The Junaluska Museum

05/15/2026

This blooming rivercane represents something far greater than a rare natural event; it represents survival.

As the last remaining cane connected to what was once the Cherokee town of Cheoah (ᏥᏲᎯ), this stand carries deep cultural and historical significance. Rivercane only blooms at long intervals, sometimes decades apart, so seeing healthy blooms and developing seeds here is a powerful sign of resilience and renewal.

On March 23rd, the Junaluska Museum, Graham County Travel & Tourism, Mainspring Conservation Trust, Brett Treadway with RTCAR, Adam Griffith, BJ Welch and Robbinsville High School students came together to help clean and care for this rivercane site. To now witness blooming cane and viable seeds growing from this remnant stand makes that work even more meaningful.

This is not just about preserving a plant. It’s about protecting a living connection to the history, culture, and landscape of the Cheoah community. Seeing these seeds develop offers hope that this last remaining cane can continue on for future generations.

05/01/2026

Today was the last day of our lunch & learn!

For the last session, Onita walked us along her road to show us the various plants that grow in the area, along with their medicinal/health benefits.

We learned how to identify/uses for persimmons, sassafras, wild cherry, milk thistle, wild lettuce, buttercup, old man’s beard, poke salad, sochan, sourwood, garlic, bamboo, touch me nots, and what to stay away from like poison oak and poison hemlock.

Onita taught us about cross contamination of poisonous plants to edible plants and fruits and a good fishing technique for crawdads.

Once again, we would like to thank everyone who attended the lunch & learn session, Mrs. Onita Bush for taking the time to share her tremendous knowledge with us, and Dinah Welch for providing us with delicious food!

Be on the lookout for more sessions like this! We encourage all EBCI members to join these sessions and learn about our food sovereignty and culture.

04/28/2026

Day 3 of the Learn and Learn Event with Mrs. Onita was a success! Due to the weather, we hosted the event at the Language and Culture building.

For today’s session, Onita brought in spice-wood tea to taste, along with raw honey.

Onita talked about the benefits of spicewood, raw honey, plantains, and wild ginger. She also gave advice about how to talk to your doctor about using herbal medicines versus western medicine.

Sgi to everyone who attended. The last session will take place at Onita’s house on Friday, May 1st from 12-1pm. We also want to say Sgi to Dinah Welch for catering these events. It is greatly appreciated!

04/22/2026

Day 1 and 2 of the Lunch & Learn sessions with the lovely Onita Bush.

For Day 1, we traveled to the Snowbird Picnic area to learn about the history of the birthing rock, including several medicinal plants.

Day 2, we met at Onita’s house. We were able to walk around her house and learn about all the different types of plants that she grows in her yard.

Learning from our elder is such an important part in honoring our past, present, and future. We want to extend our deepest gratitude to Mrs. Onita for taking the time to share her knowledge with us and we also want to say SGI all of those who attended the first 2 sessions!

03/27/2026

03/19/2026

Come Intern with the Junaluska Museum!

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) is excited to announce the return of its Summer Internship Program for 2026.
This 12-week paid program runs June 1 – August 21, 2026, offering hands-on experience in tribal government for young adults interested in public service. Interns earn $15/hour, working 40 hours per week.
Eligibility: Ages 16–24
Open to high school students, recent graduates, college students, and those not pursuing higher education but interested in government and community service.
Interns gain professional development, leadership training, mentoring, and real-world experience across multiple EBCI divisions.
Applications are open now through March 31, 2026.

Apply here: https://publicservices.powerappsportals.com/Internship-Program-Application/

02/27/2026

Yesterday marked a historic and deeply meaningful moment for our community.

We are honored to share that the deed has officially been signed for the return of Noquisi Mound to tribal hands. This sacred site, rooted in the history, culture, and identity of the Cherokee people, is once again under Indigenous stewardship.

Noquisi is more than a mound, it is a place of memory, ceremony, ancestry, and connection. For generations, it has stood as a reminder of who we are and where we come from. Yesterday’s signing represents restoration and respect for the original caretakers of this land.

We extend our gratitude to everyone who helped make this possible, tribal leadership, community advocates, preservation partners, and all who believe in honoring sacred places.

02/20/2026

Sgi to the Cherokee One Feather for covering our new collections online!

The Junaluska Museum has been working recently on a project to bring its collection online and the story of the people of Tutiyi (Snowbird) alive. As of this printing, there are 129 records divided into three categories (Snowbird Day School Collections, Tutiyi (Snowbird) Community Collections, and F...

02/13/2026

We wanted to thank Shayna Williams at Cherokee Central Schools for inviting us out to the CTE Fair this past Wednesday, February 11th. Such a well planned event for Cherokee Students, we were happy to share all we do at the Junaluska Museum ☺️ We hope to have inspired some students to go into this field.

02/11/2026

Siyo! Please check out our case study by our Terentia team. Read more about our process in creating a digital foot print for the Junaluska Museum ✨

Find out how Junaluska Museum preserves tribal artifacts, connects its community to their heritage, and maintains data sovereignty—all without a museum space.