on November 19 and 20. The expo is the largest Native American event held at Western each year and included a presentation of songs in the Cherokee language and a panel […]

Thanksgiving has been with the Cherokee people forever

Thanksgiving means something different to all of us. It can mean overindulging, spending time with family, traveling, turkey dinner at Cracker Barrel, or just plain ole giving thanks- maybe even all of the above. For the Cherokee people, Thanksgiving means celebrating the harvest with the tribe and community. With the Native American Heritage Expo that […]

A day of heritage

The 38th annual Mountain Heritage Day kicked off Saturday, Sept. 28 at Western Carolina University. The day consisted of music, food, and performances that celebrated the heritage sewn through Western North Carolina. Events started early with a 5K race at 8 a.m. Other events included a chainsaw competition, the Cherokee game Stickball and Fish, and […]