2025 A Look Back: Trailblazer award
Four women — Shennelle Feather, Lavita Hill, Shannon Swimmer and Venita Wolfe — were elected to a previously all-male Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal council this fall, and they’re ready to make things happen.
The 12-person tribal council historically is not entirely men, so in that aspect, Feather, Hill, Swimmer and Wolfe embark upon a trail that’s already been blazed. But their unique ideas, goals and perspectives — all of which are informed by womanhood — are how they’re carving a new yet connected path.
Each of the four have specialized areas of knowledge.
Feather brings a biology background a deeply informed cultural outlook to council. Wolfe has knowledge of all sorts of things, with work experience in research and tribal human resources and a master’s degree in legal studies and public health. Swimmer was a tribal judge and former director of Western Carolina’s Cherokee Center. Hill has spent her entire career in accounting and finance.
As a collective, these different skills expand what they’re able to do, and how they’re able to do it.
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Feather analogized the sense of togetherness felt by the group with river cane, a species of bamboo that’s culturally and materially significant to the tribe.
“You will never see one river cane growing by itself, because it can’t exist. It won’t thrive … That is how we exist in community … And it’s really just a blessing to be able to serve with, to have these river cane women around me, holding me up too,” she said.
“Trailblazers” implies a single path — and multiple people working to get it built.
