A hat decorated by Eastern Cherokee bead artist, Jen Bird. Qualla Boundary, North Carolina.
Pucker toe moccasins made by Eastern Cherokee descendent artist, Evan Mathis. Whittier, North Carolina.
Bead artist Jen Bird admires the scenery from her front porch; Bird is Eastern Cherokee and resides in the Qualla Boundary.
Bird applies the pellon to The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians 2021 Miss Cherokee crown.
John Henry Gloyne (Eastern Cherokee, Pawnee, Osage) completes "The Process of Weeding Out" (above) in his Asheville studio.
John Henry Gloyne hugs his son, Elmwood.
The game of "A-Ni-Tso-Di," coined "Stickball" is a sport with a rich cultural tradition. Woodworker Monk Walkingstick (Eastern Cherokee) crafts the equipment and places it high in the treetops to signify its sacred nature.
Using Butternut wood, Walkingstick finishes another project.
Wooden carvings depict the Seven Clans of the Cherokee in the midst of a ceremony. A claim to clanship is determined through the mother, and members of the same clan are considered brother and sister.
By using a pottery stamp, Eastern Cherokee potter Sarah Thompson creates a unique circular pattern across one-of-a-kind pottery. Here, Thompson is working in the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. The museum's mission is "to preserve and perpetuate the history, culture, and stories of the Cherokee people."
Fingerweaving is a traditional method of creating woven fabrics using special techniques passed down from weaver to weaver. Artist Nola Teesatuskie handweaves chevron patterned belts and garters on her porch.
Meet Michelle Long (Eastern Cherokee). Long sits outside her home in the Qualla Boundary working on a new clay sculpture.
