Di-Ga-Li-I, the Native American student organization at Western Carolina University, will host the inaugural Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Alumni Celebration as part of Homecoming 2009 at WCU.

The event will be held from 1 until 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, at the Judaculla House in the Village at WCU.

Most members of Di-Ga-Li-I are Native American, but membership is open to any student interested in Native American heritage, said Sky Kanott, Di-Ga-Li-I president. “Our organization promotes Native Americans, educates others about Native American culture, and continues to ensure that Native Americans are recognized at WCU,” said Kanott.

The Homecoming event is designed to provide a way for WCU’s Native American alumni to meet with other alumni and current students from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and to learn more about the Di-Ga-Li-I organization.

“This celebration will bring professionals from all over the state to engage with WCU graduates and encourage current Native American students as we climb to the top of the ladder,” Kanott said. “We want to reach into WCU’s past and influence the future of Native Americans on this campus. This event will show WCU and the community we are honored by people that were once here and show the world who we are now.”

Di-Ga-Li-I member Kelly Driver said she is looking forward to meeting with graduates of WCU. “I feel it is important to me, as a member of Di-Ga-Li-I, for alumni to come and support us,” Driver said. “I want to hear their stories about the struggles they had to go through as college students and what we could do to overcome our struggles.” 

For more information about Di-Ga-Li-I or the organization’s Homecoming weekend activity, contact Sky Kanott at (828) 736-5586.

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Last modified Friday, Sept. 25, 2009.