Rivercane Basket Weaving

By Example - We Lift As We Climb......

Arizona (Zona) Swayney Blankenship

Ah-mo-ya-ha

(1875-1934)

Arizona Jane Blankenship - Rivercane Doubleweaver

Aqisona Tseni Tsusgwanvna

Great-Granddaughter of Arizona Swayney Blankenship

Tribal Member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians

1902-1908: Arizona Swayney taught basket weaving at Hampton College in Virginia.

Zona was one of the highly esteemed and honorable citizens of the Reservation (Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation in North Carolina). Her work and achievements among her people will long be remembered by her neighbors, friends, acquaintances, her relatives and loved ones.....from The Smoky Mountain Indian Trail - March 21, 1934.

_{"Off The Reservation"}

_{On My Road Of Education,}

_{I wandered off the Reservation.}

_{Into
a whole new world I traveled,}

_{Seeking a Knowledge; I knew not where.}

_{Things were strange and new for me}

_{as I arrived at my Destiny.}

_{In despair I cried out,}

_{"Lord, help
me to}_understand

_{these ways that are so different}

_{From
My Homeland."}

_{The Lord sent an answer to me,}

_{"Make the m}_{ost
of this diverse situation,}

_{Do it for you and for your People}

_Back_{On The Reservation."}

_{So now my goal is to be:}

_{Setting an example}_{For all,}

_{Making My People Proud of Me.}

_{These things I remember so well}

_{as I continue}_{My Education,}

_{Keeping in my head}

_{the Knowledge}_{I learn,}

_{so to the Indian People I will tell...}

_{As I wander back to the Reservation.}

_{by Arizona Jane Blankenship}

_{North Carolina State University
- 1976}

_{B.A., Business Management,}_N_{orth Carolina State University}

_{Masters
of Business Administration,}_{Western Carolina University}

_{Benefits and Compensation Manager
for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians - Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)}

_{North Carolina Real Estate Broker/AFLAC
Insurance Benefits Consultant}