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Principal Chief Chad Smith presents
the Cherokee Nation 'GaDuGi Award'
to Don Greenfeather at the July,
regular CN Tribal Council meeting.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council appropriated additional money for scholarships while honoring a scholarship recipient and two community leaders during the regular council meeting Monday night.

Principal Chief Chad Smith presented the Ga Du Gi Award, given quarterly to individuals for their dedication to preserving the Cherokee way of life, to Weynema Smith, a bi-lingual Cherokee from Cookson, and Don Greenfeather, a long-time community leader.

"She [Weynema Smith] believes in her culture, promotes her heritage and shares her knowledge, her time, efforts and material blessings with anyone willing to learn about their heritage", the chief said. "Don is one of those rare people who not only cares about people, but also acts on that caring by serving as an ardent advocate for people in need, especially those living in traditional Cherokee communities."

Chief Smith also acknowledged the achievements of recent Stilwell High School graduate Jeran Price, who earned a scholarship through the Cherokee Nation’s Tribal Employment Rights Program. Price will receive a $1000 scholarship when he starts as a freshman at the University of Oklahoma this fall.

In other action, the Council voted to add more than $160,000 to the budget for non-Pell scholarships. According to Council member Chuck Hoskin, the additional money will not be used for additional students, but will bring funding to the level it needs to be to support students currently in the program.