Sept. 2, 2010 - Eastern Band of Cherokee

8 cherokee one feather THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
OPINIONS & LETTERS
Leers to the Editor
OIC A Students miss
Joel Queen
We, the students at Oconaluftee
Institute for Cultural Arts (OICA), have
suffered a tremendous, preventable loss
of a remarkable asset, Joel Queen.
Queen, the OICA/Fine Arts program coordinator,
academic advisor, as well as
instructor to numerous courses, resigned.
As the OICA coordinator, his job
was to run the program and make sure
we, the students, were provided with the
highest knowledge, best equipment and
most pleasant work environment to succeed
and grow. OICA is one of the only
programs in the nation that provides the
students their own materials. It is a program
devoted to continue the cultural traditions
of the Cherokee and Southeastern
arts.
Courses offered include pottery,
wood/stone carving, basket making,
loom weaving, drawing and painting.
OICA challenges the student to bring
from deep within the exceptional talents
to create art from a culture from which
we have come, using the talents and
skills created in the past to carry us
through to the future.
As Joel Queen has told us, “Art
is a reflection of how well a culture is
thriving.”
Queen has his artwork displayed
in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.;
the British Museum in London, England;
and the North Carolina Museum of History
in Raleigh to name only a few. He
has won numerous awards and honors
and has been contracted for countless
commissions all over the United States.
He has honed and evolved his artist abilities
as well as his ability to teach.
Joel Queen can bring the artist
out in anyone with his teaching abilities.
His passion for the arts is very prominent
and contagious to those around him. He
has brought out talent from within all of
us that we never knew nor saw there.
Without Queen, there is no way OICA
can grow and function as well as it has.
Sincerely,
Second Year OICA Students
Amelia Hayes (Student Rep. OICA
Board), Jane Brashear, Deana
Burchett, and Darrin Bark
Thank You
The Braves Varsity Football Team
went to Wake Christian Academy in
Raleigh on Friday the 27th. Money was
needed to help with the teams meal expenses.
Some players brought in money,
the rest was donated. The Cherokee Varsity
Football players would like to thank
the following people for their personal donations:
Squirrelly Jumper, Botch Jumper,
Regina Swimmer, Carolina Oocumma,
Perry Shell, Chief Hicks, Vice Chief
Blythe. Thank you for showing your support
to the student athletes of Cherokee
High School.
Thank You
Braves Varsity Football Team
The Family of Buck West, would
like to thank everyone who purchased a
50/50 ticket. The winner was Millie
Queen. Bucks surgery went well, unfortunately,
they were only able to work on half
of his liver. He will be going back for surgery
in September for work on the other
half of his liver. Thank you to everyone
who gave a cash donation. Special thanks
to Barry Robie and a Big Thank you to
Aunt Deb West and Granny Amy Thompson,
for all the help. The family is still selling
tickets, please see Deb West at Tsali
Manor, call Sis West 788-6070 or see
Patrick or Vick West. Thank you, everyone.
The West Family
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