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Cherokee Nation Fire Dancers, Jackie Brown and Mart Brown pack gear before leaving to search for space shuttle debris in Texas. The two are part of the second crew of Fire Dancers to head to Texas to assist NASA with recovering debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHMA - A group of 20 Cherokee Nation Fire Dancers recently returned home from Hemphill Texas. The group was working with NASA and the FBI to assist in recovery of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia, which was destroyed while re-entering the atmosphere over three weeks ago.

The Cherokee Nation Fire Dancers, who are usually used to fight fires all over the United States, were searching for any piece of wreckage that may provide clues as to what caused the tragedy.

"We searched for any piece we could find, anything could be the deciding factor as to what happened", said Fire Dancer James Laymon.

The group combed hundreds of square miles along side volunteers for over two weeks.

"We found items as small as micro- chips all the way to larger pieces of the shuttle body", said Fire Dancer Mart Brown. "The largest piece was about the size of a football."

Teresa Williamson of the United States Forestry Office said that the Fire Dancers knowledge out in the field was the main reason they were used for the search.

"NASA needed people who were experienced in the wilderness and were able to take care of themselves while working in remote locations", Williamson said.

Another group of 38 Fire Dancers returned to Texas to continue the search and are not expected back for another two weeks.

For more information on the Cherokee Nation Fire Dancers program, please contact Mike Weaver, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2334).

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671