Cherokee Culture Series Opening Ceremony & Multigenerational Panel
The Jackson County Public Library will host the opening of the Cherokee Culture Series on Thursday, May 29th at 6PM in the Community Room. Speakers Tom Belt, Lilyan C. Huskey, and Chi Shipman will discuss various aspects of Cherokee culture. This program is the opening of a series of programs centered around Cherokee culture and was made possible by a generous grant given by The Jackson County Arts Council.
Lilyan C. Huskey is a public historian who was raised in the Wolftown Community on the Qualla Boundary. She is highly developed in historical research and academic writing. Her years of experience in online databases, libraries, archives, and collections, combined with her ability to leverage museum knowledge and skills, enable the exemplary care and protection of history, material culture, and knowledge. Lilyan is set to graduate with her Master of Arts in History in 2026.
Chi Shipman leads educational discussions, presentations,and experiences on Cherokee culture, language, and practices across the United States. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Anthropology with a minor in Cherokee Studies from Western Carolina University and currently serves as the Manager of the Qualla Boundary Public Library. As a graduate of the Right Path Adult Leadership Program and as a Remember the Removal Ride alumna, Shipman continues to serve the region as a member of the Mainspring Cultural Committee, serving as a Democracy Project presenter and 4-H volunteer, and by facilitating other educational experiences for EBCI youth and adults. An artist, Shipman’s pottery is displayed in museum collections in the Southeast, her fashion designs have been showcased at the Kananesgi Fashion Show, and she is also an experienced storyteller.
Thomas Belt is a respected elder, fluent Cherokee speaker and culture keeper who works to connect Cherokees today with the lifeways of our past. Belt, who speaks the western dialect of Cherokee, retired in 2018 as coordinator of WCU’s Cherokee Language Program. His work to preserve and revitalize the Cherokee language and traditional culture have had profound significance, not only for WCU, but the region and nation as well.
The Cherokee Culture Series will also include the following programs:
Saturday, June 7th at 10am: Cherokee Cornhusk Doll Making with Laura Walkingstick *Registration Required*
Tuesday, June 10th at 6pm: Cherokee Storytelling with Nancy Pheasant
Tuesday, June 17th at 6pm: Cherokee Music & Dance with Jarrett Wildcatt
Thursday, June 26th at 6pm: Traditional Cherokee Cuisine with Amy & John Postoak
For more information please contact the library at 828-586-2016 or email
SkNQTC1BZHVsdHMgfCBmb250YW5hbGliICEgb3Jn. The Jackson County Public Library is a member of the Fontana Regional Library.
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