Traditional Cherokee Games

 June 3

Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach and Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a presentation on traditional Cherokee games by James Callie and Danny McCarter. Participants will learn about the history, cultural significance, and the enduring role of traditional games in Cherokee communities. This event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park Recreation Field in Tahlequah. Contact parks@cherokee.org or 918-453-5099 for more information.

Stories on the Square

 June 3

Stories on the Square returns every Wednesday morning in June. This outdoor storytelling series features Cherokee stories performed at the Cherokee National Peace Pavillion, 177 S. Water Ave., in Tahlequah from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Contact info@visitcherokeenation.com or 877-779-6977 for more information.

Veterans Fishing Derby

 June 5

Cherokee Nation Office of Veteran Affairs will be hosting a Veterans Fishing Derby. There will be fishing, food, and prizes. Bring your fishing poles. Worms will be provided around the pond. Veterans can bring a plus one who is 18 years or older. Bring your Veteran ID for a fishing pole. The fishing derby will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the pond by the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler Tribal Complex. Contact 918-772-4166 for more information.

Strong Roots, Healthy Futures Cancer Summit

 June 6

Cherokee Nation Public Health Cancer Prevention Programs will be hosting a Strong Roots, Healthy Futures Cancer Summit, honoring Indigenous traditions and strengthening wellness. This event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chota Conference Center, 3304 Seven Clans Ave., Tahlequah. Contact cancerprevention@cherokee.org or 918-453-5000 ext. 5935 for more information.

Native Games

 June 6

Cherokee Arts Center will be hosting Native Games at the Vinita Archery Range, 27371 S. 4410 Road, Vinita beginning at 10 a.m. Competitions will include cornstalk shoot, marbles, horsehoes, chunkey, blowgun, hatchet throw, and a stickball shootout. This event is free and open to the public. Contact 918-453-5728 for more information.

Chicago Citizenship Registration & Photo ID

 June 6

Stop by and take part in our Citizenship Registration & Photo ID event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Illinois Chicago, 3rd floor, 750 S. Halsted St., in Chicago, Illinois, where Cherokee Nation staff will be on site to support citizens and families in the area. This is a great opportunity for citizens to update their Photo ID, begin a new citizenship application, or connect with Cherokee Nation departments offering services and assistance.

Wildlife Conservation Presentation

 June 9

Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a Wildlife Conservation Presentation at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park Communty Room in Tahlequah from 10 to 11 a.m. and another presentation from 2 to 3 p.m. This is a free event. Contact parks@cherokee.org for more information.

Bartlesville Citizenship Registration & Photo ID Event

 June 9

Stop by and take part in our Citizenship Registration & Photo ID event from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Bartlesville High School Commons, 1700 Hillcrest Dr., in Bartlesville, where Cherokee Nation staff will be on site to support citizens and families in the area. This is a great opportunity for citizens to update their Photo ID, begin a new citizenship application, or connect with Cherokee Nation departments offering services and assistance.

Traditional Cherokee Weapons Presentation

 June 10

Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach and Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a presentation on traditional Cherokee weapons by James Callie and Danny McCarter. Attendees will learn about the tools and weapons used by Cherokee ancestors for hunting, protection, and daily life. This event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park Recreation Field in Tahlequah. Contact parks@cherokee.org or 918-453-5099 for more information.

Free Cherokee Speakers Lunch

 June 11

All fluent Cherokee speakers are invited to a free monthly luncheon held from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. every second Thursday of the month and hosted by the Cherokee Nation Language Department at the Durbin Feeling Language Center in Tahlequah. Gather for fellowship, a free lunch and door prizes. For more information, please call 918-207-4901 or email language@cherokee.org.

Beginner Single Wall Basket Demonstration

 June 15

Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a beginner single wall basket demonstration by Cherokee National Treasure Barbara Adair. This class will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park, Community Room in Tahlequah. This will be a free event. Contact parks@cherokee.org for more information.

Third Thursday Art Class

 June 18

Cherokee Arts Center will be hosting a Third Thursday Art Class. Particpants will be learning to make a flat mat. This class will be from 2 to 4 p.m. at 212 S. Water Ave., Tahlequah. Admission is $25 per person. Contact 918-453-5728 for more information.

Ethnobiology Presentation

 June 23

Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a Ethnobiology Presentation with Ethnobiology Manager Feather Smith. The presentation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park, Community Room in Tahlequah. This will be a free event. Contact parks@cherokee.org for more information.

Corn Bead Necklaces Demonstration

 June 24

Cherokee Nation Community and Cultural Outreach and Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a demonstration of how to make corn bead necklaces by Yazzie Lewis and Pam Bakke. Particpipants will learn to create their own corn bead necklace while learning the cultural significance and traditional uses of corn. This event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park Recreation Field in Tahlequah. Contact parks@cherokee.org or 918-453-5099 for more information.

Smoothie Bike Demonstration

 June 26

Cherokee Nation Public Health and Cherokee Nation Natural Resources will be hosting a Smoothie Bike Demonstration with Cherokee Nation Public Health Educator Dillon Lemasters. This demonstration will be from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Wilma P. Mankiller Cherokee Capitol Park, Patio, in Tahlequah. This will be a free event. Contact parks@cherokee.org for more information.

Georgia At-Large Gathering

 June 27

Visit with Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner, and at-large councilor Johnny Kidwell at this gathering for at-large citizens on Saturday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Canton, Georgia area! Enjoy cultural presentations and demonstrations. Lunch will be provided by the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Registration will be on-site for photo IDs and citizenship applications. Photo IDs will stop accepting applications 30 minutes before the end of the event. Education Services and Cherokee Vote will also be on location to assist citizens. This is an indoor event at Northside Cherokee Conference Center, 1130 Bluffs Parkway, in Canton, Georgia. For questions, call 918-207-4963.

Stories on the Square

 Every Wednesday in June

Outdoor storytelling returns to downtown Tahlequah! Join us every Wednesday morning in June for stories and activities at the Cherokee National Peace Pavilion. Each week will feature a different storyteller, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by cultural activities for all ages. “Stories on the Square” is free and open to the public.

June 3: Cherokee National History Museum interpreter and former Miss Cherokee Meekah Roy

June 10: Cherokee National Treasure Robert Lewis

June 17: Cherokee actress & storyteller Candice Byrd-Boney

June 24: Traditional Cherokee storyteller Larry Shade

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Since the First Fire: The Living Legacy of Cherokee Art

 August 19, 2025 – June 13, 2026

Since Cherokee people first told the story of the Water Spider who delivered the gift of fire in a vessel of her own invention, art has carried the soul of Cherokee culture.

A new exhibit, “Since the First Fire: The Living Legacy of Cherokee Art,” explores the endurance of Cherokee artistic creation and features multiple artworks by Cherokee Nation artists illustrating its evolution through the generations.

The exhibit will be on display at the Cherokee National History Museum from August 19, 2025, through June 13, 2026.

Plan your visit to experience this powerful tribute to the creativity, resilience and ongoing cultural legacy of the Cherokee people.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Bringing Our Story Home: The Repatriation of the Cherokee Advocate Printing Press

 July 29, 2025 – July 11, 2026

The Cherokee Advocate newspaper’s printing press was shut down in 1906, sold, and lost to the Cherokee Nation for more than 100 years. A new exhibit explores the press’s role in witnessing history and its 2024 repatriation to the Cherokee Nation. The exhibit will be on display at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, from July 29, 2025, through July 11, 2026.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Ours To Tell: Cherokee Stories

 July 17, 2026

A fun-filled day for children and families, “Ours To Tell: Cherokee Stories” features performances from celebrated storytellers, engaging activities and live illustration! Visit the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center on Friday, July 17, and celebrate Cherokee stories — some new, others passed down through generations — together. Admission is free!

10 AM – Live readings with featured author Brad Wagnon

11 AM – Children’s activities and art

12 PM – Traditional storytelling with Candice Byrd-Boney

1 PM – Live illustration with MaryBeth Timothy

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Keli Gonzales: Drawn to Culture

 October 3, 2025 – October 4, 2026

Cherokee Nation citizen and multimedia artist Keli Gonzales is inspired by pop culture and Cherokee culture. The result is work that imaginatively interprets Cherokee identity in a unique and bold way. A new exhibit at the Cherokee Cultural Pathway features 11 large-scale reproductions demonstrating Gonzales’ distinct reflections on Cherokee identity today on display from Oct. 3, 2025, to Oct. 4, 2026.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Cherokee Artisan Marketplace

 September 5 – 6, 2026

Find authentic and original work from Cherokee artisans. Experience our outdoor marketplace during the 74th annual Cherokee National Holiday. Visit Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6, on the grounds of the Cherokee National History Museum in downtown Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Learn more about other events and festivities during Cherokee National Holiday at: TheCherokeeHoliday.com

Artists looking to participate in the Cherokee Artisan Marketplace may apply to be juried into the market below. Cherokee Nation citizens are eligible to apply from May 4 to July 3, 2026.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Cherokee Homecoming Art Show

 August 8 ‒ September 12, 2026

Experience our show’s 31st anniversary, as we celebrate Cherokee Nation’s artistry, culture and heritage in our capital, Tahlequah. Purchase art in person or through our online gallery.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.

Victoria Vazquez: From the Earth

 May 19 – September 12, 2026

Cherokee National Treasure Victoria Vazquez is celebrated for her dedication to traditional pottery and more than a decade of public service with the Council of the Cherokee Nation. In a new exhibit at the Saline Courthouse Museum, “Victoria Vazquez: From the Earth,” visitors will see the breadth of Victoria’s artistic work: from early days learning with her mother, Cherokee National Treasure Anna Mitchell, to more recent works that honor tradition.

“Victoria Vazquez: From the Earth” will be on display in the Saline Courthouse Museum from May 19 until September 12, 2026.

Read more at Visit Cherokee Nation.