John “Bullet” Standingdeer is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He grew up in the Big Cove community and has played traditional Cherokee stickball all his life. He is a Cultural Ambassador for the Eastern Band and dances with the Warriors of AniKituhwa. In addition to researching and lecturing about Cherokee history and culture, he has appeared in documentary films and is well known as a powwow dancer and headman. Although he did not grow up speaking Cherokee, he wanted to find a way to understand the Cherokee language. He is a father and grandfather and lives on the Qualla Boundary.