Chairman
Jim Owle

Birdtown Community

47 Fauline Enloe Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828.736.5085
Email: jimowle@ebci-nsn.gov

Jim is 61 years old and he is from the Birdtown Community. His parents were Bob and Helen Enloe Owle. Jim has 5 brothers and 2 sisters; Wayne, Lloyd, Boyd, Bobby, Don, Vick and Bea.

I am happily married to my wife of 14 years, Charlene Toineeta Owle, we have 4 sons, Jim Bob, Joe Don, Tre and Dillon. We have 6 grandchildren: Macie, Awee, Julius, Odie, Piper and Abbott.

I am a graduate of Cherokee High School. I’m a Navy Veteran served 1985-1989. After the military I worked for the United States Postal Service and the BIA Forestry Department for 11 years.

I have also served on Tribal Council from 1999-2013, representing the Birdtown/3200 Acre Tract Communities. During those years I served as Vice Chairman and Chairman for several years.

After my years on Tribal Council, I was appointed to the TCGE Board where I served 7 years.

I would like to say thanks to the Birdtown/3200 Acre Tract Community for your support, as well as my family and friends. I look forward to working as your Council Member as we move the Tribe forward.

Vice Chairman
David Wolfe

Yellowhill Community

PO Box 850
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828.736.6299
Email: daviwolf@ebci-nsn.gov

David has lived in Yellowhill all his life, and it is where he currently resides with his wife, Susie. They have three children, Jennifer, Jeremy, and Sweet Pea, along with two grandchildren, Jeron and Addie. His parents are Noah and the late Bill Jean Wolfe.

David graduated from Cherokee High School in 1988 and from Western Carolina University in 1992. He has a degree in business, along with a degree in accounting and finance from WCU. Before serving his first term on Tribal Council David was employed with UPS for fifteen years. David will be entering his 8th term in office as a Yellowhill Tribal Council Representative. His hobbies include fly fishing, horseback riding, and spending time with his family and friends.

Mike Parker

Wolftown/Big Y Communities

PO Box 100
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828.736.6544
Email: mparker@ebci-nsn.gov

Mike Parker is currently serving his sixth term as Wolftown/Big-Y Council Representative. He is a 1982 graduate of Cherokee High School, and he received his Master’s degree in Project Management from Western Carolina University in December 2022. Mike enjoys spending time with his family and watching sports of any kind.

Lavita Hill

Big Cove Community

PO Box 455
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828-736-3126
Email: lavitahill@ebci-nsn.gov

Lavita Hill is a Cherokee leader, financial steward, and cultural advocate. Member of ᎠᏂᎩᎶᎯ, (Long hair clan), she is honored to be a Tribal Council ᎪᎳᏅᏱ representative and proud member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She is known for uniting financial expertise with cultural leadership. A lifelong resident of her family’s ancestral lands in the Big Cove Community near Cherokee, North Carolina, Lavita lives in ᎪᎳᏅᏱ her husband, Chris Siewers. They have three children and one grandchild. Her parents are Sonny Hill and Barbara Sequoyah Hill. Her maternal grandparents are Emerson and Phyllis Sequoyah, and paternal grandparents are Jesse Hill, Sr. and Yonnie Watty Hill.

Lavita graduated from Cherokee High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Western Carolina University — becoming the first in her family to complete a four-year degree. In her former role with the EBCI Office of Budget and Finance, she oversaw major tribal investment accounts, including the Minors Trust Fund, while also educating youth on financial literacy to strengthen the tribe’s economic future.

A recognized cultural advocate, Lavita helped lead the historic campaign to restore the Cherokee name Kuwohi (“mulberry place”) to the highest peak in the Great Smoky Mountains, earning the North Carolina Attorney General’s Dogwood Award for her work in cultural restoration. Through public talks and community engagement, she continues to amplify Cherokee history and resilience, ensuring the preservation of heritage for generations to come.

Balancing her roles as a mother, professional, and community leader, Lavita exemplifies a new generation of Indigenous leadership — grounded in tradition, focused on accountability, and committed to the prosperity and sovereignty of the Cherokee people.

Adam Wachacha

Snowbird/Cherokee County

PO Box 2443
Robbinsville, NC 28771
C: 828.735.1283
Email: adamwach@ebci-nsn.gov

Adam is serving his seventh term as a Snowbird and Cherokee County Tribal Council Representative. He resides in the Snowbird Community with his high school sweetheart, Heather, whom he has been married to for 24 years. They have five children: Zane, Sierra, Xander, Xamuel, and Bently, and two grandchildren, Jonathan Axe and Madelyn Poppy. Adam is the son of Renee Gonzales and former Snowbird and Cherokee County Tribal Council Representative Abraham Wachacha.

In his spare time, he volunteers coaching youth football and basketball. He is actively involved with the Snowbird Ga-du-gi free labor group. He is also a veteran of the US Army, where he served fourteen years. Adam attained the rank of Sergeant First Class and was a Drill Sergeant at Ft. Jackson, SC. He earned an undergraduate degree in business management from Montreat College, and is a 2021 graduate candidate at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville’s Professional MBA (ProMBA) program.

Boyd Owle

Birdtown/3200 Acre Tract Community

156 Owles Nest Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828.736.8276
Email: boydlowle@ebci-nsn.gov

Councilman Boyd Owle represents the Birdtown and 3200 Acre Tract Communities. He is one of seven children to the late Robert (Bob) Owle and the late Helen Enloe Owle. Boyd is a lifelong resident of the Birdtown Community where he resides with his beautiful wife of 36 years, Cathie, and their four children, Amanda, Neil, Christian and Brett. He attended the Cherokee Central School System and is a graduate of Cherokee High School from there he entered the workforce fulltime.

Boyd’s career with the Tribe started at the age of 16 working for various Tribal Summer Programs and then he was employed by the Cherokee Boys Club for over 20 years before going to work for Harrah’s Cherokee Casino. He worked at the casino for 12 years. His career from there led him to the Tribe where he served as the Tribal Sanitation Manager for 8 years. Boyd worked for the Tribe for 43 consecutive years and he planned to retire from the Tribe in September 2017 but his desire to serve his Tribe took over.

At the age of 47, Boyd enrolled in The Adult Studies Accelerated Program at Montreat College where he received his Associates of Science Degree in 2004. Having the urge to pursue his education further he then received a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in 2006 and then he received a Master of Science in Management and Leadership Degree in 2009.

Boyd takes pride in being open-minded, dependable, honest and fair and he considers it a great honor to represent the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He enjoys helping others within the Tribe and staying active within the community. His hobbies include woodcarving, woodworking and golfing.

Boyd is currently serving his 5th consecutive term as the Tribal Council Representative for the Birdtown and 3200 Acre Tract Communities.

Shennelle Feather

Yellowhill Community

Shennelle Feather matriarchally represents the Diné Nation (Todích’íí’nii, ᎠᏂᎧᏫ, Tł’ízí Lání, ᎠᏂᎦᏙᎨᏫ) and is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Born and raised on the Qualla Boundary, is a proud community member of ᎡᎳᏬᏗᎯ, E-la-wo-di-hi “Yellowhill”. Shennelle has dedicated her life to cultural preservation, education, and community empowerment.

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Trinity International University, Feather has served in diverse leadership roles as a college basketball coach, high school educator, and restaurant manager before returning home to the Qualla Boundary in 2020. Since then, she has continued her service to her people as a culture coordinator for Kanvwotiyi Residental Treatment Center, and most recently as the Manager of Community Programming at the Museum of the Cherokee People, where she led initiatives to challenge stereotypes, foster cultural understanding, and strengthen community identity.

Deeply rooted in her Diné, ᏣᎳᎩ, and Lakota heritage, Shennelle has been a shell shaker for 29 years and an active member of Raven Rock Stomp Ground. Her commitment to healing and cultural resurgence extends beyond her professional role—she serves on the Boards of RezHope and the Center for Native Health, where she advocates for wellness, sovereignty, and intergenerational healing.

Feather embodies Indigenous leadership through service, education, and cultural advocacy, striving to build bridges of understanding while uplifting her community and future generations.

Venita Wolfe

Big Cove and Tow String Communities

Po Box 1714
Cherokee, NC 28719
Email: vwolfe@ebci-nsn.gov

Venita K. Wolfe is a proud resident of the Big Cove community and is honored to represent both the Big Cove and Tow String communities. She brings a wealth of experience working with diverse populations and communities both within and outside the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI). With a strong background in relationship-building, strategic facilitation, and achieving meaningful outcomes, Venita is deeply committed to serving her people with dedication and compassion.

Her academic achievements reflect her commitment to education and leadership. She holds a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma (2022), a Master of Science in Health Education (2007), and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a minor in Native American Studies (2003), both from the University of New Mexico.

Venita has served the tribe in several key roles. She began her work with the EBCI Public Health and Human Services Division as a health educator. From 2019 to 2025, she served as a Training and Development Specialist in the EBCI Human Resources Department, where she contributed to workforce development and employee support. Her professional journey also includes significant experience in community and health research at the University of New Mexico.

Venita values education paired with kindness, compassion, empathy, and understanding. These principles guide her work and community involvement. She has been an active participant in the Big Cove Community Club and the Community Club Council, and has served on several tribal boards and committees, including the Tribal Health Improvement Process, the Qualla Education Committee, and the Air Quality Improvement Board (2024–2025). Additionally, she is a proud member of the North American Indian Women’s Association.

Michael Smoker​

Snowbird/Cherokee County

Shannon Swimmer

Painttown Community

Shannon Swimmer (she/her) was born and raised on her ancestral homelands of Cherokee, NC where she currently resides with her family in the Aniwodihi (Painttown) community.

She returned home after obtaining her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Kansas School of Law. She is a licensed attorney in the state of North Carolina and served as Associate Judge at the Cherokee Tribal Court prior to becoming the Director of the Western Carolina University Cherokee Center. In addition to her law degree, Shannon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Kansas and a Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management from Western Carolina University.

Shannon has devoted her professional career to assisting tribes and tribal entities, working in various capacities and gaining experience in tribal law, fiscal management, human resource management, grant writing and management, alternative dispute resolution including peacemaking and talking circles, and providing training and technical assistance.

Born into a family of Cherokee artisans, and inspired by her grandmothers, Louise Bigmeat Maney and Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer (both of whom were bestowed with the highest honor of being named Beloved Woman of the EBCI), Shannon is an advocate for the education and preservation of the Cherokee language, culture, and arts.

She is passionate about community involvement, being of service, and participating in cultural events, especially with family. She also prioritizes mental and physical health and enjoys meditating, reading, mountain biking, and trail running.

Michael Stamper

Painttown Community

PO Box 2327
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828.736.6192
Email: mikestamper@ebci-nsn.gov

Michael has lived in Painttown all of his life and it is where he currently resides with his wife, Paige Stamper. Together they have two (2) children, Penelope age eleven (11) and Sean (SJ) age nine (9).

Michael graduated from Cherokee High School in 2009. He received his Bachelors in Business Administration and Organization Leadership from Brevard College in 2013. After graduation he immediately went into the workforce for the tribe and has continued his tenure with the tribe until being elected to serve as Painttown’s representative in December 2022’s special election. His most recent position held with the tribe was as a Regulatory and Appeals Officer for the Regulatory and Compliance Department within the Public Health and Human Services Division.

This is Michael’s third term in office as a Painttown Council Representative. His hobbies include golfing, watching sporting events, and spending time with his family and friends.

Bo Crowe

Wolftown Community

149 John Crowe Road
Cherokee, NC 28719
C: 828.736.5077
Email: robecrow1@ebci-nsn.gov

Serving the Wolftown and Big Y Communities of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Bo is currently in his fifth term. Prior to being elected to Tribal Council, he worked for the Tribe for thirteen years. Mr. Crowe is very active in the community clubs and works with the free labor groups for both Big Y and Wolftown.

Bo is the youngest grandson of the late Principal Chief John Crowe and Mrs. Ollie Wolfe Crowe. He is the son of the late Vice Chief Carol “Pee Wee” Crowe and his wife, Mickie Crowe. Bo also has two older brothers who have lovely families.

Mr. Crowe’s wife, Kim, is a second grade teaching assistant at Cherokee Central School System. They have five daughters: Dre, Boie; Kinley; Kimbo and Margo; and two grandsons Oden and Pee-Wee.

In his spare time, Bo enjoys, athletic events, and especially watching his daughter’s athletic events.