WASHINGTON — A nine-year-old Cherokee boy from North Carolina helped light the “People’s Tree” on the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. The 78-foot-tall tree, nicknamed Ruby, came from Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina. Hundreds of years ago, the land of Pisgah National Forest was part of the Cherokee historic homeland. Catcuce Micco Tiger was selected to help light the tree after he won an essay contest.
U.S. Capitol Christmas tree lightning ceremony illuminates Cherokee culture
Catcuce Micco Tiger, along with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and lawmakers from North Carolina lit the 2022 "People's Tree". (Pingping Yin/MEDILL NEWS SERVICE)