Laura Blythe

Background

About Laura Blythe

Laura Blythe is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She was born & raised in the mountains of Cherokee, NC, and is a 2006 graduate of Western Carolina University. Laura is the Program Director of the Cherokee Historical Association and has been associated with CHA for 22 years in some facet. Laura lives on the Qualla Boundary with her husband, Mike, and 2 children, Nate & Lily. It is Laura’s life’s work to help Cherokee culture survive and thrive. As the Director For CHA, Laura creates programs and exhibits that portray authentic Cherokee culture at the Oconaluftee Indian Village. The goal is to educate the public and community about who the Cherokee people are through lectures, ancient craft demonstrations, and Cherokee language classes. She is an alumnus of the Right Path Leadership Program, Remember the Removal 2022 Team, and received a certificate in Cultural Heritage Tourism from George Washington University. In addition, she has helped spearhead the Anetsodi Stickball Challenge, the EBCI Remember the Remained bicycle ride, the Oconaluftee Indian Village Youth Mentoring Program, and the Mountainside Theatre Art Market. She is currently on the Atlanta Braves Cultural Committee, WCU Cherokee Advisory Board, Color My Outdoors Board Member, and has started a community group, UnSPOKEn Bond to do community outreach in outdoor recreation, specifically mountain biking. In her free time, Laura volunteers for Tahnee’s Kids Foundation, Right Path projects, and local youth sports groups and assists in the community in any way she can.