By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.

One Feather Asst. Editor

CHEROKEE, N.C. – The One Feather will now provide regular legislative updates on various pieces of legislation of the Dinilawigi (Tribal Council) of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). The focus will be on ordinances that change Cherokee Code, but sometimes resolutions of importance to the operation of the tribal government will also be included. The legislation is shown in the order in which they were introduced following the new ones for the week.

New Ordinances

Ord. No. 210 (2026). This ordinance seeks to create Cherokee Code Chapter 41 “defining the different types of ownership of a possessory holding”.

The whereas section states, “The Tribe has long practiced and adopted the different types of joint ownership in a possessory holding such as tenancy by the entirety between enrolled spouses and tenancy in common between two or more owners of a possessory holding, and this practice has never been codified in the Cherokee Code.”

It continues, “It would be helpful for the public and for tribal government agencies to amend the Cherokee Code to provide guidance and definition for the different types of joint ownership in a possessory holding.”

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by the EBCI Lands Committee, was deemed read and tabled during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Action: Per Cherokee Code Sec. 117-38(a), all ordinances must set for 25 calendar days prior to being acted upon.

Ord. No. 211 (2026). This ordinance seeks to create Cherokee Code Chapter 47 “establishing Tribal Realty Services in the Cherokee Code”.

The whereas section states, “Tribal Realty Services is the place for official recording of documents and other instruments affecting or describing ownership of interests in tribal land, including, but not limited to, possessory holding transfers, residential and commercial leases, deed of trusts, and plats; and additionally, Tribal Realty Services drafts legal documents for the wider public such as transfer documents, estate resolutions, leases that comply with 25 C.F.R. Part 162, and plats.”

It continues, “Tribal Realty Services include Realty Services, Geographic Information Systems, and Surveying; however, Tribal Realty Services has not been recognized or authorized in the Cherokee Code.”

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by Director of Tribal Realty Services Cruz Galaviz, was deemed read and tabled during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Action: Per Cherokee Code Sec. 117-38(a), all ordinances must set for 25 calendar days prior to being acted upon.

Ord. No. 212 (2026). This ordinance seeks to amend Cherokee Code Chapter 19 making it “unlawful for any owner to create a public nuisance with their animals”.

The whereas section states, “There have been multiple issues with the process that is established to have a written order to begin the process for establishing a public nuisance case against the owner of said animal(s); and, there are two tribal programs that must cooperate efficiently in order to successfully follow through in these processes to maintain the safety of the communities that they monitor and safeguard. This can cause confusion and frustration when the two programs are not contacted in the appropriate manner during times of distress from an animal.”

It continues, “The public relies on (Cherokee) Animal Control and the Cherokee Indian Police Department to work in the best interest of the communities to create a healthy and safe homeland.”

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by Aniwodihi (Painttown) Rep. Michael Stamper, was deemed read and tabled during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Action: Per Cherokee Code Sec. 117-38(a), all ordinances must set for 25 calendar days prior to being acted upon.

Legislation passed recently

Ord. No. 11 (2025). This ordinance amends Chapter 113G of the Cherokee Code regarding underground storage tanks. The whereas section states, “Regulation of USTs (underground storage tanks) is an important topic because they often serve as holding containers for gasoline and petroleum products, which can cause environmental damage if leaked into the ground or into a water source; and updating regulation is also important because doing so is needed to maintain the Tribe’s Memorandum of Agreement with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through which UST owners and operators have access to North Carolina’s Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund.”

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by Michael LaVoie on behalf of the EBCI Natural Resources Dept., was deemed read and tabled during Annual Dinilawigi on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.

Recent Action: This ordinance was passed unanimously during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Ord. No. 136 (2026). This ordinance will “establish the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ digital sovereignty”.

The whereas section states, “Digital sovereignty encompasses:

Tribal governance over network infrastructure (broadband, internet service providers, communications)
Control and stewardship of tribal data (collection, storage, sharing, privacy)
Self-determined digital policy frameworks that reflect Indigenous values and community needs
Using digital infrastructure to support education, healthcare, public safety, economic development, and community services under tribal control.”

The whereas goes on to state, “Digital infrastructure and access remain uneven across Indian Country. Developing an Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians digital sovereignty law offers a roadmap to build and govern our infrastructure – tailored to our needs, not imposed from outside. Empowering tribal control of data and tech supports broader sovereignty: economic development, public safety, community health, education, climate resilience, natural resources protection, and cultural preservation.”

There were no changes to the Cherokee Code referenced in this ordinance.

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by Wayohi (Wolftown) Rep. Mike Parker, was deemed read and tabled during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, March 5, 2026.

Recent Action: This ordinance was passed unanimously during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Ord. No. 185 (2026). This ordinance amends and expands “drug trafficking to include synthetic opioids and opium”.

The whereas section states, “Changes in the chemical compounds and nature of certain controlled substances have necessitated a change in the language of the Cherokee Code; and specifically, the term ‘opiate’ is defined as ‘any substance…similar to morphine’; and fentanyl is a synthetic compound which falls into the separate defined category of ‘opioids’.”

The ordinance specifically amends Cherokee Code Sec. 14-95.9(a)(v) adding the terms “Opioids” and “Opium” to the list of controlled substances regarding the crime of drug trafficking.

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by the EBCI Office of the Attorney General, was deemed read and tabled during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Recent Action: This ordinance was passed unanimously during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Ord. No. 187 (2026). This ordinance amends Cherokee Code Sec. 75-53 regarding the hiring of the editor of the Tsalagi Soquo Ugidahli (Cherokee One Feather) tribal newspaper.

The whereas section states, “The Cherokee Code provides for decisions of termination of the Tsalagi Soquo Ugidahli editor to be determined by agreement of the Ugvwiyuhi (Principal Chief), Taline Ugvwiyu (Vice Chief), and two-thirds of the sitting Editorial Board; and there is no provision in the Cherokee Code for the Editorial Board to be a part of the selection of the Tsalagi Soquo Ugidahli editor; and this creates a real or perceived political influence on the Tsalagi Soquo Ugidahli due to the lack of Editorial Board representation in the editor hiring process.”

An amendment was approved prior to passage which adds the following sentence to Sec. 75-75(e)(Editor and staff), “A majority of the Executive Committee and Editorial Board are required to select or hire the Cherokee One Feather Editor.”

Introduced: This ordinance, submitted by the Tsalagi Soquo Ugidahli Editorial Board, was deemed read and tabled during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, May 7, 2026.

Recent Action: This ordinance was passed 11-1 during the Dinilawigi session on Thursday, June 4, 2026 with Kolanvyi (Big Cove) Rep. Venita Wolfe being the dissenting vote.

Ord. No. 188 (2026). This ordinance creates a new chapter of the Cherokee Code regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems (aka drones).

The whereas section stat...

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