UNCA and Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Sign Agreement

Chancellor Grant and Chief Hicks shake hands after signing the agreement. Standing from left: Provost Joe Urgo; Devyn Smith, President, Native American Student Association; Terri Henry, Chair, Tribal Council, EBCI; Wilma Sherrill, member, UNC Asheville Board of Trustees. Photo: Urban News

Members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) will have new opportunities to attend UNC Asheville as part of an instructional credit agreement that was signed this month in both English and Kituwah Cherokee syllabary on the university’s campus.

With members of the campus and tribal communities looking on, UNC Asheville Chancellor Mary K. Grant and EBCI Principal Chief Michell Hicks joined together to sign the agreement, which will also lead to expansion of Cherokee cultural programming on campus and in greater Asheville.

The agreement was signed in both English and Kituwah Cherokee. Photo: Urban News

“The Eastern Band is honored to be partnering with the University of North Carolina at Asheville on this important initiative,” said Principal Chief Hicks. “I appreciate the university embracing Cherokee students, history and culture and we look forward to a long productive relationship with the university.”

“This is a milestone,” said Chancellor Grant. “This is an important day as we look to make sure we are an institution that is welcoming and supportive in creating a global multicultural community on campus and it begins right in our own backyard. This is a partnership that we value.”

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