WCU Cherokee Center

10/08/2026

Shout out to Digali’i for holding it down in the 114th Cherokee Indian Fair Parade!

Thank y’all for taking the time to represent the Cherokee Center, Digali’i and WCU, we greatly appreciate it!

10/05/2026

Great things happening at the WCU Cherokee Center and more to come! 💜💛

For the first time in more than 20 years, Western Carolina University's Cherokee Center is offering community enrichment and continuing education courses.

10/01/2026

It was a honor to help support the WCU Native American Student Organization, Digali’i, in recognizing Every Child Matters/ Orange Shirt Day today, on September 30th. 🧡

Shared below is information from one of the flyers from the event:

“In Canada, it was declared a National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and in the US, it is the National day of Remembrance of US Boarding Schools.

We wear Orange because Phyllis Webstad shared her own story of how she went to St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School with a new Orange shirt her grandmother bought her and then it had been stripped away from her and she never seen it again. This then became a symbol for September 30th and for those who went to boarding schools and the pain they suffered.”

🧡🪶
📸: Digali’i Native American Student Organization


(Also a special s/o to Native Impressions for the support. Sgi!)

09/30/2026

Such beauties! 🥹

09/30/2026

🧡🤎

Join us tomorrow (9/30) at 10:00 a.m. for the annual Every Child Matters Walk. Wear orange if you can. “Every Child Matters” acknowledges the thousands of Native children who were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools across the United States, where their cultures, languages, and traditions were stripped away. Together, we honor Survivors, remember the children who never returned home, and walk toward healing.

09/14/2026

We had another visitor at the center today! He was tiny! 🐸🥹

09/14/2026

The WCU Cherokee Center would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Cynthia Saunooke Foundation for inviting our Director, Shalana Yates, to serve as one of the keynote speakers at the From Darkness Into Hope event. 💙

We were grateful for the opportunity to spend the day with our community, share resources available through Western Carolina University, and remind those who stopped by our table that support is available. WCU Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) also provided us with a wonderful flyer featuring Tohi 🐾, and we encouraged everyone who passed through to take a little moment to “paws.” Life can be challenging, and sometimes we all need that reminder: you are never alone. 💙

One of the most meaningful parts of the day was seeing the response to our anonymous “Leave a Little Hope” basket. Community members took time to write messages of encouragement, kindness, and hope for someone else who may need to hear those words. To each and every person who contributed a message, sgi nigad! Your words may seem small, but you never know when a few kind words might reach someone at exactly the right moment.

Thank you to the Cynthia Saunooke Foundation, our community partners, and everyone who came together to support mental health awareness and su***de prevention. Thank you for helping us leave a little more hope in the world. 💙

Sgi!
WCU Cherokee Center Staff

09/10/2026

Come join us today at the event, From Darkness into Hope, at Oconaluftee Island Park in Cherokee! 💜

This annual event brings our community together to raise awareness around mental health and su***de prevention while creating space for hope, healing, remembrance, and connection.
Be sure to stop by the WCU Cherokee Center table! We’ll have motivational and supportive stickers, wristbands, pens, resources, and more to share throughout the event.
We also have a special community engagement opportunity: Leave a Little Hope.💜 🩵

We’re inviting you to answer one simple question: What would you say to someone who needs a little hope today?

Leave an anonymous message of encouragement, kindness, strength, or hope with us. Following the event, we’ll share your messages anonymously so the hope and support shown by our community today can continue reaching others who may need it. Sometimes a few words, or even a small reminder that someone cares, can make a difference.

And while you’re here, we hope you’ll remember to take a moment and “paws” when you need to. 🐾💜
Life can get busy and heavy, and taking a moment for yourself matters, too. Remember to be kind to others but also be kind to yourself, you deserve the same patience, compassion, and care.

Come see us, leave a little hope, and take a little with you, too. Today, September 10th, the Oconaluftee Island Park, Cherokee, NC, from 3-7pm.
Sgi! 💜🐾

WCU Cherokee Center Staff

09/08/2026

We’re more than happy to help spread the word about the WCU Cherokee Studies Cherokee Language Repertory Choir. The choir meets every Monday at 4:00 p.m. at Cullowhee Baptist Church and brings together hymns and songs in the Cherokee language. Everyone is welcome, and no previous choir or Cherokee language experience is needed. The Repertory Choir also performs both on and off campus, making this a wonderful opportunity to learn and participate in our culture throughout the WCU community. If you’re interested in joining or learning more about the choir, contact Sara Hopkins at [email protected].

And a special thank you to our Digali’i students for continuing to share opportunities and help build community for our Native students at WCU! 💜💛