Page 46 - Wayne County

her being the Cherokee consultant for a 2010 PBS documentary, The Blue Ridge Parkway: A Long and Winding Road . In 1968, she was named “Miss Cherokee.” In 1969, she appeared in a National Geographic article about the Great Smoky Mountain National park, which also mentions her leading role in Unto These Hills . Faren’s face broke into a full grin recalling those days. After attending Gardner-Webb College, and playing women’s basketball and volleyball for two years at Western Carolina University, she was chosen as a recipient of a two-year full scholarship to UGA in exchange for participation in the Indian Teacher Training Project. She accepted the honor and while at UGA; her dorm signed a petition for her to represent them in the UGA beauty pageant. She agreed reluctantly - borrowed her suit and gown - and was even late to the auditorium, having to hurriedly dress - her hair was still wet. When her name was called, in a moment of shock she was named Miss University of Georgia, making her the frst and only Native American to garner the title “Miss University of Georgia.” She calls that

her claim to fame.

She was also known for another thing in college: her artwork. Creating came naturally as a teen - Faren remembers the precise moment she realized she had artistic talent. “I remember the other students making posters for school council and such, they would use stencils and copy pictures, but I created my own from scratch. “Soon all the students were asking me to make their posters,” Faren said with a grin. By the time, she was in college her natural ability to depict what she saw with paper and pencil reaped many requests to draw for friends. “This is how I earned pocket cash in college.” Today, two of her paintings are on display at the Harrah’s Casino Hotel in Cherokee, N.C. She has illustrated cook books, children’s books, sits on multiple art councils, has won competitions, and participated in many native American art exhibitions and shows. Most recently, she was also chosen as the offcial artist for the 60th Anniversary of

ABOVE Faren played the role of Nundayeli in the outdoor drama Unto These Hills . OPPOSITE PAGE Faren working on her Raising Cane drawing for a North Carolina casino. The drawing was also published in a book. Faren shows Cherokee children’s book that she illustrated.