VINITA, Okla. — In 2000, Cherokee National Treasure Victoria Vazquez brought her artwork to the Santa Fe Indian Market in New Mexico, sharing a booth with her mother, Cherokee traditional pottery revivalist Anna Mitchell.
Vazquez was then approached by late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who took a liking to her artwork. Ginsburg soon purchased a clay shield from Vazquez and a pot a few years later.
In 2022, those pieces were placed into the Cherokee National Collection and are now on display at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita.
“The acquisition of these pieces is yet another testament to the importance of the Cherokee National Collection,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “Through the efforts of Cherokee Nation Cultural Tourism, we know that these pieces will be protected and utilized to tell this wonderful story of friendship through art and culture for generations to come.”
Their initial exchange began a long-running correspondence between the two, with Ginsburg even extending an invitation to Vazquez to sit in on a legal argument before the Supreme Court.
The Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center, located on iconic Route 66, offers an exhibit gallery, a grab-and-go café, a gift shop, and flexible space for cultural classes and events. It is open to the public seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 953 E. Illinois Ave.
For more information on Cherokee Nation cultural destinations and more, go to www.VisitCherokeeNation.com.