CNCV Members Featured in Cherokee Phoenix

We’ve had several CNCV members featured recently in the Cherokee Phoenix and on social media in the Phoenix’s “Real People Series”, written by Cherokee Phoenix Assistant Editor, Will Chavez, who joined us at our Annual CNCV Campout in July. See links below to read more and join our Facebook group to see future stories.

Mike and Liz Webb: Sister organization donates Chero-Kones snow cone machine to Marble City

“In late August, Cherokee Nation citizen Mike Webb and his wife Liz traveled from Roseville, California, with their dog Jolene to make a special delivery to the Marble City Activity Organization in Sequoyah County. The Webbs are a part of the Cherokees of Northern Central Valley organization, a Cherokee Nation satellite community and sister community to the Marble City Activity Organization. When the Webbs arrived in Marble City they were carrying a snow cone machine in their vehicle to donate to MCAO. ‘There is definitely a strong family bond between MCAO and CNCV…’ Mike said.”

Sabrina McKinney: California Cherokee family visits roots of family in Cherokee Nation

“Listening to Sabrina McKinney talk about her family and her family’s history, it is certain she is proud to be Cherokee. She believes ‘the most essential piece’ of being Cherokee is being of service to her community. She is the communications director for the Cherokees of Northern Central Valley that serves Cherokee citizens in the Sacramento Valley. The group is a satellite organization of the Cherokee Nation. ‘That is why I volunteer with the CNCV. It means so much to me to contribute and help others,’ she said. ‘Like in gadugi (working together), we all work together to help each other. Everybody is kin. It’s a good group; they have good hearts. We’re all in it to do good in the right way.’”

Ganel Fenenga: Cherokee woman taught to appreciate Cherokee heritage by grandfather

“It was by chance Ganel Fenenga joined the Cherokees of Northern Central Valley, a satellite group of the Cherokee Nation based in the Sacramento area… She said she already knew she was Cherokee thanks to her grandfather Jesse Rogers who had told her about their heritage.”

Did you know? Ganel just published a book titled The Cherokee River of Tears.

Odell Landers: Real People Series

“‘First of all, I love being Cherokee. I’m really proud of it. We (family) came out to California as a result of the Dust Bowl. My dad lost his farm because it dried up … not far from Muskogee. Because the farm dried up, we moved to California to the Bakersfield area where a lot of Cherokees came,’ said Cherokee Nation citizen Odell Landers, 88, of Sacramento. He added he was only 5 years old when his family arrived in Bakersfield in 1940.”

Martha Blackbird: Real People Series

“Martha Blackbird has lived in Sacramento, California, for seven years and is a member of the Cherokees of Northern Central Valley, a satellite group of the Cherokee Nation. ‘I came here from Dallas where I was for 15 years, and that was where I first really connected to my Cherokee ancestry. I visited the Chief Bowles Memorial. I went to that in Neches, Texas, and it was the first time in my life I was surrounded by Cherokees speaking the Cherokee language. The ground beneath my feet had the blood of Cherokees from a battle that occurred there. I was so moved by that and it compelled me to really get going and looking into my ancestry and getting the details,’ she said.”