Cherokee Nation will host several events in the month of February, including a presentation on Cherokee genealogy research, a Living Story Corner event highlighting traditional Cherokee stories and a meeting for at-large citizens in Central Florida.
Tobacco cessation classes at the Three Rivers Health Center in Muskogee will begin today and be held Thursdays at noon. This will be free and open to the public. Contact Cherokee Nation Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Kasey Dirteater-Elliott at kasey-dirteater@cherokee.org or 918-316-1977 for more information.
Tobacco cessation classes at the Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center in Stilwell will begin today and be held Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. This will be free and open to the public. Contact Cherokee Nation Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Kasey Dirteater-Elliott at kasey-dirteater@cherokee.org or 918-316-1977 for more information.
Want to learn more about Cherokee geneaology research? Stop by the Cherokee National Research Center in Cherokee Springs Plaza from 10 to 11 a.m. for “History Talk: Cherokee Genealogy Research.” This presentation, which will be free and open to the public, will cover genealogy and will give an introduction to modern genealogy research techniques. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
Cherokee Nation is hosting an at-large meeting for Cherokee citizens living in Central Florida. Be sure to join us from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake Parker Park, Osprey Pavilion, 820 E. Robson St., in Lakeland, Fla., for this exciting meeting with cultural presentations and demonstrations. Visit with Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and at-large Council member Julia Coates. A meal will be provided. Tribal Registration will be on site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be in attendance to assist citizens. For questions regarding the event, please call 918-207-4963.
Need assistance with VA benefits? Cherokee Nation and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will be hosting a “Bringing VA Benefits Home” event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center, 17675 S. Muskogee Ave., in Tahlequah. During this event, attendees will be able to speak with representatives, get answers to VA claim and benefits question, file a claim, and more. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Mary Culley at 405-626-3426 or Barbara Foreman at 918-772-4166.
Living Story Corner: Candice Byrd-Boney will share stories about why the cornhusk doll has no face and the race between the hummingbird and the crane. After the stories, children of all ages are invited to learn to weave paper hearts that they can take home. Admission to this Living Story Corner is free and will take place from 11 a.m. to noon at the Cherokee National History Museum.
Are you an 8th grader interested in attending Sequoyah High School in the fall and want to get a tour and information on courses? Stop by Sequoyah High School in Tahlequah from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for 8th Grade Day. To attend Sequoyah, students must be a citizen of a federally recognized tribe and have a minimum GPA of 2.5. For more information, please contact Vicki Craig at 918-453-5712 or vicki-craig@cherokee.org or Debra Nelson at 918-453-5181 or debra-nelson@cherokee.org.
Paint and Pass: In celebration of “Collective Wisdom,” a traveling exhibit featuring many Native and Cherokee artists (see entry below), Cherokee artist Kindra Swafford will lead a painting activity with a unique, collaborative approach from noon to 2 p.m. at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah. Participants will all work together to create a one-of-a-kind painting to take home. Registration for this activity is $25 per person and will close at 4 p.m. the day before this event. Sign up here: https://shop.visitcherokeenation.com/collections/special-events/products/paint-pass-activity.
Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Blood Institute will be holding a blood drive at the W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex in Tahlequah. This event is open to the public from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Tsa-La-Gi Community Room. Donors must be 16 years old or older and will receive a T-shirt. For more information, please contact Cherokee Nation Community Health Nursing at 539-234-1816 or 539-234-1817.
The Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center will be hosting “Anna’s Legacy: Crystal Hanna” from 1 to 4 p.m. in Vinita. Cherokee artist Crystal Hanna will lead a coil pottery demonstration and give an artist talk at the “Anna’s Legacy” art show. Pottery by Hanna will be available to purchase in person and online here: https://shop.visitcherokeenation.com/search?q=crystal+hanna. Admission is free to this event. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
The “Robert Lewis: Bringing Stories to Life” exhibit is now on display through April 8 at the Saline Courthouse Museum in Rose. The exhibit focuses on Cherokee National Treasure Robert Lewis and his work as a Cherokee traditional storyteller and a visual artist. His artwork includes abstract paintings in acrylic, ink and oil paint. The exhibit will also include Lewis’ artwork for purchase. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
“Collective Wisdom,” a traveling exhibit on display now through Feb. 25 at Cherokee Springs Plaza in Tahlequah, showcases more than 20 First American artists. Each piece in the exhibit is a unique collaboration between two or more artists. By incorporating their own medium and interweaving culture, experiences and relationships, these artists have developed a display representing unique facets of the contemporary First American art world. View “Collective Wisdom” at the Cherokee Springs Plaza art gallery, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Contributing Cherokee artists are Roy Boney, Tom Farris, Nathalie Standingcloud, Kindra Swafford and Bryan Waytula. Other contributing artists are Marcus Amerman, Marwin Begaye, Chance Brown, Kristin Gentry, Billy Hensley, Josh Hinson, Brenda Kingery, Dustin Mater, Stuart Sampson, Erin Shaw, Hoka Skenandore, Micah Wesley, Margaret Wheeler and Summer Zah. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
The “We Are Cherokee: Cherokee Freedmen and the Right to Citizenship” exhibit is running now through April 29 at the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah. This exhibit explores the history of Cherokee Freedmen through a historical look at chattel slavery’s beginnings in Cherokee Nation through slave emancipation and the legal fight Freedmen descendants endured to win recognition as Cherokee Nation citizens.
The exhibit includes some of the images and stories contributed by families in the Cherokee Nation’s call for stories. It also features original artwork inspired by the Freedman experience. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.
The “Sovereignty on Trial: The Tragedy at Goingsnake” exhibit is running now through April 8 at the Cherokee Nation Supreme Court Museum in Tahlequah. This exhibit looks at what has been called the Goingsnake Massacre on its 150th anniversary. On April 15, 1872, Cherokee Nation citizen Ezekiel Proctor was on trial in a Cherokee Nation court for the murder of Cherokee Nation citizen Mary “Polly” Hildebrand when a U.S. Marshal’s posse sent to arrest Proctor interrupted the trial. Admission to the museum is free and is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, go to VisitCherokeeNation.com.