Powwow committee

MARK FINCHUM , Cherokee from Jefferson City, TN, was the founder of the East Tennessee Indian League which sponsored the first powwows in Knoxville. In 1991 he received the Sequoyah Award from the League for "Promoting American Indian Heritage through Educational and Cultural Activities."   He is also a past member of the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs.
     Mark is a board member and past president of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies and a past member of the board of directors of the National Council for the Social Studies. He has had articles on American Indian culture published by NCSS and by the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools.
     With 23 years of teaching experience on the middle school and high school, and college levels, Mark now teaches geography at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge.
    He has a Bachelor's Degree in communications and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. He is currently working on a Doctorate in Social Studies Education.
     Mark has received a middle school teacher of the year and a distinguished classroom teacher award from Jefferson County. He has also received an "Outstanding Social Studies Teacher" award from TCSS and an "American History Teacher of the Year" award from the Tennessee Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2009 he received a Native American Eagle Award for his efforts in American Indian education. Mark will be involved in working with all the committees of the powwow.

SHERRY FINCHUM is Cherokee from Jefferson City, TN. She has previously served as the Kids Day Chair for the East TN Indian League Powwow for several years. She was elected the Member of the Year in 1997. She is formerly a kindergarten teacher and now serves the Jefferson County School System as the Director of Accountability, Elementary Curriculum and Federal Programs.
       A graduate of Carson Newman College, Sherry majored in Home
Economics with an emphasis in child care. She also earned her kindergarten teaching certificate. She received her elementary certification from ETSU. In 2002 she earned her Master's in Educational Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. During the summer of 2007, she earned her Pre-K endorsement from Tennessee Wesleyan College.
      She has 3 adult children. Brent and Eric have both graduated from college and are gainfully employed, and Katie is a 4th year college student enrolled at East Tennessee State University.

With over 25 years of educational experience, Sherry will be helping with the vendors and craftsmen. She is serving as the Webmaster for Indian Creek Productions and for the Powwow.

NIKKI CRISP is Eastern Band Cherokee and a champion powwow dancer. She has danced for over 20 years, traveling all over the southeastern United States and touring Europe, dancing and educating the public about Indian life.
     Some of the places Nikki has danced include the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Powwow in Minnesota, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and a Celtic village in Switzerland. She is a third generation dancer. Her Sioux grandfather was a traditional dancer from Rosebud, South Dakota. All of her uncles were fancy dancers from Cherokee, NC. Her grandmother was known as a great cook of Indian tacos, a skill she taught Nikki's mother, who carried on the tradition for many years.
   In addition to her dancing skills, Nikki has a talent for beadwork, doing some for her son's and daughter's dance regalia.
     Nikki is also an accomplished hair stylist with over 20 years of experience.
     Nikki will be assisting with the arena committee for the powwow and will be in charge of the frybread stand.

Reflections:

My son was two years old when he went to his first powwow as a grass dancer (Knoxville) and it was at that same powwow that I danced buckskin. I was pregnant with Kele during one of the Knoxville powwows.

I'm looking forward to this powwow because it will be so much fun and for the experience of being involved in the actual organizing of a powwow.

BEAR BROOKS, of Cherokee descent, began dancing Traditional in pow wows in 1997. He enjoys pow wows and participating in living history events. He hand makes primitive style bows, arrows, war clubs, etc. He is a good bowyer and his work is well known.

Bear is handling the logistics for the pow wow.

Mark Finchum	Sherry Finchum
Bob "Red Hawk" Eldridge	Dan Standley
Nikki Crisp	Anthony Crisp and Family
Bear Brooks	Keri Brooks

MARK FINCHUM , Cherokee from Jefferson City, TN, was the founder of the East Tennessee Indian League which sponsored the first powwows in Knoxville. In 1991 he received the Sequoyah Award from the League for "Promoting American Indian Heritage through Educational and Cultural Activities." He is also a past member of the Tennessee Commission of Indian Affairs. Mark is a board member and past president of the Tennessee Council for the Social Studies and a past member of the board of directors of the National Council for the Social Studies. He has had articles on American Indian culture published by NCSS and by the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools. With 23 years of teaching experience on the middle school and high school, and college levels, Mark now teaches geography at Jefferson County High School in Dandridge. He has a Bachelor's Degree in communications and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. He is currently working on a Doctorate in Social Studies Education. Mark has received a middle school teacher of the year and a distinguished classroom teacher award from Jefferson County. He has also received an "Outstanding Social Studies Teacher" award from TCSS and an "American History Teacher of the Year" award from the Tennessee Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2009 he received a Native American Eagle Award for his efforts in American Indian education. Mark will be involved in working with all the committees of the powwow.	SHERRY FINCHUM is Cherokee from Jefferson City, TN. She has previously served as the Kids Day Chair for the East TN Indian League Powwow for several years. She was elected the Member of the Year in 1997. She is formerly a kindergarten teacher and now serves the Jefferson County School System as the Director of Accountability, Elementary Curriculum and Federal Programs. A graduate of Carson Newman College, Sherry majored in Home Economics with an emphasis in child care. She also earned her kindergarten teaching certificate. She received her elementary certification from ETSU. In 2002 she earned her Master's in Educational Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. During the summer of 2007, she earned her Pre-K endorsement from Tennessee Wesleyan College. She has 3 adult children. Brent and Eric have both graduated from college and are gainfully employed, and Katie is a 4th year college student enrolled at East Tennessee State University. With over 25 years of educational experience, Sherry will be helping with the vendors and craftsmen. She is serving as the Webmaster for Indian Creek Productions and for the Powwow.
ROBERT "REDHAWK" ELDRIDGE is a Sappony Indian from North Carolina and has lived in East Tennessee for the past 31 years. Robert is active at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, school classrooms and Scout functions where he lectures and presents programs on the Cherokee Indians, the History of Tennessee from a Cherokee Perspective and the Cultural Differences of Native Americans Throughout North America. He reenacts the early 1800s Cherokee around the time of Sequoyah. Robert is also an enthusiastic storyteller at Native Powwows and gatherings. Robert graduated from Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia, North Carolina, were he studied drama. He attended Brevard College, in Brevard North Carolina where he received an Associate in Fine Arts degree in 1978. He decided to complete his education and received a Bachelor's degree in Organizational Management from Tusculum College in 2001 and a Masters in Adult Education from Tusculum in 2003. Robert and his high school sweetheart, Lynne, reunited several years ago and have been married just over 6 years. Robert and Lynne have 5 children between them and 5 grandchildren. Robert will be handling the graphic design and artwork for the event, while Lynne will be working with the frybread concessions.	DANIEL W. STANDLEY is married with 3 daughters and 7 grandchildren. His Cherokee Name is Kanadi (English translation - The Lucky One). His education is a BA in Business, Bliss College - Columbus, OH and a MA in Personnel Management, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, MI Dan is Vice President for Human Resources, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Oak Ridge, TN. Previously he held a similar position with Baptist Health System East Tennessee in Knoxville, and prior to that was Vice President Human Resources, East Liverpool City Hospital, East Liverpool, OH. Dan served for a number of years as a board member and treasurer of the East Tennessee Indian League. He is also a board member of the East Tennessee Mental Health Association. He has previously served and been involved with Girl Scouts of the USA, various Human Resources Associations and has served numerous churches in various capacities. He was previously a board member with the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America organization and well as a previous committee member with Tri-State Federal Credit Union and served as as the chairperson of United Way, East Liverpool, OH. Reflections: Born in North Eastern Ohio. Grandfather was Cherokee Indian from East Tennessee. Father appreciated Native American family roots and as a child he taught me the value of keeping the Indian spirit alive in my life. As an adult, in 1987 the Great Spirit lead me to the land of my ancestors and I now reside close to the area where my grandfather once walked. Shortly after my professional career brought me to East Tennessee, I became active in the East Tennessee Indian League - first as a member, and a short time later as a board member and officer. I have many fond memories of the many powwows that I have participated in over the years but my most memorable and humbling experience was when my Cherokee name, Kanadi (The Lucky One) was bestowed on me. Other great powwow memories include meeting many other fellow Native Americans from Cherokee, NC, and those from numerous other tribes from across the USA, and learning more about the differences in Native American cultures. One of my biggest other powwow thrills was the privilege I had to attend The Gathering of Nations Powwow in Albuquerque, NM. I have also been involved in the planning for and participated in several Oak Ridge Native American Celebrations in Oak Ridge, TN.
NIKKI CRISP is Eastern Band Cherokee and a champion powwow dancer. She has danced for over 20 years, traveling all over the southeastern United States and touring Europe, dancing and educating the public about Indian life. Some of the places Nikki has danced include the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Powwow in Minnesota, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and a Celtic village in Switzerland. She is a third generation dancer. Her Sioux grandfather was a traditional dancer from Rosebud, South Dakota. All of her uncles were fancy dancers from Cherokee, NC. Her grandmother was known as a great cook of Indian tacos, a skill she taught Nikki's mother, who carried on the tradition for many years. In addition to her dancing skills, Nikki has a talent for beadwork, doing some for her son's and daughter's dance regalia. Nikki is also an accomplished hair stylist with over 20 years of experience. Nikki will be assisting with the arena committee for the powwow and will be in charge of the frybread stand. Reflections: My son was two years old when he went to his first powwow as a grass dancer (Knoxville) and it was at that same powwow that I danced buckskin. I was pregnant with Kele during one of the Knoxville powwows. I'm looking forward to this powwow because it will be so much fun and for the experience of being involved in the actual organizing of a powwow.	ANTHONY CRISP, Nikki's husband, has supported his wife and children in their dancing for many years, traveling to many powwows and shows around the southeast. He is also a talented artist in doing beadwork and quillwork. Much of the regalia worn in the family has been made by Anthony. Anthony currently works in logistics for the Target Corporation. He will be Nikki's right-hand-man in the frybread stand. Reflections: At the first powwow in Knoxville, I got to see my parents watch Nikki dance for the first time. My aunt danced with Nikki during the special dance for honoring mothers. It gave us an opportunity to have family come in from Cherokee for a cookout after the powwow. Seeing Johnathan dance at his first powwow. Watching Kele dance there. Watching Shennell and Jatanna, our nieces, dance in Knoxville is a very fond memory. Both of them were crowned princess in Knoxville. Why? I'm excited about the opportunity to be involved "behind the scenes" in organizing an educational and very fun powwow in Knoxville. This is my home. UT Rules!
BEAR BROOKS, of Cherokee descent, began dancing Traditional in pow wows in 1997. He enjoys pow wows and participating in living history events. He hand makes primitive style bows, arrows, war clubs, etc. He is a good bowyer and his work is well known. Bear is handling the logistics for the pow wow.	KERI SUTTON BROOKS, of Cherokee descent, is from West Tennessee and began dancing Southern Cloth in 1997. Back then she traveled weekly to pow wows, but no longer has the time to travel. In West Tennessee, she spoke on Native American topics to various schools and programs. Besides working in a medical office and doing fundraising, Keri makes jewelry that she sells at craft fairs. She also participates in living history events. Reflections: Pow Wows are a great enjoyment and it is very important to continue education regarding Native America. I have wonderful memories of past pow wows. I can remember on a couple of occasions where a mother would ask me if I could watch over their little girl who was going out in Grand Entry for the first time. It was such a pleasure to watch these sweet little ones. Also, at the first committee meeting that I attended with this group I recognized most of the attendees. These are people that I had met somewhere along the way over the past 10 years, but never had opportunity to get to know them. It’s nice that our paths have met once again. I am very happy to be a part of this great group of people. Keri is handling the fundraising, including the silent auction, for the pow wow.