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TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokees held a Joint Council meeting as part of the Cherokee National Holiday. The historic meeting brings together the two largest Cherokee tribes to discuss issues of mutual interest. The combined Councils passed several resolutions outlining areas of agreement.

The Joint Council unanimously passed resolutions supporting Dr. Charles Grim for Indian Health Service Director, requesting additional health funding for women's health care, diabetes, and community health care centers.

The Joint Council also honored the late J.B. Dreadfulwater, a noted Cherokee singer, and the late Dorothy Jean McIntosh, a former Cherokee Nation Tribal Council member, as recipients of the "Friends of Sequoyah" Award.

"Our main purpose is to develop a closer relationship," said Leon Jones, Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. "It's a way of keeping communication lines open and a way of working on issues of mutual interest."

"We have been separate for so many years and this is a good chance for fellowship," said Carroll Crowe, Vice-Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. "Even though we are not close together, we have a lot in common."

"We share a common language and culture with the Eastern Band of Cherokees," said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "We have a unique relationship and we use these meetings to make that relationship stronger."

The two tribes pledged to work together to keep Cherokee culture strong by passing a resolution supporting a joint partnership to enhance the lives of Cherokee youth through cultural revival activities.

"It's just a great fellowship of east and west," Crowe said. "It all started in the eastern region. If you go back far enough, I've got some relatives that came out here. We're all the same people."