Cherokee Preservation Foundation

Cherokee Preservation Foundation Announces
Spring 2005 Grants Totalling Approximately $4.1 Million

Six Grants Totaling Nearly $2.5 Million Support
the Initial Actions Stemming from Vision Qualla

CHEROKEE, NC, March 24, 2005—Cherokee Preservation Foundation (CPFdn) announced today that it has awarded 37 new grants totaling approximately $4.1 million that community and other nonprofit groups within the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the surrounding region will use to spur tourism and other economic development, as well as cultural preservation and environmental preservation.

Six of the grants support new initiatives that have sprung from Vision Qualla, a family of actions plans recently developed by a committee of local and regional constituencies to develop and accelerate cultural tourism opportunities, downtown Cherokee revitalization, entrepreneurial activity, career awareness for students, and an emerging knowledge industry.

The committee, which was convened by CPFdn to help guide its grantmaking, includes representatives from the EBCI executive branch and Tribal Council, Cherokee cultural organizations, hoteliers and merchants, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, community groups, banks, artists and regional organizations. The first outcomes of Vision Qualla include:

A $1.7 million grant to help Cherokee Historical Association (CHA) increase attendance at the two major heritage tourism attractions it manages — the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the long running outdoor drama, Unto these Hills. The grant will help CHA market the attractions more aggressively, sell tickets online, and update the attractions over the next two seasons.
An $80,000 grant to create an annual festival in Cherokee and Western North Carolina to celebrate native North and South Americans. The festival will be developed by the Cherokee Historical Association, the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, and the EBCI Marketing and Promotions program.
A nearly $50,000 grant to enhance visitors’ heritage tourism experience by creating pre-packaged and custom tour packages combining cultural opportunities, guides and other resources.
A $520,000 grant that will help enrolled members of the EBCI develop entrepreneurial skills and acquire financing to start a business or purchase one from an enrolled member, and then manage the business successfully over the long term. The majority of this grant will be used to increase the Revolving Loan Fund administered by the Community Development Corporation in Cherokee.
A $100,000 grant to establish a Tribal Internship Training Program that will enable Cherokee youth to see the expanding scope of professional services that are required by the Eastern Band and gather information that will help them focus on particular career opportunities so they can make good decisions about their educations. The goal is to encourage students to become well educated and then return to the Qualla Boundary to get good jobs and address the needs of their tribe.
A $20,000 grant to help existing knowledge industry businesses on the Qualla Boundary capitalize on the broadband internet access made possible by the new BalsamWest FiberNet system and to attract new knowledge businesses to tribal lands.

"A great deal of effort has gone into Vision Qualla to create a cohesive strategy and action plans that will have a long-term, positive impact on the culture and economy of the Qualla Boundary and the surrounding region,” said Susan Jenkins, CPFdn’s executive director. “Cherokee Preservation Foundation is pleased to support the fine heritage tourism and other economic development initiatives that the Vision Qualla effort has already cultivated. There will be many more tangible results from Vision Qualla in the future.

OTHER NEW GRANTEES

Cultural Preservation

Clay County Schools, to preserve and provide access to the Spikebuck Mound in Clay County. Under the leadership of Clay County Schools, an unprecedented effort is underway in that a diverse partnership has come together to achieve the protection of a North Carolina mound, one of the few remaining Cherokee earth mounds.

EBCI Diabetes Program, to develop a culturally significant garden space for the Ginger Lynn Welch Diabetes program to aid in the spiritual healing of diabetes.
North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, to develop an implement a series of seminars on Cherokee culture and history for public school teachers who work across North Carolina.

Western Carolina University’s Cherokee Studies program, to digitize paper records and process artifacts from sites on the Qualla Boundary and in Swain and Jackson counties. The project will increase understanding of traditional Cherokee ways of life and traditional land use patterns in Western North Carolina. It will also contribute toward the creation of a regional archaeological research facility.

Cashiers Historical Society, which is producing a symposium about the significance of William Holland Thomas, an important friend to the Cherokee people in the 19th century.
Cherokee Central Schools, to obtain technical assistance from consultants as the new school campus is designed and built.

Cherokee Boys Club, to complete a comprehensive business and financial plan for the Cherokee Art Institute.

Cherokee Youth Center, to complete a comprehensive strategic plan.

EBCI Cherokee Language Program, to conduct a comprehensive survey in ten communities on the Qualla Boundary to determine the number of speakers of the Cherokee language and their level of fluency. The study will help establish long-range strategies to assure the survival of the language.

EBCI Cultural Resources Department, to implement a two-week experiential Cherokee youth language camp.

Snowbird Health Clinic, to provide a week-long summer day camp experience to Snowbird Community youth that improves their understanding of the Cherokee culture and healthy lifestyles.

North Carolina Outward Bound School, to bring Cherokee youth from several regional high schools together to participate in a five-day wilderness experience that will help them address issues that both connect and divide their communities.

Western Carolina University’s Department of Communication, Theater and Dance, to help the WCU Honors College and Cherokee Youth Center implement an art-based curriculum that includes arts, literacy, and Cherokee heritage and culture.

Wolfetown Community Club, to survey members of their community to identify community needs the club can address and generate involvement from more members of the community.

Nantahala Regional Library, to develop plans that will help the public libraries in Cherokee, Clay and Graham counties connect with Indian communities in order to enhance Cherokee culture and language resources in the libraries.

Cherokee Potters Guild, to enable guild members to promote their work and continue offering workshops. The grant will help the guild create a signature pottery piece they will market to increase interest in the old-style Cherokee stamped pottery.

Museum of the Cherokee Indian, to complete a major touring exhibit project, install a new covering on the Museum building, and support the Cherokee War Dancers, a group that is sponsored by the Museum.

The James Agee Film Project, to engage students and other Cherokee community members in the next phase of planning for a film entitled “Appalachia: A History of Mountains and People.”

Economic Development & Job Creation

Mountain Microenterprise Fund, to facilitate the development of a collaborative network of small business development centers and lenders to enhance business development services provided on the Qualla Boundary and in the seven counties in the region.

Western Carolina Partnership (Haywood Community College, Southwestern Community College and Tri-County Community College) to implement the Qualla-T customer service training program on the Qualla Boundary. If the Qualla-T pilot program on the Qualla Boundary is successful, it is expected to be implemented in the seven-county region in westernmost North Carolina in 2006.

Hinton Rural Life, to provide carpentry apprenticeships for Cherokee and non-Cherokee youth in Graham and Swain Counties. The apprentices will help the grantee construct affordable homes for low income families in the region.

The EBCI’s Cherokee Life Program, to stimulate economic growth for the EBCI and Jackson and Swain Counties through the establishment of a Reservation-wide Competitive Sports Initiative in which softball, baseball, soccer and Indian Ball field and walking trails will be constructed in Birdtown, Wolfetown and Yellowhill. The new fields will enhance the EBCI’s capacity to host competitive sports tournaments.

The EBCI’s Bottled Water program, to conduct a feasibility study for possible expansion of the Cherokee Bottled Water enterprise through the construction of a manufacturing facility.
Qualla Financial Freedom, to continue providing financial education and counseling to people of all ages in the Cherokee community.

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, to provide the Gateway Community Leadership Program training to help community leaders, public and private land managers and resource partners in Western North Carolina learn how to sustain the special character of their communities and public lands while managing growth and building regional partnerships.

Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority and the EBCI’s Health and Medical Services Division, to establish a collaborative system of care for members of the EBCI.

Graham County Revitalization Economic Action Team, to help the group develop and establish itself as a nonprofit organization.

One Dozen Who Care, Inc., to help the group provide cultural diversity training and improve the economy of the region’s minority community during its 2005 multicultural women’s conference.

Environmental Protection

North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, which is collaborating with CPFdn and Earth University in Costa Rica to provide an international experience in Costa Rica for 14 Cherokee youth this summer. EARTH University is an international university located in Costa Rica that educates young leaders from 19 Latin American countries in sustainable management of agricultural development and natural resources.

EBCI’s Cherokee Life Program, to develop a greenway corridor along Soco Creek in the Painttown community.

About Cherokee Preservation Foundation

CPFdn was established on November 14, 2000, as part of the Second Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and the State of North Carolina. It is an independent nonprofit foundation funded by the EBCI from gaming revenues generated by the Tribe. CPFdn is not part of or associated with any for-profit gaming entity. Since CPFdn’s inception, it has made 219 grants totaling more than $15.5 million. For more information, visit www.cherokeepreservationfdn.org on the Web.